Results 1,541-1,560 of 2,438 for speaker:Caít Keane

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: It was not the Senator?s county and I will not shame the county by mentioning it, but there is a league table. It is important there is investment to ensure this leakage stops, and it is important to get the money for this from somewhere. I will deal later with the question of incentives for consumers and problems such as people letting the taps run. The Minister of State spoke of the job...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: No, the Minister has stated there will be different-----

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: Some climate change models suggest Ireland may experience weather conditions in the future that could jeopardise security of our water supply. The CSO estimates that Ireland?s population could, in the highest scenario, rise by 1.5 million up to 2021. The EU water framework directive requires that EU member states introduce a river basin approach for the management of water and the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: Privatisation was mentioned. I am delighted the utility will remain a public resource, as the Minister has stated. This has been accommodated and the utility will be accountable to the Oireachtas. This was outlined last October in the Department?s water sector reform implementation strategy, which includes a section that addresses the joint committee?s 2012 report on water provision. It...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: The programme of financial support for Ireland with the EU, the IMF and the ECB includes a commitment to undertake an independent assessment of the transfer of responsibility for the water services from the local authority to a water utility, Uisce Éireann, which is a public utility, and prepare proposals for the implementation, as appropriate.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: Fianna Fáil signed up to it so I do not know what its members are talking about now. Are they reversing policy on the hoof now?

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: I spoke about water leakage and the cost this imposes on the customer. A staggering 36% of the total usage is leakage, which is a significant problem in terms of the international standards. Surprisingly, it has also highlighted the difficulties of implementing the river basin regional section. PwC carried out a very good study which outlines the various options. In particular, it is...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: In that case, I will not go through the principal theme of the Bill but there a few questions I wish to ask. The question arises all the time of how the metering of apartments will be managed and the question of free usage also arises frequently. To look at this fairly, we must particularly consider families who are in need, families with sick patients, the elderly and so on. When will we...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: I welcome the Minister of State who is responsible for bringing this Bill through the House today. We are always talking about the devolution of functions to local authorities, but this is an example of a Minister devolving a function to a Minister of State. I welcome the Bill, which provides for the establishment of Uisce Éireann, as the Minister of State has said. I intend to use the...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Order for Second Stage (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: I move: "That Second Stage be taken today."

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: I wish to raise the matter of the new report published by a cross-Border forum on young men and suicide. Myself and the Leader of the Seanad, Senator Maurice Cummins, spent the weekend on a cross-Border forum on trafficking and prostitution. There are good reports coming from the cross-Border groups including, in particular, this report on suicide. I am not involved in the forum. Dr. Noel...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: Does it not have to be agreed by the Leader that the House is open to such a suggestion?

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: There is another group worth mentioning, namely, the men's shed movement throughout the country. This is a new organisation for men. I call on the Leader - if this is the proper avenue to go down - to address this. I want it to actually happen. Sometimes when one raises things on the Order of Business it takes a long time. This is an urgent issue. Senator John Gilroy has raised the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: We are both singing off the same hymn sheet. The report issued today brought the matter to the fore again because Ireland has the highest rate in the EU.

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: If one is looking for local elected people and local democracy, that is what one is going to get.

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: Is the Senator saying she knows of one county in which that has happened?

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: On a point of order, I want to inform the House that incorrect information has been given. I chaired a meeting of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions-----

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: It is.

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: Let the record stand incorrectly then.

Seanad: Local Government Reform: Statements (22 Jan 2013)

Caít Keane: I did meet the community on behalf of the Government and it was passed onto the Government as well.