Results 22,161-22,180 of 27,055 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: That is the real belt and braces. That is what is required, namely, that the Government put it into Bunreacht na hÉireann. The people want the ownership of the water in this country to be retained by the people of Ireland in perpetuity. Let them vote on it. What is the problem with them voting on it? I have not yet got an answer to that.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: The Minister of State should tell me what the problem is. Is it a political decision that Fine Gael and the Labour Party have made or are there really complex areas that the Government cannot deal with, or is it that the Government will not deal with those areas? I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, or the Minister, Deputy Kelly, whenever he returns this evening, to answer that...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: At what time does the Leas-Chathaoirleach reckon we will get a response from the Minister to the queries? Will that be at the end of Committee Stage?
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: One of the fundamental flaws in this and one of the biggest concerns people have is the ownership of water and whether it can be sold on. I heard the Minister say that no Government in its right mind would do this, that or the other. I do not agree. One can go back to the Minister of State's party and look at the NewERA document and the proposed establishment of the strategic investment...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: I do not believe that is true. The Senators thought it was not necessary. Why was it necessary only a matter of weeks ago but it is not necessary now? My opinion as to why it is believed that it is not necessary is because within the Labour Party, the party leader and Tánaiste in discussions with Ministers at Cabinet, told Labour Party Members that this was causing too much...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: The Government spent €540 million plus €172 million. It will probably raise a maximum of €140 million per year. It will probably be way less than that - some people are saying it will be €20 million - and for what? It has transferred 4,000 staff to a utility that is-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: We will get to that section later. I am not convinced by the argument made by Government and those who support this section that what Government is proposing with regard to a plebiscite would in any way, shape or form deal with the future ownership of water. While commentators might say now no Government would do it, I do not agree. Fine Gael, in particular, would be a party about which,...
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: That is very unfair.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: That is not a point of order.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: Fianna Fáil Members did not agree to the Order of Business; the House did.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: That is why we argued against it.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: It is part of our policy.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: The Minister is perfectly entitled to a break and he should have one. Could we propose a sos for half an hour?
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: Perhaps the Acting Leader of the House proposes-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: That is not what they voted for.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: They called for a referendum and backed down on it.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: I have listened to the debate on this section in detail and we debated Second Stage yesterday. I do not want to reiterate-----
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: I am talking on the amendment. We will get to the section in a while.
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: We take this debate very seriously and the Minister has given his time as well. If the Seanad needs to sit into next week to get this right - it is sitting on Monday - what is the problem?
- Seanad: Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (19 Dec 2014)
Darragh O'Brien: That is good to hear.