Results 1-20 of 161 for going forward speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Women and Constitutional Change: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...election coming up but it is very important. The big negative is there is no engagement from political unionism with the committee and this is what we need. We will not have a future unless we go forward together. This is my view. We can hang out all the colours we like, and all of the policies we think might work, but it is a difficulty if we cannot get them to engage because things...

Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024: Second Stage (16 Apr 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...away by the time they reached 65. That is not the case now. We are living longer and because of that, we have more people retiring. We also will have fewer people in the workforce as we move forward and the burden on the people who are working will increase to support the number of dependents they have. While I agree absolutely that the State pension is a hugely important funding...

Recent Arson Attacks: Statements (27 Feb 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...of the centre. As a result of the cack-handed actions of the Minister, there is nowhere in Drogheda for people to stay overnight. Our tourism industry, which has been very heavily invested in by this Government, is at nil because people will not be able to stay overnight. If people come back from America, England or elsewhere for a funeral, there is no hotel for them. That is at the...

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (14 Feb 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Molaim an díospóireacht seo. Tá sé thar am go raibh rudaí ag dul ar aghaidh sa Tuaisceart agus fáiltím go bhfuil sé sin socraithe anois agus go bhfuil administration nua le hairí nua sa Tuaisceart. Molaim Michelle O'Neill agus Emma Little-Pengelly freisin as ucht an comhoibriú atá á dhéanamh acu. Ní thuigfimid go deo...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Management (7 Nov 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...Meath since September, which has destroyed many homes, he will seek an urgent update on discussions between the OPW and Meath County Council in respect of additional flood works required and plans going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47439/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Technological Universities (21 Sep 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...that, with the knowledge and expectation that the Department will be ready to step in as and when required and to keep a watching brief and give encouragement. It is unfortunate, but we will not go into a history lesson. The past is the past and the future is for the young people of the region. I believe the discussions the Minister spoke about are pointing the way forward. My...

Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023: Second Stage (20 Sep 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Bill and the Minister of State's contribution. It is an opportunity for fundamental and real change in local government not just in Limerick. If it is effective and works very well, it could transform communities around the country. The golden opportunity is for the mayoral programme. When a person stands for election, and I presume there will be lots of different...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (11 Jul 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...Justice and Equality if she will extend the remit of the Drogheda Implementation Board and Plan past its current timeline to ensure that the excellent work that continues to be carried out is secured going forward and the remaining implementation recommendations be undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34039/23]

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome this debate. It is timely and important. I am speaking primarily as Chair of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and also as a Deputy from a Border constituency who lived through all of the Troubles. If anything is absolutely true, it is that the Good Friday Agreement has worked and the violence has ended. Notwithstanding the fact that more...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Commission (15 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...Commission's annual report 2022, if he will consider front-loading investment in mental health services, rather than the current funding model; if he would like to see changes in the funding model going forward; how he intends to address the major issues highlighted in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28909/23]

Report on the Good Friday Agreement: Motion (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Fáiltím roimh an méid atá ráite ag gach duine sa Teach inniu. Measaim gur féidir linn go léir leanúint leis an obair, ag comhoibriú agus ag obair le daoine ó thuaidh agus ó dheas ach go háirithe. I thank all the contributors for their remarks so far on the committee’s report. It is a collective report and the committee...

Report on the Good Friday Agreement: Motion (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move: That Dáil Éireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement entitled "Lessons from the Architects of the Good Friday Agreement", copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 27th March, 2023. The recent anniversaries of the signature of the Good Friday Agreement and of its resounding endorsement...

Accommodation Needs for New Arrivals: Statements (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...and the voluntary bodies is fantastic, and that is the case in most places in the country. I agree that working together across this House for the good of all the people is the only way forward on this. The mistakes made in Clare are clear. There was inadequate consultation and there was no obvious community gain. I recall seeing footage on television that showed the homes that were...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Swimming Pools (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...given the need that is quite evident and the lack of any other public pools in the area; if she will advise on possible funding or guidance available for Louth County Council to explore this option going forward; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24295/23]

Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement: Statements (26 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...The majority of those who died were actually innocent civilians, and 68% of those injured were also innocent civilians. Therefore, the Troubles cast considerable shame on all those involved. The Good Friday Agreement is bringing to an end the awful, terrible killing, murder and violence. It has built on the peace and we have hopes for the future. I attended the events last week in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Ms Bronagh Hinds (2 Mar 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Ms Hinds for her clear, concise, well-researched and informative address to us. I might use the word dynamic or forward-focused to describe it. Indeed, in supporting the call she made to condemn the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, Ms Hinds rightly and appropriately pointed out how awful and how evil that act was and the wishes of this committee will...

Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use: Motion (21 Feb 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome this timely and important debate. There is probably a consensus in the House as to the way forward but I will reflect, like my colleague, Deputy Fitzpatrick, on issues in my constituency. What brought not just Drogheda, where I live, to national attention and international notoriety was the context of the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods, who was a young person, a child, as a result...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: IBEC's recent report was very clear about the huge success of the economies North and South since the Good Friday Agreement and the substantial benefit peace has brought to this island and the great growth. The report compared 18 different areas in Ireland, North and South and in the UK. It made a surprising point that the greatest benefit outside London has been to people living on this...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (19 Jan 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 202. To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which he and his Department are managing the taxation of biofuels; if he is planning on changing policy in this regard going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56966/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Fergus O'Dowd: ...bypass, has been held up for more than a year now because of a High Court action. The case does relate to environmental issues. It is important, though, that projects in the plan should be pushed forward. If there need to be special settings of courts or special courts to deal with issues concerning environmental and other climate change issues, then these should be set up urgently....