Results 1,361-1,380 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Change is always a challenge for all of us. To be fair we also have to have the courage. This is a time for courage. History is up to us.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I support the call for an urgent debate on Syria. I am extremely concerned about the emerging evidence in regard to detainees and the potential for crimes against humanity being committed there. The conflict in Syria has been going on for a long time. We need to consider what new actions can be taken to ensure that citizens are protected. I would appreciate having that debate as soon as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Presidency Priorities of Greece: Ambassador of Greece (16 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I welcome the ambassador to the meeting. Deputy Bernard Durkan referred to Greece's long and proud history and the fact that Greece gave democracy to the world. Now is another opportunity for Greece to lead in Europe. We have all endured tough times but perhaps Greece had the toughest time of all. However, that difficult experience could provide a potential for inspiration. What lessons...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wish my colleagues and friends in the House a happy new year. This has not been a nice new year for everybody. I was very saddened by a call I received last Sunday with regard to the horrific death of Tom O'Gorman. He was a very fine thinker and researcher and someone I had got to know recently. I offer my sympathies to his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. Yesterday...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I have a question for the Leader. People tabled questions to the Minister, of which Uisce Éireann was aware but it had no responsibility to answer them, but the Minister did not answer them either. I learned that rushed legislation, secret deals, and no answers except for a €50 million leak-----

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am coming to my question. This is despicable politics by the Minister, Deputy Hogan. I am ashamed to state it but it is true. It is not good enough for him to state he did not know, otherwise why is he in the position? We need a debate in the House on Oireachtas reform, which is required to ensure good parliamentary practice whereby Members of the Seanad and Dáil are not viewed...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: They rely on us and we are being viewed with contempt. It is not good enough.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Who knows what the savings might be?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Who knows?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is for the installation of meters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: At a cost of €539 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The information I have is that installing drive-by meters is obsolete.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I wish to clarify the information I have available. Drive-by meters are labour and vehicle intensive because one must drive by within 100 m to pick up levels of usage for billing, whereas smart meters are connected to a communications system which can connect directly with the utility. Therefore, there is no need to drive around in vehicles, which is a cost and which involves the emission...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: How costly would it have been?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am surprised, given the trend in Europe and the rest of the world to move to smart metering. Who made the decision to stay with drive-by meters which, as I stated, are labour and vehicle intensive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Driving around the country, up and down every avenue; this is incredible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: What was the cost for smart metering?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Will Mr. O'Donoghue do so?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I do not believe the issue of secondments was addressed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Expenditure Issues: Irish Water - Uisce Éireann (14 Jan 2014)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is not unusual to hire someone on secondment for 18 months if he or she has the right expertise and there was an 18 month timeframe.