Results 12,741-12,760 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Senator's comments and I will return to these issues.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: This Bill enables us to establish Uisce Éireann and it is not envisaged this will be in the full Bill when it is set up. It is to ensure that the board is required to comply with such policies of the Government as are specified in the direction. It is a prudent measure inserted at this stage to ensure Government policy is adhered to as we progress and the company is set up. The...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator Conway for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on such roads are funded from local...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As I am not a Minister in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, I am unable to answer the Senator's questions. However, I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister and ask him to reply directly.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: If it is helpful to the Senator, I have seen a local authority training manual in which reference is made to training staff for metering, including district metering. I understand the local authorities have a training centre where all this is done. If it is helpful, I would be happy to observe what is happening in Laois County Council. I have visited Galway and have observed what happens...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: If it is helpful to the Senator, the next legislative item to be introduced will deal with a lot more information than is available in this regard. However, I undertake to revert to the Senator with greater clarity in respect of what is happening and on what will be the principles. In order not to mislead the Senator, I refer to the issues that must be examined. For example, as the Senator...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Any moneys borrowed will be off the State balance sheet. Therefore, the borrowing, which will be a maximum of ¤500 million at any time, will be off the Government balance sheet and will not be on the State bill, as such. As regards different currencies, it means that when one is doing the sum as to whether the figure is under ¤500 million, one will use whatever the exchange rates are at...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can get the answer to that for Report Stage. I presume the company will go to the markets, but if somebody will lend them money, that is fine. I do not have the answer to that question but I will get it for the Senator.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is fine, but the question was raised and I shall not avoid giving an answer. The House is entitled to know the facts and I shall be back with them. I stand over transparency and accountability and I am sure the Cathaoirleach does as well but let us get it right. We must get this matter right. The measure will not work if we do not cross all of the t's and dot all of the i's, and...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Many of the points made by Senator Walsh are about a company which he is entitled to bring before the Oireachtas committee dealing with energy and interrogate it on the issues about which he is concerned. It is not my job to accept or reject what he says. He needs to make his points to Bord Gáis. I am happy to ensure he meets the company to discuss the points he has raised here, have them...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is very important that we get it right, and I accept it is the view of Senator Walsh that we must get it right and avoid the pitfalls and traps which can arise in State agencies and private companies. I will be happy to come back to him on Report State with the details on the questions he has raised. He is entitled to know the salary of the chief executive officer.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I repeat, district metering is already in place. If Senator Cullinane wishes to give me some correspondence on the point he makes, I would be happy to read it. The Government has approved the Bill containing both names. Absolutely nothing would prevent the company from using the Irish title. I would concur with the Senator's view. We speak not of "board horse" but of Bord na gCapall, not...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not dismiss it.

Death of Garda Adrian Donohoe: Expressions of Sympathy (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ba mhaith liom comhbhron ó chroí ar shon mhuintir Chontae Lú a ghabháil do chlann Adrian. Dúnmharú uafásach é seo a tharla i gContae Lú agus is méala mór a bhás dá chlann go léir agus don tír ar fad. Beidh cuimhne go deo air. On behalf of all the people of County Louth I would like to offer my sympathy as a...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Senator should read the Bill. It is clear.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: An independent subsidiary.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: There is no intention to privatise water services. The investment in this sector is key to our strategic interests and the legislation restates the existing prohibition on the privatisation of water assets. Legislation provides that one cannot own a public water asset. Internationally, publicly owned utilities are the norm in the water sector. Revenue generated by Irish Water will be...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Senators for their contributions. To cut to the heart of this matter, this job is too difficult for individual local authorities to deal with it. The rate of unaccounted for water in different counties, taking the examples of Fingal and the greater Dublin area, is approximately 23% to 24%. In counties Roscommon, Kerry, Cork and other such counties the rate is in the high 50%...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: He is a good Tipperary man-----