Results 2,781-2,800 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: I am glad to see the Minister attending the House for this legislation. I fully appreciate where the Bill is coming from. On this side of the House, we all appreciate the need to protect our water sources, including springs and wells. We agree with the Minister in that respect but I disagree with him on other matters. In the last paragraph of his speech, the Minister stated that people...
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: We should put our own house in order without penalising people who are living in rural Ireland.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: They simply cannot afford to pay any more.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Bill will impose a â¬50 registration charge on householders. The Bill is being sold by saying, "What's â¬50? The registration charge is only â¬50. No one has anything to worry about." That is what has been coming from the Government and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. That is the least draconian measure in the Bill. The first inspection is free...
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: For example, if a septic tank does not meet the criteria in a wetlands area, an SPA or adjacent to an SAC area, the first thing one requires is planning permission for a new septic tank or any changes thereto. One may also need an environmental impact assessment, although not necessarily, and an ecology report. According to every architect I have spoken to, including the RIAI, that element...
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: -----report, which accompanies the documentation circulated by the Oireachtas Library, the upgrade costs would be at least â¬6,000. That is a minimum of â¬10,000.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Minister says that people living in the countryside have nothing to fear, but this is a blatant attack on them. The Minister can dress it up whatever way he wants but he is going to crucify people living in rural areas. He will put them in jail because they cannot afford to pay. People could not even afford to pay the registration charge because they are mortgaged up to their necks....
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Minister is attempting to criminalise people with septic tanks, which is outrageous.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: The Minister should look at the model that is being implemented North of the Border where the Government gives one free desludging per tank, per annum. Why can we not examine that model or the one in Scotland? Why must we always pass the cost on to consumers? Why must we consider this as a stealth tax, a way of taking money into the economy? Our people are more important than that,...
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: We are spending â¬400 million a year to upgrade urban sewerage systems. If the Minister is going ahead with this Bill, where is the financial incentive for people to upgrade their septic tanks? A grant of at least 85% should be given to anyone facing such costs, but that is not provided for in the legislation. The Bill is flawed and we will fight it at every turn on this side of the...
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: People living in the country have to go to the toilet as well. The Minister should not forget that.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: There are alternative solutions.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: It is â¬17,000 per household. People cannot afford that.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: There are heads in the sand, but not mine.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: If the Deputy stays around for a while, we will tell her exactly what we propose.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: The cost is being passed on to the ordinary people.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: That is all they pay.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: No, I did not.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: They do not pay â¬17,000 for an upgrade charge.
- Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)
Brian Ó Domhnaill: I am not proposing anything in respect of paying the fines.