Results 961-980 of 2,438 for speaker:Caít Keane

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Business of Joint Committee (22 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: I thought we were to set them to airplane mode. We got an e-mail from the IT services.

Seanad: Irish Water: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: It is about Ministers micro-managing and devolving responsibility.

Seanad: Irish Water: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: I welcome the Minister of State and I welcome the opportunity to discuss Uisce Éireann and the setting up of a large new board. I listened to the last speaker expound about what is bad about it, but I have not heard anything as to how it should be done better. It was agreed by the troika and by the last Government that it would be done. We will take away from the negativity. Uisce...

Seanad: Irish Water: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: Thank you. Our water supplies are one of our most important national resources. While Ireland has an abundance of water, it is expensive and it costs €1.2 billion per year to run. The current service is inefficient. Even at this cost to the taxpayer, the water network has suffered from severe under-investment by previous Administrations. The creation of a national water utility...

Seanad: Irish Water: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: My God.

Seanad: Irish Water: Statements (22 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: The Department, led by the Minister and the Minister of State, are seeking to ensure that the cost incurred will deliver the benefits, ensuring the energy regulator has the wherewithal, the staff and the expertise to ensure that when services are costed properly, and that people will be responsible for any actions they may take. Establishing Irish Water through Bord Gáis has yielded...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: I compliment Senators Paul Coghlan, Maurice Cummins and Michael Mullins on bringing the Bill before the House. Since I became a member I have heard many raise the issue of what the large, out-of-town shopping centres are doing to local cities, and the urban and neighbourhood communities. We have seen the different policies of each local authority around the country. There are...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Tom Arnold (16 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: I welcome Mr. Arnold and compliment him on the work he has done in the citizens' assembly, or rather the Constitutional Convention. I mentioned "citizens' assembly" inadvertently as I knew it was a term used in the Fine Gael document. I do not think any party had a monopoly in the setting up of the convention, but in our manifesto before the last election there was a recommendation that a...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Tom Arnold (16 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: -----nomination be extended to the people. My recollection is that the Government decided to send this issue to an Oireachtas committee for recommendation. I know the Senator was very exercised because this was missing; it is not but rather has been referred to an Oireachtas committee. Can there be clarification in that regard?

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: Now.

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: This has been the most reforming Minister for local government we have seen since the foundation of the local government system. There has been a radical overhaul of the system. As somebody who has been involved in local government for 20 years and in response to Senator Paschal Mooney's last statement that local councils have been denuded of their powers, massive power has been given to...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: Local democracy is very valuable and we all want it to be devolved to the lowest possible level. Two thirds of a district council must support the development plan. The amendment relates to plans to rezone specific areas. I am concerned about the possibility that proposals that are beneficial to the majority of the population of a county may be opposed by a few local councillors due to...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Motion to Recommit (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: I move: That Seanad Éireann, pursuant to Standing Order 130 of the Standing Orders Relative to Public Business, directs that the Local Government Bill 2013 be recommitted to Committee Stage in respect of amendments Nos. 29 to 32, inclusive, and amendment No. 34.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: The fact is, Senator Walsh-----

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: I congratulate Senator Walsh on being the only Member to have used the term "Uisce Éireann" during his contribution. The term is included in the legislation.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: I just wish to point to the €2 billion in savings by 2020. Nobody in the House has mentioned that at all but it is a fact.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: Nobody mentioned the savings that will be made by a doubling of the capital investment and the leakage-----

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: I am supporting the calls for debates on Uisce Éireann and on homelessness. In the latter context, I welcome what Senators Hayden and Bacik have said about Dublin City Council reversing the cuts to its homeless services budget. On the question of coastal protection, as a native of Connemara, I wish to point out that my area was very badly hit during the recent storms. The Minister of...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: I wish a happy new year to everybody and a fruitful new year to Uisce Éireann. It is a huge task to set up a new organisation, bringing-----

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Caít Keane: I support the call made by Senator Darragh O'Brien for a debate, because it is important that all of the facts are brought to the floor of the Seanad and the Dáil. I believe the Minister will have no problem with that. The fact of the matter is that €2 billion-----