Results 2,581-2,600 of 2,965 for speaker:Robert Dowds

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (18 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: I agree with Deputy Costello that it would be good to get a written response from NAMA. Is the Comptroller and Auditor General aware that assets put on the market are open to competition in a way that might not have been possible earlier in the process when nobody wanted to bid for anything?

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (23 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 362. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to alter the workings of the direct provision system for asylum seekers. [24696/15]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (23 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 363. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce legislation regarding asylum provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24697/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Construction Contracts (23 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 594. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there are ways to block rogue builders from any further involvement in the construction industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24711/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (23 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 595. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if exemptions from water charges are available to persons who suffer from Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or other debilitating conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24712/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Resolution Board Remit (23 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 609. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the responsibilities of the Pyrite Resolution Board in relation to repair of roads, footpaths, and pipework within an estate adversely affected by the presence of pyrite. [24968/15]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (23 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 662. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the sale of art and artefacts from the Beit Collection; if she will intervene to prevent the sale of any further artworks or artefacts from the collection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25017/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Rates (25 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: 85. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 324 of 9 June 2015, if it is his understanding that the new mortgage products, leading to lower payments for borrowers, which he has received a commitment from the banks to roll-out in July 2015, will be available to all variable rate mortgage holders, including investors and / or those holding buy-to-let mortgages; and...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: I support this amendment. I think it is a good idea. However, I forgot to say in my Second Stage contribution that I have concerns about its practicality. Will the Minister respond in that regard? Are we depending on the local elected members to impose strictures on the staff of the council to ensure they do a deal on the vacant sites for which they are responsible? As has been...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: I would be very interested in a note from the Minister of State on this subject, but my understanding is that there is a facility whereby a local authority can take over a dwelling where the owner cannot be identified. I have asked that a particular dwelling be taken over because we cannot find the owner of it. From a conversation I had with Deputy Emmet Stagg on a previous occasion, I...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: I would be interested in a note although I anticipate it is probably a long and drawn out process.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: A correct fact.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: Dr. Weeks made a very persuasive case for an electoral commission, and I agree with pretty much all of what he said except for one thing - namely, even larger multi-seat constituencies. I am not a fan of our electoral system. It brings out the worst in us in many ways. A politician's biggest opponent can be somebody from his or her own party. It does not encourage people to focus on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Robert Dowds: Basically, Dr. Weeks is saying that there is no simple answer to this question, even though it is clearly a question that requires an answer, because there are so many inaccuracies in the system.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Homeless Accommodation Provision (1 Jul 2015)

Robert Dowds: 265. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that his Department has instructed local authorities to allocate no more than 50% of available housing to persons who are designated as homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26500/15]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Regulation (2 Jul 2015)

Robert Dowds: 77. To ask the Minister for Finance if he, as representative of Allied Irish Banks' largest shareholder, will request the senior management of the bank to reconsider its decision to outsource the application development management division; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26807/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Maintenance (2 Jul 2015)

Robert Dowds: 216. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the extent of progress in making housing voids habitable again in each of the four local authorities in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26677/15]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (2 Jul 2015)

Robert Dowds: One of the aspects of the Abtran affair which concerns me is that it seemed to have a get-out-of-jail-free card. As I recall, if too many telephone calls came in it was not required to meet any criteria.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (2 Jul 2015)

Robert Dowds: The most important issue is that SUSI now seems to be working effectively as an organisation.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (2 Jul 2015)

Robert Dowds: Mr. McCarthy may not feel it appropriate to comment on one of my other concerns, namely, whether the company was paying the right share of tax in this country given that its parent company was based in the British Virgin Islands.