Results 11,941-11,960 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

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

Fergus O'Dowd: This is a very important issue. I have a commitment from Irish Water or Uisce Éireann and the local authorities that they will establish a local point of contact in each council area. In other words, an employee of the county council will be one of the points of contact specifically for water issues. In keeping with the expectations of elected representatives, the contact point will...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: It is not a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, but for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I understand the inclusion of Irish Water under this legislation will be further considered by that Minister. That is as far as I can go.

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

Fergus O'Dowd: I will try to get exact clarification of the words that were used for tomorrow.

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

Fergus O'Dowd: What would the Senator include that is not there?

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

Fergus O'Dowd: I am not an expert on codes of practice but I know what I would like to see included therein, as does the Senator. He has his view on this and I have mine. The CER has a great deal of experience and knowledge in this area. My point is that it is open to Senators to ensure commission members are brought before the committee for a comprehensive engagement. That is far more than making...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: The Senator is talking about group water schemes that have a public water supply, not group water schemes that have their own separate water supply. They would have the same arrangement as they have at present. If they are with the local authority, it can help and work with them. They will be customers of Uisce Éireann so it will have the same responsibility and workmanlike...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: Capital funding for the group sector remains with the Department so it is not transferring to Irish Water. In other words, it will be a matter for the Department and the group water scheme to work on, but the schemes would be customers of Irish Water as well, given it is supplying them with the water. I can get a further briefing note for the Senator, if that is helpful to him.

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

Fergus O'Dowd: The Senator raises a very important point. The best and most honest thing I can say to him is that I will get him clarification on that for tomorrow. What I understand is that the capital funding for the group sector remains with the Department so it will not be going to Uisce Éireann. The Senator is making the point that they will become customers of Irish Water and he wants to know...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: I want to say very clearly, as I pointed out the last day, that the Oireachtas has a very important role and it is for the Members of the Oireachtas to decide they want to play that role. I pointed out that Senators making their comments here is very important. More important is the fact this is a consultative process. In other words, Irish Water makes the plan and it then goes to the...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not have all the answers. Policy issues are based on consultation and knowledge. Uisce Éireann will produce its plan and put it out for consultation. The local authority will then see what it wants each county to do, what the priorities are, following consultation. That has to be costed. Then it goes to the regulator who decides what the charge should be, if all the projects...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: This issue arose at a health board meeting I attended many years ago. The present Secretary General of the Department of Health happened to be an official of the health board at the time and said that there had been a significant improvement in dental hygiene and the age cohort of those who retain more of their teeth than ever before. Due to the fluoridation of water children are holding on...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: For capital expenditure. That is not the running cost.

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

Fergus O'Dowd: If I may, I will repeat some of the points I made. Section 27 provides that Irish Water shall prepare investment plans setting out where Uisce Éireann considers investment in infrastructure is necessary for the effective performance of its functions. That is the first point. There will be investment plans. In developing these investment plans, Uisce Éireann shall take account of...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: The amendments take account of consultations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and also with Irish Water and the local authorities. The agreed approach at the Irish Water consultative group needs to be reflected in this legislation. It is necessary to recognise that there will be future costs arising for Irish Water in respect of staff transferring to it from the public...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: This is a minor technical amendment to clarify the meaning of the term, "administrative area" which has the meaning assigned by the Local Government Act 2001.

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

Fergus O'Dowd: The service level agreement between a local authority and Uisce Éireann will last for 12 years which means the county council will be doing most of the work. Depending on the county the council may not be involved with design work but it will be involved in discussions with Uisce Éireann about the key projects and the cost predictions. Uisce Éireann must have regard to the...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: This Bill currently provides that Irish Water will be obligated to have regard to Government policy and guidelines when determining the remuneration or allowances for expenses to be paid for members of its staff. It will also be bound by Government guidance and codes of practice. That will cover the issues in regard to semi-State companies. Accordingly, the amendments proposed are unnecessary.

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

Fergus O'Dowd: Ba mhaith liom go ndéanfar leasuithe eile ar an mBille seo ar an gcéad Chéim eile chun cuid de na pointí atá ardaithe ag an Seanadóir a threisiú. There will be a small number of leasuithe ag teacht isteach ar an chéad Chéim eile den Bhille seo chun a chinntiú cad a tharlóidh nuair a fhágann daoine local authorities following the...

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

Fergus O'Dowd: There will be absolute clarity on that in amendments tabled on Report Stage tomorrow. The 12 years will be in the legislation. It is not in it at present, so we are working on a small number of amendments to clarify that. All outstanding issues in regard to pensions and so on will be clarified in amendments on Report Stage.

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

Fergus O'Dowd: These amendment are proposals for the superannuation section and take account of consultations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Irish Water and the local authority sector. The agreed approach is that the Irish Water consultative group needs to be reflected in the legislation. It has been agreed that the pension benefits accruing to public servants transferring to Irish...