Results 22,781-22,800 of 28,162 for speaker:Catherine Murphy

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: The reason we are here with this amended legislation is because of the events of 11 October 2014 when 100,000 people took to the streets. In making these changes, the issues were identified. One of those issues was the fact that people had very real concerns about the prospect of Irish Water or water services being privatised. I wish we were not here talking about this tonight. I think...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I asked a number of questions which were not answered. I asked about the general Government deficit. Any money collected in water and wastewater charges in local authorities prior to 2013 is being accumulated for transfer to Irish Water. Local authorities are only allowed to spend development contributions collected in the same year. For example, money collected in 2014 can only be spent...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: That is the reason I tabled the amendment.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: On a point of order, I have not heard anything about the amendment.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I move amendment No. 44:In page 12, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:“Development Contributions in respect of Irish Water 14. The Minister shall, within three months of the coming into operation of this Act, make and publish a report proposing new arrangements needed, if applicable, to ensure revenues formerly derived from development contributions payable in respect...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I will be as brief as I can. The word "trust" was used, and all Members realise that this is critically important. At the outset, Members were told that the entire idea behind partnering with Bord Gáis Éireann was to cut down on the costs and gain access to expertise in billing and such matters. This then progressed to a need to hire consultants. Members are familiar with the...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I have one question. I have no issue with the amendment but I am intrigued that there was a rates liability. I presume group schemes would not have been subject to rates just as local authority water supply and waste water systems were not liable. I find this provision somewhat confusing.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Certainly I will examine the process that the Minister is going to make available in the Library. It is important that people understand the process. It is not only a question of public concern in terms of learning lessons. There were concerns in the Department of Social Protection as well. Were the concerns of those in the Department of Social Protection discussed when this was being...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I move amendment No. 37:In page 12, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:“(4) When this section comes into operation—(a) Irish Water shall undertake to delete all PPS numbers collected to date within a period of four weeks after this section comes into operation, (b) the Minister will mandate the Data Protection Commissioner to produce a report confirming that Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Liquidation (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 58. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an itemised list of all disposals made by the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation prior to the appointment of a special liquidator; the original value of the liability or loan concerned, in each case; the amount realised at disposal; the method the disposal was made through incluidng examinership, receivership, direct sale or other; the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Administration (17 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: 249. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of water application packs that have been returned to Irish Water to date; of the water packs returned, the number that have completed the section F declaration; the number that were returned without any completed information; the number that were returned illegible; of all packs returned, the number that have...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: There is a difference of €10 million.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: What about EUROSTAT?

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Will the €460 million be borrowed money? How will it be funded? Will it be counted in the context of the EUROSTAT test? We were told that the conservation grant will not be counted in the Irish Water grant. We are continually told that the idea behind establishing Irish Water is to save us billions of euro, but all we can see at present are additional costs. Obviously, the reason...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Quite a few senior staff have transferred from local authorities to Irish Water. These staff would possibly have completed 40 years service, entitling them to a full pension and that pension liability clearly rests with the local authority. However, when they transfer will they be entitled to a new pension entitlement from Irish Water as a consequence of the additional years of service with...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: In regard to the bonus scheme, Irish Water tried to describe this as part of the way salaries and wages were constructed. The implication was salaries were discounted where work was not done correctly and that the bonus was not part of a bonus culture. In regard to how salaries are constructed, is all of the income pensionable or is the bonus segment not and is the arrangement built into...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I have a number of questions. Have the costs of superannuation been quantified? Clearly, those who will be employees of Irish Water must have their pensions covered. I presume one of the reasons for tabling these amendments is to correct an omission made in drafting the Bill in respect of the Local Government Management Agency. If people employed by the local authorities are seconded to...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: That is my point.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: Much of this comes down to the definition of what is a customer. As Members are aware, many people do not wish to be customers, as they discern the difference between being a citizen and being a customer. However, there appear to be two definitions, one of which is in the 2013 legislation and which pretty much defines it as the occupier. However, when it comes to customers, there are two...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Catherine Murphy: I will be brief and not labour the points. The fact is that we are removing it from the democratic control of the local authorities. Somebody said on the last occasion we discussed this that customers' interests would be represented when discussing matters such as leaks. Such matters were dealt with at local authority level and there was great variation. Where there was investment the...