Results 7,401-7,420 of 10,573 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (18 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: 203. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has not received their disadvantaged area payment; when they will receive same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48852/14]

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: Would he like to see other elements of the public service in the Constitution? Would he like to include schools in the Constitution? What schools would be included and excluded? Would he like to give preferential treatment to certain schools because they are fee-paying or are of a certain denomination?

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: What the Minister is doing meets the legitimate concerns of people who have worries about the possible privatisation of Irish Water. Throughout the past week of debate and since the issue has been resurrected, the Opposition has failed to have any element of trust in the electorate. It continually mentions what a future Government may or may not do. It may very well be in government. The...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: -----where Members have to continually knock everything will soon be vacated. The day may come when Deputies Donnelly, Healy and Boyd Barrett might have to cobble together a programme for Government. Deputy Donnelly, along with others, is considering forming a party or a group of Independents, or neoliberal hawks, as someone referred to them. I was beginning to think a hen harrier was...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: I will finish on this point.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: I have listened to a lot of ráiméis since I came here, nothing of which was to do with water. The banking inquiry commenced public hearings today on an element of the recent past in this country, where fundamental mistakes were made. There is an acknowledgement by the Minister, the Government and the Minister of State that the previous legislation on the establishment of Irish...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is very clear that charges are on the way. The charge for desludging septic tanks-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: Deputy Mattie McGrath has a particular interest in this because he talks about it constantly. I cannot see him cobbling together a Government with Sinn Féin. The charge for desludging septic tanks will be £152 in Northern Ireland. Sinn Féin talks about privatisation of a utility in Ireland. Someone who talks out of both sides of his or her mouth at the same time is, in...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Minister's amendment is well thought out, comprehensive and deals with people's concerns. The Opposition does not like the fact that the Minister has dealt with the issue. It has decided to approach the Constitution in a clumsy manner. Some people call this a so-called Parliament. The Opposition would dilute the powers of the Constitution and erode what it is supposed to be about,...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: This is an important issue because RTE is a public service that is fundamental to our democracy. While it is vital that it is kept at arm's length from the Government, it is not the subject of an article in the Constitution.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: I note the Chair gave plenty of latitude to three Opposition Deputies who voted for the programme for Government and had no difficulty with this element of it when it was proposed. One of them even took up a position as Minister of State.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: I appreciate that but I have waited patiently to speak for more than an hour. I am surprised and disappointed by Deputy Donnelly's approach to this debate. He has omitted from his argument the fundamental issue of the Irish people in whom he obviously does not have any trust.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: The role of Deputies is to serve the people and it is the people who will determine the hue of the next Government. Deputy Donnelly may very well be a member of the next Government and if he is, good luck to him. I can imagine what he and his new ally, Deputy Boyd Barrett, would come up with in government. It is lovely to see there are no policy differences between them. If they are in...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: Given that he could well be part of a Government, he should at least trust himself. This amendment would prevent a repeat of what Fianna Fáil did with Eircom, Aer Lingus and a couple of other semi-State companies they are conveniently trying to forget about. I do not recall a constitutional referendum being held on depriving people in rural areas of a broadband service for generations...

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy may have won that argument if he had been knocking around at the time. I note Deputy Fitzmaurice has left the Chamber. The amendment would insert in the Constitution references to aquifers, rivers, septic tanks, hosepipes in backyards and companies in my constituency which draw water from the ground and bottle and sell it to consumers.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: It does not define what should be placed under national control.

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: Is it rain, rivers, aquifers and pipes?

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: While Deputy Donnelly clearly has a problem with people who live in the country and provide their own water or pay for group water schemes-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: I cannot understand the reason the Deputies opposite are so anti-rural and want to treat rural dwellers differently. Since the foundation of the State, successive Governments have treated people in rural areas as second class citizens. This is the first time ever-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2014)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am surprised at Deputy Healy as he comes from a rural constituency. I hope he will encourage everyone in south Tipperary with a well to avail of the €100 grant. 8 o’clock He is already printing the leaflets. This is a clumsy attempt by the Opposition to try to gain some sort of kudos with the public in regard to one element they may have had a genuine concern about. I...