Results 841-860 of 1,229 for speaker:Denis Landy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: On a point of order,-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (2 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: On a point of order, if it is agreed that we adjourn I am asking to be allowed back in first because I respected the Chairman. I have quite a lot of other questions I would like to ask and points I would like to make. In order to facilitate the Minister, I----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Planning and Development (No. 1) Bill 2014 (16 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: No more than the Chairman, titles do not mean a great deal to me. I welcome the proposed legislation and the opportunity to dialogue on it today. This is my first experience of pre-legislative scrutiny. I wish to query Mr. O'Connor about his contribution on the purchase of the Part V units. He said that acquisition will not be a problem for the voluntary housing groups, approved housing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: General Scheme of the Planning and Development (No. 1) Bill 2014 (16 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: I thank the officials for their replies but the thin edge of the wedge was when developers could offer cash instead of houses which were deemed unsuitable. We need to ensure that the developments include mixed housing. The example of Cork County Council not having a requirement for housing in certain towns is now outdated because matters are now dealt with on a county basis and housing is...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: I welcome the granting of planning permission for a new greenway or cycleway between Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel. This has been funded through the national infrastructure package of Exchequer funding to the tune of €1.9 million. It presents a great opportunity for part of the south east to develop a new tourism product. It is most welcome in an area that has a strong tradition of...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank him for his opening statement which brought more clarity to the situation and to the intent of this Bill. It is true to say, as has been said by Senator Walsh, that we had a major debate on the issue of water in this House last year. It is also true to say that it is very good that the Seanad has been retained by the people because the changes...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: No one has expressed it publicly. I repeat what I say. We are in a situation where we have another issue causing concern to the public and being aired daily. The cost has been reduced so greatly by the Minister in this legislation that most reasonable people that I have met accept that water is being supplied at the lowest possible level of charge. We have therefore also resolved the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: Many of the issues that were raised here at that time have been dealt with. We have made the whole billing system simpler. We have also dealt with a concern I expressed when the legislation was discussed last year. I refer to the extent to which the service provider could be contacted by the public and by elected representatives at local level, namely, councillors. I have to say it...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: I want to compliment him specifically on one issue.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: The issue to which I refer is the transfer of staff to Irish Water from local authorities. I want to put it on the record of this House again that local authority staff were approached by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and asked to enter into discussions and negotiations. Contrary to what has been suggested here previously, it did not happen the other way...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: I am talking about staff who have been brought across to Irish Water. The certainty of their employment has been assured in service level agreements. The bonus issue will be dealt with by the Labour Relations Commission because what was being done was disgraceful. It was part of their payscale, which was then an incremental system. I understand from my discussions with the union involved...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: I have always opposed it. I would like to examine the logic of the argument that we should do nothing and just let the system sail on. In such circumstances, raw sewage will continue to flow into the rivers that go through 42 towns in this country. Lakes will continue to be contaminated. Some 20,000 people in Roscommon will continue to be on boil water notices, with nothing being done...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: Nothing was done. All of the money was spent in other directions. Now the same people are expressing concern about what needs to be done in the system. I will not even mention who they are. I will not go there in this debate.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: With the greatest of respect to the Minister - this did not happen on his watch - I have to say that the establishment of Irish Water left much to be desired.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: While I accept that savings will be made, I emphasise that a great deal of money has been spent and wasted. During our discussions with Irish Water at the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, a figure of €86 million was mentioned with regard to consultancies. As part of the tendering process, the company that tendered for what is now Irish Water, Bord Gáis,...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: Thank you. I will leave it at that.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: The Senator should do so then.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: It is counted. It is the same thing as a vote.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: The Senator can have a nice cup of coffee.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Dec 2014)

Denis Landy: Unbelievable as it is-----