Results 12,081-12,100 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As the Senator knows, Irish Water must consult local authorities on their development plans and commitments that have been entered into. If an industry wanted to move to Waterford it would be important for it to know whether a commitment had been given. In some cases, funds might have been given to the local authority to provide special services to a particular industry. No matter where...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I refer the Senators to section 26(1), which states: Irish Water shall—(a) after consultation with the Commission, the Agency, each local authority and each regional body, and (b) not later than such date as the Minister may direct,prepare and submit to the Minister a plan...The provision means that it must consult with everybody concerned. There is no concern about a lack of due and...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Mar a dúirt mé, ní thuigim cén fáth go gcuirtear an cheist seo i dtaobh an Bhille seo. Tuigim go bhfuil fadhbanna faoi leith i gContae Dún na nGall. Má chuireann an Seanadóir na ceisteanna chuig an comhairle contae nó chugamsa, déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall freagra a thabhairt dó. Maidir le na hargóintí a bhí ag an...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Níl baint ag na tuairimí sin le Uisce Éireann.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall freagra a thabairt ar na tuairimí sin. Maidir leis an méid adúirt an Seanadóir Ó Domhnaill, I will try to clarify the issue. Private infrastructure is not mentioned in the Bill. It is only infrastructure for which a local authority is accountable - in other words, water or sewerage infrastructure that a local authority is in...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ba chóir go mbeadh an caighdeán ó thaobh an EPA agus ó thaobh uisce ceart. Tá caighdeáin sláintiúla ann agus caithfear cloí leo sin. Ní féidir uisce a chur ar fáil gan cloí le na caighdeáin.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely. It is a consultative group comprising the Department, Uisce Éireann, local authority managers and local authority trade union representatives. I do not see an issue arising.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are working under the rules of the Seanad rather than mine. I am happy to provide responses that are not allowed to be given now and will get the answers to Senators before Thursday, if I can. This is all about transparency and accountability and I am happy for it to be that way. We must work within the rules as we go through the sections. Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh raised a...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: If the parties agreed to it.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: After two years there might be consideration of how it was working. If a person is living in County Westmeath, as opposed to Dublin city, there would be different issues. There is a standard service level agreement which is consensual. There may be consideration of progress, how the process is working, whether it can be made more efficient and if parties can agree on a plan and move forward.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, but there may be an agreement not to continue for 12 years. In the same way, the process could be longer. There are 34 local authorities which are massively different in terms of size of population, infrastructure, etc. We are dealing with major cities and small counties, with different issues in each of them.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: In adjoining local authorities common infrastructure may be developed. For instance, there is an arrangement that Louth County Council in Drogheda runs the water supply services for east Meath. Of course, service level agreements between Irish Water and local authorities can vary. It would, however, be by consent. For example, an adjoining local authority, such as a city, should be able...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is the Senator talking about councils or councillors?

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I look forward to hearing the Senator's questions, because I want to answer them.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand it is being done.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: If the Senator provides the names of the estates I will follow up through the Department.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Gas Regulation Act 2013 included an interim measure to provide for the making and approval of superannuation schemes by Irish Water. This was considered necessary to enable Irish Water to put in place superannuation schemes pending the enactment of this Bill. As the legislation establishes a comprehensive statutory framework for the company to put in place pension schemes for any staff...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: We spoke earlier about local authorities taking over estates, and the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, is working with local authorities. The difference with the infrastructure to be transferred to Irish Water is that the company will not be taking over the estates. The local authority will continue to have responsibility for the estates. The water assets will transfer to Irish...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The cost of doing the work refers to the staff associated with the administration of the legislation, in other words, officials in the Department. This is a technical aspect of the section.

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (10 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, the obligation applies to finished housing estates.