Results 9,441-9,460 of 10,577 for speaker:Barry Cowen
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: It must be an excessively big document when one thinks the Minister has had it since June and has not brought it to Cabinet yet.
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: The whole country can talk about options that might or might not be in the report while the Minister decides what he wants to take from it. This fanfare must come to an end. The Minister has to bring about a proper budgetary and management system. The whole thing is in complete disarray.
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: It goes back to the troika and all the rest of it. We are hearing that for the past few years.
- Other Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: That the Government did not renegotiate the agreement, having promised it would.
- Other Questions: Local Government Reform (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: I thank the Minister for his answer. When he brings forward his local government reform package I hope he does not simply seek to grab headlines and score political points by cutting councils and councillors for the sake of it. I am aware of the need for streamlining in this area. We cannot have, for example, up to 115 representatives in one county. I am also aware that local authorities...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: We know it is an option.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: We know you made a commitment to the electorate you would overturn it, re-negotiate it and do everything with it. However, when it suits you it is a problem.
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: Will the Minister publish it?
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: I have a follow-on question on the fact that Bord Gais-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: It appears that Bord Gais is in the process of recruiting fitters and engineers but I have yet to learn when their work might commence and I do not know to what infrastructure they have access. Where stands the expertise in the local authorities to which the Minister so proudly states he can provide funding so they can provide services? He is taking one of the long-standing-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: -----facilities available to the electorate, namely, local authority water services. Where stands this expertise and local knowledge and these engineers in local authorities? How will they be employed in local authorities? Are they being asked to transfer to Bord Gais?
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the current timeframe for the introduction of water metering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39118/12]
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Water Charges (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: A couple of questions emanate from the Minister's answer. The timeframe seems to have been amended because earlier this year - to great fanfare when the process was announced - the date for the installation of all the water meters was 2014. There was also an indication that 2,000 jobs would be created. Is the timeframe now in tatters? Today, Bord na Móna announced much restructuring...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: The Minister mentioned "as instructed by me" so I take that as a "Yes" to Deputy Stanley's question. Can the Minister tell me if the Data Protection Commissioner has been consulted by his Department on foot of the actions of Clare County Council and, it appears, what we can expect from other councils into the future?
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: Has the Data Protection Commissioner been consulted?
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: Is the Minister aware whether he has been consulted or not?
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: But the Minister is aware that-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: I welcome back the Minister and thank him for his response. It is as if nothing has changed. The environment could be described as a new Angola there are that many landmines exploding throughout the country-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: -----as a result of various actions or inactions by the Government parties on issues such as this. I am mindful of the situation that has emanated from Clare County Council in the last day or two. It now appears to be the policy of local authorities to seek a tax clearance certificate or a household charge receipt when it comes to education grants. Is that something the Minister has...
- Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Government Fund (18 Sep 2012)
Barry Cowen: -----and he is now penalising them for something that is no fault of theirs but is the result of the incoherence of his Government. To return to the bones of my question-----