Results 19,241-19,260 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am doubting the Minister to a significant extent because he keeps contradicting himself. He must have the standards prepared already but he is keeping them very close to his chest, which is contrary to the principles of openness and transparency. He is not allowing Deputies on this side of the House to see what those standards of maintenance will be.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I have been extremely worried about this issue from the beginning.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is just a joke to the Minister.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is a matter of affordability for people in rural Ireland.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: This amendment sets out to ensure this legislation will not be commenced until the regulations governing the maintenance, servicing and operation of domestic waste water services have been made. The Minister has given an undertaking that the regulations will not be made until they have been published, subjected to public consultation and brought to the Dáil and Seanad for discussion. We...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: We did not.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Can I continue, a Cheann Comhairle?

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Thank you very much. We need to focus on the job in hand, which is very important to people.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: By mentioning extraneous issues when we are trying to develop good legislation, the Deputies opposite are diverting our attention from issues of detail that will have a huge effect on ordinary people's lives. I ask the Minister to accept this amendment, which seeks to ensure that before this legislation is commenced and registration begins, we will know the standards that will apply in cases...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Minister told us only a few days ago that he was checking into it.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: He has made many remarks and subsequently contradicted them.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: It is on the record of the debate. Many of the Government's statements in the House have been incorrect.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: That is exactly what will happen if the Minister does what he says he will do.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: He has not listened to us for the past six months.

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: From the very beginning of this debate the lack of information on the standards to be applied and the maintenance regime has made it very difficult to have a realistic debate. The Minister gave an undertaking on Committee Stage that he would publish the standards and that they would be brought before the Oireachtas. Is he confirming that this will happen before he signs the commencement order?

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As the Minister is aware I was attending a funeral

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The second point is that we accept it is risk based, but when examining the risk involved, we should look at the areas in which there are high levels of groundwater pollution in considering the framework plans, but my understanding is that the Minister will be looking at the type of system in place. I have no doubt the grid will take into account the type of system in place and that on any...

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: No, I said, I brought regulations back-----

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I said I brought regulations back to-----

Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I did.