Results 1,821-1,840 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: The Minister of State cannot confirm how many carriages are needed.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: That he has failed to address the matter highlights the manner in which the Government has handled this process. This is similar to how it handled the household charge. It is all over the shop.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: It is. The Government will depend on the regulator, yet it will not give that person the necessary information to make a decision.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: When the same regulator was asked by the energy sector for an increase, he also gave it a premium. The Government has failed to address the issue of energy provision. Many companies with external investment are prepared, have licences, are connected to the grid and have planning permission. They can reduce the cost of electricity to the people we represent, yet the Government will not...

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: The Government set the guillotine.

Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: Time is up.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (7 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the response rate to the most recent 38 parental surveys on school patronage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11970/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown by county of funding provided for the housing aid for elderly persons scheme and the housing adaptation grant for people with a disability in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; the impact of these changes on his disability strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12863/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister of State for her response. These cuts were made in the same week as those to the mobility allowance. It is amazing, insensitive, callous and targeting vulnerable people in the most ridiculous way. I heard the Minister of State say there are cuts across the board not just in her line responsibility but in every Department. When I measure that against some commentaries...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: Will this mean it will now be five to seven years? The range of cuts is from 29% to 70%. Is the Government's disability strategy in tatters by virtue of the cuts that have been made across a range of services? If a commitment was made in the programme for Government to implement a disability strategy, where stands it now? When will the strategy be redrawn? What can people seeking these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Housing Grant Payments (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: Will the Minister of State briefly explain the position? The allocation last year was so many million euro, but how much is the contingency fund this year after an 11% cut? My impression of the contingency fund, from the way it has been explained, is that massive, stinging cuts have been imposed throughout the country - up to 76% in some counties - and it seems the Department has decided to...

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: Have inspections begun and, if not, why not? How much funding is set aside by the Department for grant aid this year pertaining to rectification measures? How much grant aid has been set aside this year and next year? If the amount committed this year is not used for that purpose, can that funding be transferred to grants for disabled people about which we spoke earlier or housing aid for...

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: I asked a question. I made no comment.

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: Is provision made for this?

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: In respect of the amount of money the Minister claims my colleague and others owe the State so to speak-----

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: If the Minister will allow me to speak, I will give him the answer. The reason for many of those meetings was to try to force the Minister and Government to make a commitment to put a grant system in place for those people who would require rectification.

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: Until that was done, the Minister had not committed to it. Now he has committed to it, he will not tell me what is his estimate for provision for 2014. I do not expect him to tell me what it is next year because the Cabinet has not sat down to discuss it despite the fact that only four of them do so but I ask him to tell me what provision he has made for this year. He either has or has not...

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: What is the big secret?

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: The Minister was very slow. It took him 12 months to commit to it.

Other Questions: Septic Tank Registration Scheme (12 Mar 2013)

Barry Cowen: You did not disappoint me.