Results 4,741-4,760 of 5,132 for speaker:Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (1 Dec 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Níl me chun mórán a rá faoin scéal seo. Sílim go bhfuil go leor le moladh sa mhéid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Barrett maidir le freagracht ó thaobh cúrsaí airgeadais sa tír seo. There is substantially a great deal to be said for the broad element of what Senator Barrett proposes. We obviously need to see value for money from every penny spent by this State. We have many...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Should we export Senator D'Arcy?

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (30 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire agus ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an díospóireacht seo, díospóireacht atá thar a bheith tábhachtach. Tá cúrsaí turasóireachta iontach tábhachtach sa tír seo le go dtiocfaimid chuig a chéile. While the skills and expertise of the Minister of State have been mentioned, the fact that he is also a singing Minister of State has not....

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I dtosach báire, ba mhaith liom soiléiriú ón gCeannaire más féidir maidir leis an díospóireacht a bhí geallta faoi chúrsaí Gaeltachta. Cénuair a tharlóidh sin? Bhímid ag súil leis an taobh seo den Nollaig. I echo the call by Senator Leyden about funding for People with Disabilities in Ireland, PWDI, the removal of which is a retrograde step. The Medical Research Charities...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We would appreciate if the trim being given to former taoisigh and top civil servants was in the same vein as the short back and sides or a No. 1 blade haircut being given to people on lower incomes around the country. It is an optical illusion and it is a disgrace that the Government has not gone further. We have called for a debate on ministerial perks and pensions and the amount of money...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We need a serious debate on why this Government has not been serious and is insulting the people by flying kites about budgets, medical cards and severe cuts being made to people on very low incomes, while the high society of Ireland is getting away with minuscule cuts to their already extensive remuneration packages. It is an absolute disgrace.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We will not move amendment No. 7 because it is ostensibly the same motion and we would like to debate some of the other amendments.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 8: In page 6, to delete lines 46 to 48 and substitute the following: "(12) A person who fails to comply with a request under subsection (11) within 10 days, shall receive a warning notification and must produce within 90 days.". Táimid ag bualadh leis an leasú moltach seo. We were just looking at the time allocated being ten days for someone who fails to comply with...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: That is why he was seeking for Cavan to be exempt.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I thank the Minister for taking into consideration our constructive proposal and I thank Senator Keane for supporting it, as it is important. We suggest that 90 days is a reasonable amount of time. I also thank the Minister for his clarification that failure to register will not be a criminal offence, although whether that will follow through the full legal system is unknown. Somebody may...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: There might be many who cannot. The issue we have had from day one is that many people are not in a position to pay even if they want to.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: There is no inability-to-pay clause anywhere in this Bill which would apply if a citizen was in negative equity or in circumstances in which he or she could not pay even if she wanted to. We are opposed to anyone ending up in prison as a result of this process. The State should back people up. If we are able to pay €26,000 a day in fines to Europe, surely we should be able to help...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: I move amendment No. 10: In page 7, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: "(c) that if it can be shown by reference to the owner of the domestic waste water treatment system's income, that they do not have the means to pay the fine, in the opinion of the inspector, that the fee be waived;". The amendment is related to the point I have just made. There was a lot of debate last...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: We are disappointed that the Minister refuses to take on board our suggestions. The Ombudsman has intervened in regard to the waste waivers that have been introduced by some county councils but not others. She believes it would be preferable to implement a national policy on waivers. This is why we suggest this should be introduced at a national level. We completely disagree on the...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: This €50 charge is pertinent.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Absolutely. It is about the fee to be waived. I am speaking about the €50 fee.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: This is a specific issue. It pertains to the ability to pay, which is mentioned.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: With respect, the amendment refers to cases in which people do not have the means to pay the fine. I am speaking about the ability to pay the fine. In the current economic situation people do not have the means to pay but the Government is disregarding this factor. We will press the amendment.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: Sinn Féin supports the general thrust of the comments made by the previous speakers. I seek clarification on the statement made. I had envisaged there might be a Government amendment to this provision because the Minister made a statement last week when questioned about SACs, NHAs and SPAs. Members made the point that considerable worry had been expressed regarding houses that had been...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2011)

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh: That is what the Minister said about the regulations.