Results 1,441-1,460 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: In regard to district metering, Mr. Grant mentioned earlier that a district is made up of 1,500 houses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: My earlier question was specific to Irish Water's funding requirements and capital plans. I will take as an example the single biggest water supply pipe in the country, which, if I am not mistaken, is in Dartry in Dublin. The delegates should correct me if I am wrong. The pipe is more than 100 years old and could collapse at any moment. The total capital cost, the potential impact on more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: I thought it was Dartry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: Funding is spent on the same things. While I know where the Deputy is coming from, he is referring to the name of this committee rather than domestic water metering. Irish Water does not differentiate between the two sources of funding. It is the same money.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: I know where the Deputy is coming from and I agree with him but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Chairman, and I thank our guests for coming in and making their presentations. I too am disappointed that Mr. Ó Tuathail is not able to deliver his contribution in Irish, but such is the technical nature of this room, with the equipment that is in it. I appreciate the commentary that he and Ms Graham provided. I want to make one point which has been made already, but I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: That is not really my question. My question related to the prospect of an unintended consequence arising. In Mr. Ó Tuathail's legal opinion, is it not appropriate that the Minister would reserve the right to amend a proposed amendment to the Constitution before it is put to the people?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: My question arises from a comment Mr. Ó Tuathail made in respect of the inclusion of the statement in the Minister's position paper on this matter. I want to make sure that this is known.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and Mr. Séamas Ó Tuathail, SC (25 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: I thank Ms Graham for that response. The only other question I have concerns the potential for impact on private schemes or private water supplies. One of the nuggets of information derived from Irish Water, the Department and others has been that there are a number of privately owned water supply systems that are sourced from the public supply. As far as I am aware, they are part of group...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2016: Minister for Justice and Equality (25 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister and Deputy O'Callaghan for their Bills. I will be very brief. I just wish to cover a couple of concerns I have, some of which I share with colleagues across all parties and they also touch on some of the observations made by the Minister. I have a fundamental problem with the idea of a lay majority for a multitude of reasons. On the concept of a level of probity...

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 35 – Army Pensions
Vote 36 - Department of Defence
Chapter 8 – Disposal of the Government Jet (26 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: I welcome our guests. Deputy Cassells made a number of statements in his opening remarks before moving on to a particular a line of questioning. As Mr. Quinn did not get an opportunity to respond to those statements, would he like to do so now?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 35 – Army Pensions
Vote 36 - Department of Defence
Chapter 8 – Disposal of the Government Jet (26 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: That was not a pointed remark, I might add. It just appeared that Mr. Quinn wanted to say something. I have a couple of questions on recruitment and associated costs. Has the Department struggled to achieve the targeted recruitment it has been attempting to achieve over the past few years?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 35 – Army Pensions
Vote 36 - Department of Defence
Chapter 8 – Disposal of the Government Jet (26 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: What is the reason for that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 35 – Army Pensions
Vote 36 - Department of Defence
Chapter 8 – Disposal of the Government Jet (26 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: Sorry, I am asking why recruitment was so high last year compared with previous years. Was exposure a factor?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 35 – Army Pensions
Vote 36 - Department of Defence
Chapter 8 – Disposal of the Government Jet (26 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: I understand that 6% of Defence Forces personnel are female? I accept that percentage may be related to recruitment in previous years. What percentage of those recruited in 2016 were women?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 35 – Army Pensions
Vote 36 - Department of Defence
Chapter 8 – Disposal of the Government Jet (26 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: Do the Defence Forces employ any tactic in terms of seeking additional professionalisation, technician or specialist roles? Do such roles exist in the Defence Forces and, if so, what can be done to make more those particular positions more attractive to women? Has that been considered? I am not sure if such specialists roles exist. Perhaps Mr. Quinn, as the expert, would tell us if they do.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 35 – Army Pensions
Vote 36 - Department of Defence
Chapter 8 – Disposal of the Government Jet (26 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: Of course.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 35 – Army Pensions
Vote 36 - Department of Defence
Chapter 8 – Disposal of the Government Jet (26 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: I am asking more about specialist roles that might be dominated in civilian life by women.

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 35 – Army Pensions
Vote 36 - Department of Defence
Chapter 8 – Disposal of the Government Jet (26 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: I understand. It is an very broad question and gives rise to much food for thought. In regard to seconded personnel and the refunds in respect of those positions, how many personnel are on secondment and, in broad terms, where are they?

Public Accounts Committee: 2015 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 35 – Army Pensions
Vote 36 - Department of Defence
Chapter 8 – Disposal of the Government Jet (26 Jan 2017)

Alan Farrell: Deputy Aylward spoke earlier about landbanks and their potential usage. In Mr. Quinn's opinion - I appreciate he may not have expertise in this area - are any of the existing barracks or land banks in the trust of the Defence Forces on behalf of the State in areas that he would deem appropriate for the development of housing. That is, are they sufficiently close to urban centres to be used...