Results 6,561-6,580 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

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

Barry Cowen: Deputy Byrne does not speak for everyone.

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

Barry Cowen: It is 666.

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

Barry Cowen: Like Deputy Brian Stanley, I welcome the commitment in the section confirming that Irish Water will no longer have the power to request PPS numbers. Just this week, an article in The Irish Times showed that if it had not been for the will of Department officials to resist the demands of Irish Water for these details the provisions on PPS numbers might not have changed. It seems Irish Water...

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

Barry Cowen: The Minister is removing the provision.

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

Barry Cowen: The Minister constructed Irish Water.

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

Barry Cowen: Why is it off-balance-sheet?

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

Barry Cowen: When were Members informed about this?

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

Barry Cowen: On a point of order, the Minister has referred to a decision made in 2014 that contravened the terms of previous legislation, the debate on which was guillotined in this Chamber last December and which set out the authority for Irish Water to take on board assets and liabilities. It was then decided in May 2014 that this would not be the case and that the liabilities would not be taken on...

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

Barry Cowen: It contravened the terms of legislation-----

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

Barry Cowen: -----and no matter how ridiculously it was put through the House, it was nonetheless legislation passed by the majority of Members of the House.

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

Barry Cowen: It set out clearly that the assets and liabilities would be transferred to Irish Water. Members still do not know what the assets are or how much they amount to. They have now been told - at this late hour as usual - that there is €460 million owed to the Housing Finance Agency which will be financed by the taxpayer. As for the outstanding €150 million pertaining to...

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

Barry Cowen: One presumes it is €460 million.

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

Barry Cowen: Therefore, it is a subvention.

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

Barry Cowen: Of course, it is, as the local authorities owed it.

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

Barry Cowen: It is another major sweetener for Irish Water.

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

Barry Cowen: Members do not know how much the assets are worth.

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

Barry Cowen: It is €11 billion.

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

Barry Cowen: Will the Minister put that in writing?

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

Barry Cowen: They were members of the local authorities that decided to do it.

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

Barry Cowen: It contravenes the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013.