Results 11,901-11,920 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not see an issue about the transparency of that transfer as it will only happen once. The council, the Minister and Irish Water, will know. I do not see any issue arising. The transfer will not be in cash. If a local authority has a cash fund of lodgments as a result of planning applications and lodgments of cash for water services, this will be kept on the balance sheet of the local...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is another technical amendment to provide that the definition for employment transfer day is included in section 5, which deals with the definitions to be used in Part 2 of the Bill. The "employment transfer day" applies to staff transferring to Irish Water under section 15 of the Bill.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is a drafting amendment to clarify that a ministerial order under section 12 shall designate such property or such class or classes of property of a water services authority as the Minister may determine.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is it appropriate for me to respond to the issues raised?

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I read the newspapers this morning as well. I understand that the Dublin City Manager said the Minister or his Department refused to come. As I understand it, he was advised that the date of the meeting was one where we would be here in the Seanad. Certainly, I and my officials were unable to attend because we had to be here but we have no problem meeting with and listening to him. That...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (17 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: These are technical amendments to amend the drafting of the definition of an "excluded provision". Excluded provisions are matters that will not transfer to Irish Water, such as rural water, domestic waste water systems and storm water sewers.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (17 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together. I wish to inform the Deputy that there are no authorisations extant in respect of onshore petroleum exploration in Ireland. Three onshore licensing options were granted in the term of the previous Government for the two year period from 1 March 2011 to 28 February 2013, over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) Basin...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (17 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 356, 357 and 372 together. Onshore Licensing Options were granted to the three companies referenced by the Deputy in the term of the previous Government for the two year period from 1 March 2011 to 28 February 2013. Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd and the Lough Allen Natural Gas Company Ltd were each granted an Onshore Licensing Option over parts of the North...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Obviously, there are clear environmental and economic benefits that can accrue from reducing demand for water and the subsequent and expensive treatment of raw water for human consumption. Large-scale rainwater harvesting systems, as Members already have mentioned, already are used by some schools, factories and other buildings and have been incorporated into a number of private...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It certainly is new information-----

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: ----- that meters encourage extra use, rather than reducing it. In essence, while there will not be grants for rainwater harvesting, there will be every incentive to reduce one's water consumption because one will be paying for what one uses. Therefore, it makes a great deal of sense to cut back and cut down. The reduction in demand also will have an impact on costs and for capital costs...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: For the Senator's information, this is purely an interim measure and it is not intended that this will continue for any length of time.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As I stated-----

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Senator should not be.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: A later Government amendment clarifies the issue of privatisation.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: That amendment makes it clear that one share shall be owned by Irish Water and the remaining shares shall be divided between the Departments of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Neither Minister can dispose of his or her share. We addressed this on Second Stage and I made it clear in a previous debate that there will not be...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Section 28 provides that the Minister may provide grants to Irish Water or to the Commission for Energy Regulation. Section 28(1) provides that these grants will be out of money provided by the Oireachtas. The Oireachtas has a vote in the budget so Senators have a direct say. The money cannot be passed if the Oireachtas does not agree to it and the amendment is unnecessary on those grounds.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Section 28 as drafted is standard provision in legislation which provides for ministerial approval of borrowing by a semi-State organisation. Accordingly, the borrowings of Irish Water are subject to the consent of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government as the Minister with responsibility for water services and of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are the only OECD country that does not.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The charges have already been agreed.