Results 61-80 of 162 for going forward speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Briefing by HSE Officials (19 May 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...decide to intervene in the nursing home sector? I would like to know. I am not being critical or negative. We need to know when the requests came in for PPE from around the country. What was going on at the HSE's senior administrative level? When did it make the decision to intervene? I want to repeat publicly that the head of primary care in CHO 8 was exceptionally helpful when I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Joint Committee (10 Jul 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...to note the correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed. No. 2019/498 is correspondence received from Deputy O'Dowd, Chairman, Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport, dated 24 June 2019, forwarding correspondence received from Mr. Terry O’Brien regarding the master plan for Bunratty Folk Park, County Clare. We will forward that correspondence to the appropriate statutory...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Drugs Strategy (15 May 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...lack of professional standards, accountability and transparency by some treatment services towards patients. What is the Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy going to do to tackle this serious outbreak of drug related activity in our town? In fairness, the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, has visited Drogheda three times when she met with the...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...but nothing is happening at this most serious, difficult and challenging time for everybody on this island, particularly in the North. Neither party is talking to the other and there is no consensus. There is no step forward and I regret this very much. I am not saying Sinn Féin is to blame or that the DUP is to blame, separately or individually, but for God's sake they must work...

Government's Brexit Preparedness: Statements (17 Jan 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...impact of Brexit and the importance of avoiding a hard border to everyone on this island, but in particular those such as me living in Border counties, cannot be underestimated. I welcome that the Government, including the Ministers present, are acutely conscious of this. We can all agree that the invisible border is the most tangible symbol and gain of the peace process, allowing...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Jan 2019)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...attempts to change the face and the modus operandiof the HSE. I am speaking personally when I say that, regretfully, it is like changing the deckchairs on the Titanicat this stage. The good ship HSE will continue to sail on without accountability or transparency, both of which were mentioned by the previous speaker. I have many examples because my constituents have come to me with them....

Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Dec 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...and it should not be an "us versus them" project. Where projects benefit the wider community and not necessarily all of those who live in the adjacent area, the question of the greater good arises for politicians like me. From an economic point of view, we will argue that we must have additional airport capacity. If one is a businessperson involved in the local economy or looking for...

Local Government Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am aware of the problems that exist in the locality. I am particularly aware of the wishes of Meath jersey holders, who are very good footballers. Unfortunately, we have trouble catching up with them when we are playing games of football. I am not speaking about the issues relating to east Meath that have been raised by other parties. I do not think it will be necessary to take over...

Water Services: Motion [Private Members] (6 Nov 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...capital account. It comes from current spending out of the budget every year. I welcome the Minister's iteration of increased financial support for water improvement services but it will not go far enough. The reality is, as industries and towns want to develop, there has to be a significant increase in the capacity of the water supply. Dublin is the big area but other parts of the...

Financial Resolutions 2019 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (10 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: Tá sé an-tábhachtach go bhfuil an t-am seo faighte againn. It is very important we have this debate and can participate fully in it. It is really important to note that since 2011, over 380,000 people who were unemployed have joined the workforce. They and their families are in a much better position as a result of the improving economic situation and the work ethic,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...of the landlord for at least two years, until the housing crisis is dealt with. That will give security, provided the tenants are paying the rent and are not causing anti-social issues. Years ago, the local authority was very helpful and had the time and capacity to meet housing applicants to talk about their issues. That is all gone now. People are told when they go in that they are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposals for Second Runway at Dublin Airport and Noise Regulation Legislation: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (11 Jul 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...possible. On behalf of all members present, if not the entire committee, I ask that the Minister advise us of any issue which may arise, as he is doing, and ensure the legislation will be brought forward in September or as soon as possible thereafter. Let us get going at this. Due process must be followed, but it will be very difficult to meet the deadline.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (28 Feb 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I presume the Minister's amendments have to go through the same process and conform with the rules of the House. All amendments must do so or there would be no way of dealing properly with amendments. I would think it would be unusual for a Minister to bring forward an amendment that would be ruled out of order.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Reports on Homelessness: Discussion (14 Feb 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...they do not have the facilities or provide the privacy the client needs, that is unacceptable. Mr. Allen raised the issue of being an advocate for the client. Many families are able to make a good case, but others are not. They may have difficulties in communicating because of their educational background or they may not be used to dealing with officialdom and are intimidated by the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Legacy Issues Affecting Victims and Relatives in Northern Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (9 Nov 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...questioning and seeking for justice which the witnesses want. The witnesses made a number of different proposals and I do not disagree with any of them. I would hope that we as a committee could go forward together on all of them and approach the Taoiseach and, if necessary, put a motion before the Houses of the Oireachtas so that the objectives that were outlined by the witnesses would...

Heritage Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Nov 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: Admhaím go bhfuil mé tar éis éisteacht le hóráid bhreá ón gComhaontas Glas ach ní dóigh liom go bhfuil an ceart ag an Teachta nuair a deireann sí go bhfuil an Bille seo ag loite na hoidhreachta breátha atá againn sa tír seo. Ní aontaím le bunphrionsabal a hóráid - go bhfuil nithe á scriosadh againn...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...been made in Ireland's unemployment figures, especially in Louth where there has been a 16% drop in the last year. This is very welcome indeed. Lots more families are working and family income is going up. Older people will have an increase in their pensions. Disability allowances and benefits will increase. There is increasing confidence in Ireland. Having come through the...

Water Services Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: When someone is told that a Bill will have this but then they are in the ante room of the Seanad and it is not there, what do they say or do? They would say, "What the hell is going on here? What is happening?" Eventually, in fairness, the former Minister, Mr. Hogan, insisted it would change. However, I agree and accept that Irish Water should be totally separated from Ervia. Then, we...

Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...scheme or the damage to scheme members' pensions. That is why this Bill is urgent, important and necessary. It will allow time, which I understand will be a 12-month period, within which discussions, consultations and negotiations can take place so that there will be a better outcome, in particular for those who paid into pensions for a significant period of time. Closing off that...

Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Prohibition of Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing) Bill 2016: Report Stage (24 May 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: Public opinion is very much in favour of this legislation. Deputy McLoughlin has done the country a service by bringing it forward and I congratulate him on his efforts. I do think, though, that we have to get into the real world with regard to energy and the future of our economy. We have to strike a balance between the issues around climate change and where we are going to get our energy...