Results 101-120 of 1,625 for speaker:Pat O'Neill

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: Senator White is admitting we have a problem.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I welcome the Bill before the House and congratulate my constituency colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, on grasping the nettle and introducing the Water Services (Amendment) Bill. I am amazed that once again in this House we are seeing opposition for the sake of it from Fianna Fáil....

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: It is not incorrect.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: Fianna Fáil did not implement the directive.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: Have I the floor?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: A former Minister, a party colleague of the Senator is prepared to go to jail rather than allow this legislation go through.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: He was part of a Government that was too cowardly to introduce proposals. Senator Ó Domhnaill said earlier-----

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: I am not being provocative.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: I am getting a reaction.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: The Acting Chairman was not in the Chair when Senator Ó Domhnaill was on his feet. Imagine what would happen if we adopted Senator Ó Domhnaill's ideology. He said earlier that the EU had only imposed nine fines. In other words, instead of wanting us to bury our heads in the sand, he wants us to bury them in a septic tank. He suggests that we continue to break the law.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: Thank you. Senator Ó Domhnaill said it was only nine fines. In other words, he wants us to continue to break the law because the EU will not fine us because we are Ireland. That is not the real world.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: In the real world the European Union has introduced legislation. We face €26 million in fines.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: We are good at it, is that not correct?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: Sorry, Chairman. This Bill addresses the requirements of the ECJ that Ireland introduce a registration and inspection scheme for septic tanks. Like me, the Minister, Deputy Hogan is from a rural background and is well aware of the need for a fair approach to this issue.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: True. Therefore, inspections will be in targeted areas where drinking water sources or habitats are likely to be, or have been, impacted. I was delighted to hear Senator White admit that we have a problem with septic tanks. Senators Ó Domhnaill and Walsh have talked about the size of sites and have stated that people will not be able to comply. I will ask the Minister about this. He is...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: I will ask him to introduce planning exemptions with regard to compliance of sites and I know he will do that. While the registration fee has not been universally welcomed, it is only a modest €50 considering that the revenue will revert to the protection of water quality. The question was asked earlier as to why we must pass the cost on to the people. It must be passed on because Fianna...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: I thought the Chair would show his colours.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: I need 30 seconds to complete my contribution. When I was in the Chair, I was very gracious to Senator Leyden with regard to time.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: Thank you. The €50 charge must be considered in the context of the dire straits our economy is in and the potential fines we face as a country if we fail to implement the ECJ ruling. The Minister has spoken of a lump sum penalty of €2.7 million, followed by daily fines for non-compliance of more than €26,000 per day, amounting to more than €9.5 million annually. It is very clear...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (16 Nov 2011)

Pat O'Neill: Does the Senator propose that we rejoin the Commonwealth?