Results 2,581-2,600 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: While I appreciate what the Minister is saying, I cannot accept it. We would not have to press this amendment if our last amendment was accepted. There seems to be some-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Minister indicated that there may be a need to provide some form of drawing. I assume this refers to a drawing of the location of the septic tank and percolation area relative to the property. If that is required - I am merely giving an example of what might be envisaged in this - the likelihood is that the homeowner may not have the necessary skills to provide that information, in...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: There is €431 million in the budget this year.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank Senator Landy because he has brought clarity to the matter. The Minister seemed to imply that only houses affecting water courses within the 475,000 would be inspected and requested to upgrade. This is how it operates in County Cavan. I am informed by my learned colleague that not all the houses in County Cavan are included.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: All the houses in Cavan will now get €50 so it is getting worse-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: In my view, legislation should be tight, irrespective of what Government is in power. Legislation should come before the Oireachtas if changes such as those proposed in this Bill are to be regulated by a ministerial regulation. Senator Walsh made a very good point on the pollution threat caused by urban waste water systems. In my constituency and throughout greater Donegal there are...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I would prefer a system which dealt with that matter first. We do not all live with the luxury of a sewerage treatment system. Not all of us live in Dublin. Some of us have to travel to the country and we live in very rural and remote areas where roads may not be as good as in other areas. However, I am proud to live in the rural countryside.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, may have a great deal to look after because most of the septic tanks built in the rural part of Gweedore, the most densely populated rural part of Europe, are built on sites of roughly one fifth of an acre.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: In certain circumstances septic tanks were built on other people's land. Those people will now effectively be criminalised.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Without leaving the point-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The point I am trying to make is that in very many urban waste water treatment systems, under whichever local authority, when the plant fills up the slush gates are opened and raw sewage flows into rivers and lakes. I know this and so does the Minister.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: A domestic scheme might belong to any house. Just because one has a sewerage scheme does not mean one's house is classed as non-domestic. A sewerage scheme is different from that of a domestic dwelling. It is either a domestic sewerage scheme or a publicly funded sewerage scheme in the town or village. In a report in 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency stated that "due to the...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Why should we subsidise people in urban areas? Even if a person living in the country has planning permission from the local authority-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It does, because-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: This amendment covers a great deal.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Senator Walsh is making me laugh.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It mentions prescribed costs but we do not know what they are. They could be anything. The Minister has not clarified this and I do not expect him to do so because he may not know the answer. As he mentioned, it will be up to the Environmental Protection Agency, in conjunction with his Department, to decide at a future date what those prescribed costs will be. We cannot accept those two...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The old line.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The case was made.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (Resumed) (23 Nov 2011)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It was in May of this year.