Results 6,761-6,780 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: If the parties agreed to it.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: After two years there might be consideration of how it was working. If a person is living in County Westmeath, as opposed to Dublin city, there would be different issues. There is a standard service level agreement which is consensual. There may be consideration of progress, how the process is working, whether it can be made more efficient and if parties can agree on a plan and move forward.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, but there may be an agreement not to continue for 12 years. In the same way, the process could be longer. There are 34 local authorities which are massively different in terms of size of population, infrastructure, etc. We are dealing with major cities and small counties, with different issues in each of them.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: In adjoining local authorities common infrastructure may be developed. For instance, there is an arrangement that Louth County Council in Drogheda runs the water supply services for east Meath. Of course, service level agreements between Irish Water and local authorities can vary. It would, however, be by consent. For example, an adjoining local authority, such as a city, should be able...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely. It is a consultative group comprising the Department, Uisce Éireann, local authority managers and local authority trade union representatives. I do not see an issue arising.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Níl baint ag na tuairimí sin le Uisce Éireann.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall freagra a thabairt ar na tuairimí sin. Maidir leis an méid adúirt an Seanadóir Ó Domhnaill, I will try to clarify the issue. Private infrastructure is not mentioned in the Bill. It is only infrastructure for which a local authority is accountable - in other words, water or sewerage infrastructure that a local authority is in...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ba chóir go mbeadh an caighdeán ó thaobh an EPA agus ó thaobh uisce ceart. Tá caighdeáin sláintiúla ann agus caithfear cloí leo sin. Ní féidir uisce a chur ar fáil gan cloí le na caighdeáin.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Mar a dúirt mé, ní thuigim cén fáth go gcuirtear an cheist seo i dtaobh an Bhille seo. Tuigim go bhfuil fadhbanna faoi leith i gContae Dún na nGall. Má chuireann an Seanadóir na ceisteanna chuig an comhairle contae nó chugamsa, déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall freagra a thabhairt dó. Maidir le na hargóintí a bhí ag an...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Tuigim an pointe, ach ní réiteoidh muid riamh le chéile ar an cheist seo.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As the Senator knows, Irish Water must consult local authorities on their development plans and commitments that have been entered into. If an industry wanted to move to Waterford it would be important for it to know whether a commitment had been given. In some cases, funds might have been given to the local authority to provide special services to a particular industry. No matter where...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I refer the Senators to section 26(1), which states: Irish Water shall—(a) after consultation with the Commission, the Agency, each local authority and each regional body, and (b) not later than such date as the Minister may direct,prepare and submit to the Minister a plan...The provision means that it must consult with everybody concerned. There is no concern about a lack of due and...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: All I can say is the amendment is unnecessary because it is the stated intention of the Bill to provide for the transfer of water service property and assets. This is about transferring them but at the right time. Therefore, changing the word in the section would make no difference. The intention is to take them over, but the conditions must be right. We are talking about the assets and...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The issues being touched on are very important because it is important that the people know what is going on. An asset will be transferred by ministerial order and it will not be done quietly and silently. An order will be signed which anybody will be able to find and look at. What will be transferred will be visible and there will be nothing hidden about it. On the question of where the...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As I understand it, they will be available online; therefore, people will have access to them. Also, I presume, one's local authority will have an inventory. The process will be transparent.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have no difficulty in telling the Senator-----

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: All I can say is it is a commercial semi-State entity which will be fully self-financing. The subsection provides that water service development contributions collected by a local authority and transferred to Irish Water can only be expended within the functional area of that authority. While I understand the rationale behind the amendment, it is unnecessary as the company will only be...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: In an effort to be more helpful, perhaps we might ask Irish Water to publish the information in its annual report and the county council will do the same in its annual report. It could do it on a county by county basis or whatever way it wanted to do so, or else make it available on the website. There is nothing being hidden from anybody at all. The information is accessible on the...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not have a problem talking to my Department and Irish Water to achieve a consensus with which people will be happy regarding the transparency of the transfer and the availability of the facts in regard to it. I will revert to the Senator on this. I cannot promise anything but will talk to the relevant officials about it.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is simply intended to improve the drafting of section 13, which provides for the transfer of rights and certain liabilities associated with the transfer of property provided for in section 12.