Results 2,521-2,540 of 2,965 for speaker:Robert Dowds

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Education (26 May 2015)

Robert Dowds: 469. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the changes she is proposing to the working holiday arrangements of international students while they are studying English; her views that reducing such working holiday arrangements would aversely affect the competitive advantage enjoyed by these schools when attracting international students; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Order of Business (28 May 2015)

Robert Dowds: It is absolute nonsense.

Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)

Robert Dowds: The Deputy had better read the motion.

Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)

Robert Dowds: The Government was dealt a weak hand regarding Aer Lingus, given that we controlled only 25% of it. Given the importance of air transport to Ireland, an island nation, I, along with a number of my Labour Party colleagues, put a motion at the last Labour Party conference asking that the IAG bid for Aer Lingus be rejected by the Government until four issues were addressed. I commend the...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 May 2015)

Robert Dowds: There is an issue I would like to raise, which is not on the list. Deputy Jack Wall asked me to raise the issue of personal insurance and whether there is any mechanism whereby the Committee of Public Accounts could invite the Insurance Ombudsman or the Financial Services Ombudsman to explain how this operates. There are allegations that because of the six-year rule if insurance companies...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 May 2015)

Robert Dowds: Would the Comptroller and Auditor General have any advice as to how these people could pursue a course of justice?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (28 May 2015)

Robert Dowds: Thank you.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Rates (9 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 324. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will introduce legislation to compel the banks to reduce the rate of variable mortgages to bring it close to parity with average European variable mortgage rates, in view of the fact that the average European variable mortgage rate is significantly lower than that here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21943/15]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (9 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 409. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the introduction of investor-state dispute settlements to Ireland, as part of the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership trade agreement between the European Union and the United States of America, could lead to the State being sued for enormous sums of money by private corporations if the Government were to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (9 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 410. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the current suing of the German Government by a Swedish energy company, using an investment state dispute settlement which forms part of their bi-lateral trade agreement, for billions of euro on foot of the German Government's decision to phase out the use of nuclear energy, and whether the proposed Transatlantic Trade...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Safety Standards (9 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 442. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views that the proposed new Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership trade agreement could lead to a substantial fall in food safety standards for Irish consumers, which may threaten the health of members of the public if they were to ingest harmful substances through foodstuffs imported from the United States of America,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (9 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 1033. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a bin waiver scheme. [21433/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (9 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 1037. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views that the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership trade agreement could lead to a significant weakening of environmental protection regulations; if he has expressed such concerns to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21483/15]

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: Will the Minister look at the question of targets between now and the next stage? This Bill is very important but I am somewhat frustrated by the way in which targets are being treated in the legislation. I would like the targets to be reached at an earlier stage. I ask the Minister to look at that issue again before the next stage of the Bill.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: How does that relate to the tabling of an actual amendment?

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: I presume that this debate will adjourn at midday.

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: I will try to finish in that time. I welcome this Bill. The Labour Party is the party of work and it is correct that a Labour Party Minister of State would ensure good working conditions for people. I congratulate him on the work that he has done in this regard, which has been welcomed in the trade union movement. It is important the Bill progresses through the Houses as quickly as...

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: I would be happy if the Minister of State stayed in his position. I was not forecasting the demise of the Government. I was reckoning that Ministers get shifted around. It is not that I am forecasting the Minister of State's demise. I ask that this legislation be examined continually so as to ensure that the best conditions are available to workers.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Expenditure (11 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 229. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding the Football Association of Ireland has been given in grants by the State, in each of the years 2008 to 2014; and if the association was required to submit its accounts in order to draw down any funding that was provided. [22718/15]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (11 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: A few days ago I was approached by an active trade unionist who asked me what the position was on Mr. Matt Merrigan and Mr. Jack Kelly appearing before the committee again.