Results 7,821-7,840 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

Private Members' Business - Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: The Taoiseach said the opposite earlier on.

Private Members' Business - Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: I move:That Dáil Éireann: notes:— the critical role water plays in our social and economic infrastructure and the right of all citizens to access a safe, clean and sustainable water supply; — the need for a comprehensive national water investment program to improve, protect and maintain supplies to homes and industry throughout the country; — that investment...

Private Members' Business - Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: Then we are led to believe that he went to the Cabinet to agree a budget for 2014. There were some heavy hitters facing him there, including Deputies Noonan, Howlin, Coveney, Varadkar, Burton and Bruton. They had only one question to ask of him, "Have you enough in €180 million, Phil?" Last week on Carlow radio, Phil feigned surprise at the €50 million figure, saying it was...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Projects Funding (15 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: 920. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the tendering process for the national genealogy centre will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55252/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: When did it become apparent to Mr. Tierney that he needed €400 million to deal with this issue and when did he make the Department aware of that fact?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: Mr. Tierney had long since flagged those figures. The Department or its political master was late in making the funds available.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: Local authorities were led to believe -----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: An internal procurement system rather than an open system applies.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: I respect that, even if the threshold is high.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: That is an internal process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: Will Mr. Cowhig furnish the committee with details of the amount expended on contracts valued under €400,000 which are subject to Irish Water's internal mechanism for selecting successful applicants?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: I am referring to those contracts that are not awarded in an open competition, the amount involved as a percentage of all contracts and the companies to which the money has been paid.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: I am also referring to the €400 million provided by the Government from revenue from the property tax.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: The €400 million is specifically for maintenance contracts which are still under the guidance of local authorities and have not yet been taken in charge by Irish Water. Is that the case?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: I understand that and I regard it as a once-off payment. When did Irish Water flag to the Department that upwards of €400 million would have to be used in that fashion? Is the entire sum being used in that fashion? If not, how much of it is being used in that fashion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: As I indicated, local authorities were led to believe, again by their political master, that they would retain 80% of the revenue accruing from the local property tax this year to fund other services and goods they provide. Towards the end of the year, they were informed this was not the case and the revenue would instead be allocated to Irish Water. When was this issue flagged to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: Back-in or the back end. Mr. Barry obviously supports the model that the Government has charged him with the responsibility of implementing. Personally, I do not agree with that model and I do not necessarily agree that he has inherited a series of ad hoclocal authority systems throughout the country. I am mindful of the fact that 33% of Irish Water's staff came from the local authority...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: Does a contract of €380,000 have to be subjected to open competition?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: It does not have to. Have many? The figure is high and excessive. I am interested to know how many contracts under €400,000 have been awarded without open competition and can Mr. Barry furnish the committee with the amount in total that has been awarded in any such contracts. Could it be possible that multiple such contracts were awarded and what is the amount in total; have some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Barry Cowen: Mr. Tierney initially went in September 2012 for approval.