Results 1,721-1,740 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: What is the relevance of this?

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he sees biofuels playing a role in renewable energy strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10077/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (26 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on their application for naturalisation. [10350/13]

Order of Business (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: He stood by those with disabilities.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement Implementation (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the volume and quality of services delivered to the public will be improved as a result of the outcome of the Croke Park talks; the way this is measured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10386/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Application (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Finance the communications he has had with local authorities regarding the impact of the property tax on local authority housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5568/13]

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: My concerns are similar to what has been aired before. The main reasoning behind the appointment of Bord Gáis Éireann as the company under which Irish Water would be formed was supposedly based on its expertise and billing systems. Is this not the same section of Bord Gáis that is to be sold? If this is the case, how long will the so-called expertise remain in the ownership...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: That is in the present. There was a commitment given at the time of the setting up of Irish Water that it would provide an audit of the current network and systems throughout the country with a view to laying the cards on the table about the reinstatement and repairs required and the associated costs. That had to go on top of the €1.2 billion and many other costs. Only then can we...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: That is the point I made when we discussed the Bill in the Dáil. The Government wants us to open the door to metering in the absence of details, costings or projections. It is only later that we will have an idea of what this will cost per household. Deputy Stanley is correct. Ongoing maintenance costs in counties Offaly, Laois and Westmeath, for example, amount to approximately...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: As I said earlier, I oppose the Bill in its entirety, not because I disagree with the concept of water charges, but because of the lack of information pertaining to the financial costs associated with this. Ultimately, this lack of information bars us from making a judgment with regard to free allowances and so on and so forth. On the specific issue, section 12(1)(c) says the aggregate...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: I would like the Minister of State to address the questions I asked about the amount mentioned in the section with regard to borrowings. That question may be answered by reference to what is being inserted in section 13.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: That is the maximum associated with this Bill, which simply provides for the authority to commence metering. The €500 million is purely for metering.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: Okay. The maximum figure is €500 million. The Minister of State cannot tell me at this point if the actual figure will be €400 million or €300 million.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: That is the most which will be spent.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: That is what I am saying. It is the most it will spend on metering.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: I understand that. I asked another question. I had to delve into this Bill to see that water metering will cost no more than €500 million. Will the Minister of State give a commitment to include in the next Bill a similar section that will tell me how much it will cost to ensure the network is fit for practice? At the moment, it is not fit for purpose.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: We do not have the figure.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: What is the figure?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: I have been guessing the figures up to now. If the figures are there, all the better.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee Stage (27 Feb 2013)

Barry Cowen: We will be able to make a fair stab at the cost for each household at that stage.