Results 7,861-7,880 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen

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

Barry Cowen: Exactly. The first point I made is that I welcome this but I also outlined my disappointment about communications breaking down to the extent that the same questions were asked some months ago and the relevant answers were not provided at that stage. Does Mr. Tierney believe that Irish Water should be subject to scrutiny by the Comptroller and Auditor General? It is not configured to...

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

Barry Cowen: Okay. I will deal with FOI in a moment. Specifically, however, what Mr. Tierney is saying is that if the Government amended the legislation which currently governs Irish Water in order that it would be answerable to the Comptroller and Auditor General, he would not have a difficulty with that.

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

Barry Cowen: That is fine. I will take that as a "Yes". The existing legislation passed by the Dáil - by means of a Government-imposed guillotine - prior to Christmas includes an obligation on Irish Water's representatives to come before this committee once a year. Provision was not made to allow the committee to compel the company's representatives to come before it more often than that. In the...

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

Barry Cowen: Good. This is an indication of Irish Water's continued willingness in that regard. As stated, the legislation only makes provision for one meeting per year and the representatives of Irish Water cannot be compelled to come before us again during a calendar year if they do not wish to do so. I am glad to hear that Mr. Tierney is interested in that issue. Another issue, which has been...

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

Barry Cowen: I do not doubt that nor do I doubt the witness's bona fides in that regard. Many of us are at a loss. Where is the breakdown in communication? Was Mr. Tierney aware that I and others, including Deputy Humphreys, asked questions of the Minister in the Dáil last year?

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

Barry Cowen: These questions specifically pertained to the answers provided here today. I am concerned that it appears the only reason we are here today and the only reason we have been provided with extensive replies is because Mr. Tierney answered a question from a radio journalist last week, a question to which I or others could not get an answer in our Parliament. Mr. Tierney tells me he was not...

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

Barry Cowen: So it was a failure of the Department to inform Mr. Tierney of the question.

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

Barry Cowen: We are hoping to create a new atmosphere whereby we can all work together for the betterment of those whom we represent and on whose behalf Mr. Tierney has a responsibility to work. In my view, the first lesson in that regard may be for someone to acknowledge the failings of that system to which Mr. Tierney referred. This does not in any way create the sort of trust and support that Mr....

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

Barry Cowen: When I asked previously why Bord Gáis was used as the vehicle for the creation of Irish Water, against the advice of a PwC report commissioned by the Minister, I received an answer but it did not contain much information. If Mr. Tierney is telling me that the culture is going to change, I am pleased to hear it because this blocking of information cannot continue. I refer to the table...

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

Barry Cowen: I thank the CEO of Irish Water and his staff for making themselves available, regardless of the circumstances by which we have arrived at this juncture. There will be several interactions during this process of questioning on the report we have just received. The document the delegates have presented today is very welcome. The circumstances surrounding its publication are unfortunate....

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

Barry Cowen: I thank Mr. Tierney. He says Irish Water has no role in the process of responding to parliamentary questions. The Minister’s answer to me was that the Department would be in touch with Irish Water which would, in turn, give me an answer. I have not heard from it. It has public relations people at its disposal. Is it not their job to watch out for the publication of such questions?...

Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: I join other speakers in commending the Minister, his staff and the Members who contributed to bringing this issue to the fore with a view to publishing legislation. Legislation is a starting point by which the issue may be resolved so that people can receive compensation and rectification of their homes. I acknowledge that the Minister said during the process that he is open to amendments...

Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: I move amendment No. 4:In page 10, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:"(6) The Chairperson of the Board shall if requested, 12 months from the establishment day and at least once per annum thereafter come before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment to provide a report including financial details on the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme and other matters...

Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: Is Deputy Cowen pressing his amendment?

Order of Business (19 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: The brevity is the problem.

Order of Business (19 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: Stand up and withdraw it. Be a man.

Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: The Minister wants to go to Brussels in order to get rid of it.

Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: We are getting that back in July, according to Enda.

Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: The Minister has time to answer that question, but he does not want to answer it.

Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (19 Dec 2013)

Barry Cowen: He will not even stay here.