Results 5,781-5,800 of 7,823 for speaker:Jim Daly

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I am always intrigued when outrage and indignation are expressed when newspapers, etc., print headlines indicating that our motor tax will fund Irish Water and, by extension, the provision of water. May I take it from the presentation that the moneys collected for motor tax in this country have always gone towards the supply of treated water to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: So motor tax always funded the provision of water and it is not, as indicated by certain media outlets, a new development since the establishment of Irish Water. I thank the witness for clarifying the position. Mr. McCarthy introduced a wonderful word, "hypothecation", that I have never come across before. I will again stick with the motor tax issue. I understand the point made that if...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: There is an objection to hypothecation in the general taxation system but is there an economic objection to a specific tax raised being ring-fenced.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: I thank Deputy Cowen but perhaps Mr. McCarthy could comment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: I am trying to get at what would apply if a specific water tax were introduced, as opposed to water charges, and it was guaranteed to be ring-fenced for the funding of provision of water. Is there an economic objection to that sort of a proposal? Is it similar to the economic objection for introducing hypothecation into general taxation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: We have a car tax so could we have a water tax? Would there be an objection to hypothecation in that case?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: It is not really a policy question, it is based in economics. Is it difficult for the Department of Finance to ring-fence or specifically raise a tax for expenditure in that specific area? That is, if the committee could take the policy decision to introduce a water tax. I am just being hypothetical here as opposed to hypothecating. They are all lovely words. That is the point I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, and Department of Finance (18 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: I am not an awful lot wiser.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Relocation (18 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: 213. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application (details supplied) under the central applications facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2065/17]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicles (17 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: 1480. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the establishment of a dedicated task force involving relevant Government Departments and all stakeholders to report on the use of electric vehicles here. [41638/16]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. The debate on Irish Water was brought into stark focus when I was telling my nine year old son that I would not be at home for his birthday because I had an important meeting in Dublin about water. He said: "Are ye still arguing about that, Dad?" I said: "I am." In a nod to the nausea that many people are experiencing, I will be brief and I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: No, he did not but I might get that question tomorrow when I get home. I have a question for both Irish Water and the Commission for Energy Regulation. Can either confirm the cost of the provision of water to the people of Ireland prior to 2014? I would appreciate an answer before I ask the next question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: Have savings been made by the Exchequer as a result of the establishment of Irish Water vis-à-visthe provision of water from the local authorities? My understanding is that the cost of providing the households of Ireland with water was in the region of €1.3 billion prior to the establishment of Irish Water.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: That figure for savings of €70 million is from Irish Water's figures from 2014 to 2016. However, what was the figure for 2013 when 34 separate local authorities ran 34 separate billing systems? Is Irish Water aware of the cost of the provision of water to the households in Ireland in 2013?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: My understanding is that the cost to local authorities was €1.3 billion versus less than €800 million under a single utility. I want that fact established, if that is the case. I would like that information to be articulated. It is my guess that the regulator is not aware of the information I am looking for either. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: Can we quantify the savings?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services: Irish Water and Commission for Energy Regulation (12 Jan 2017)

Jim Daly: It would be important that those would be obtained. I am not sure why neither body dealing with it has not provided them. I appreciate the Chair's offer to try and get those figures. On the same topic, I ask Irish Water to elaborate. Mr. McNicholas spoke about the set-up cost of Irish Water. As practising politicians, we deal all day, every day with myth versus reality. Commentators,...