Results 18,021-18,040 of 21,041 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: There are no issues with regard to the market-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: There are no issues-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The Deputy asked me to answer a question and I am giving him my answer. There are no related issues. I repeat, this is already Government debt. That is a simple fact.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Wait one second.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Moreover, if it was transferred to Irish water-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Yes, it is not being transferred.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: However, if it was transferred to Irish Water, it obviously could result in changes to its cost base that could have an impact on everything relating to it in respect of-----

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is not accountancy trickery.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: It would be if it was not Government debt, but the Deputy should note it is already Government debt. In response to issues raised regarding a list of local authorities and to provide the rationale for the figure of €11 billion, based on local authority accounts for 2013, a considerable amount of work has been undertaken in 2014 to identify all loans and liabilities. This work is...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: The issue is being pushed into a bracket in which it should not be. It is a necessary transaction. While it is a large figure, it has been flagged previously.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Local authorities have water related loans totalling €600 million. That figure is broken down as follows: €150 million from various commercial lenders and, as has been outlined, approximately €450 million from the Housing Finance Agency. In May 2014 the Government agreed that these loans should not be transferred to Irish Water, as the combination of these loans and...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I apologise as I meant to give the number with regard to the transfer to the Deputy earlier. Approximately 144 have transferred and 145 from local authorities for asset management, three from local authorities under the customer operations side and 16 under support services. Wages are a matter for management at Irish Water. Under the board's guidance, it will have to deal with pay and all...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I move amendment No. 36:In page 12, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following:"(3) The Minister may request the Minister for Finance to make payments up to a total amount of €460,000,000 to local authorities for the purpose of repaying any Housing Finance Agency water related loans under section 5 of the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981 held by local authorities. The Minster for...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: That is fair enough.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Workers need to be protected. These are technical amendments relating to their pension schemes and I ask for the co-operation of the House to support them.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: It is a negligible number. I have some figures here and will read them into the record.

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I appreciate that Members have accepted that this section is quite technical and that it attempts to ensure everybody is protected. Everybody has a legal contract of employment and all income is pensionable. There are issues relating to the performance model and for that reason I have stated publicly that the issue must and will be dealt with quickly. It cannot remain an ongoing issue....

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I accept that there are many politically contentious issues in this Bill. This should not be one of them. We can talk about the bonus culture and other such matters, but this concerns issues related to people's pensions and workers. I would not accuse anyone in the House of not wanting to do the right thing. This section is about ensuring that everyone is protected and deals with a number...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: I move amendment No. 32:In page 11, line 10, after “authority” to insert “or the Local Government Management Agency”.Amendment No. 32 is to provide for staff of the Local Government Management Agency who have been appointed as employees by Irish Water. These staff are members of the local government superannuation scheme and are treated as local authority staff...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Dec 2014)

Alan Kelly: Section 8(2) states:The Commission shall not provide the dispute resolution service where the complaint— (a) is or has been the subject of legal proceedings before a court, (b) is made after the expiration of 6 years from the date on which the cause of the complaint is alleged to have occurred, (c) relates to a matter that does not concern the functions or objectives of the...