Results 2,981-3,000 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is not correct. We did not receive a telephone call.

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the fact that the Minister has taken on board the point I made on Committee Stage. The location of park and ride facilities is a critical aspect of public transport in and out of the city of Dublin. The DTA will now have a specific role to play in the provision of such facilities. One of the difficulties is that the DTA will have responsibility for transport in Dublin and will...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: If a local authority wishes to work with the DTA in respect of the provision of park and ride facilities outside the latter's area, will the DTA be able to invest in such a project?

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Minister for taking on board the views I expressed in respect of this matter on Committee Stage. However, questions arise in respect of subsidiaries and the level of accountability that applies in respect of them. The fact that their activities will be commented upon in the annual report is something. However, people will be concerned that any such subsidiaries might be...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Minister's comments in regard to the establishment of these subsidiaries and acknowledge the points he made in regard to the annual report. If a difference of opinion arises regarding how money is being spent, will the DTA retain control over the finances and will it then become accountable for all expenditure?

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, line 40, after "Kildare," to insert "Drogheda and South Louth," The section of the Bill which deals with the definition of the DTA refers to the city of Dublin, the administrative counties of south Dublin, Fingal, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath and such other areas as may be declared by order of the Minister. It is clear the...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Who is he?

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: The weakness in the Bill is that it does not relate to a national transport authority. All of the problems we encounter stem from the geographical area to be covered by the authority. The problem is of the Minister's making because the cities of Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway all have problems with transport, yet there is no joined-up thinking. I suggest the Minister needs a national...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish to return to the analysis of population growth in the region. I refer the Minister to the report compiled by the HSE on the location of the regional hospital. The maps are included on pages 12 and 18 of the report. I could not bring them with me today because when one prints them over a certain size, one cannot see them. The report examines population figures in 2006, 2015 and...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: These amendments are highly important and go to the heart of the Bill. While the heart of the Bill should be accountability, transparency and openness, there is no evidence that will happen in this case. As Deputy Broughan noted, most people are worried about the possible creation of another HSE. The Dublin transport authority, DTA, will have unbelievable powers, all of which I consider it...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: The questions are well padded. Accountability in respect of parliamentary questions will be highly important. The same principle should apply as operates with regard to parliamentary questions, whereby the Minister makes his response within a set number of days. While Adjournment debates are held at the discretion of the Ceann Comhairle, there should be no change to the procedure for...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Fine Gael voted against the Bill and will do so again because it believes there is a fundamental lack of accountability and democracy. I ask the Minister to explain how the parliamentary question system will work — perhaps he has done so but the answer was not clear to me — compared to that operated by the HSE.

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Perhaps I can make it clear. Parliamentary questions are referred to the HSE rather than the Minister for Health and Children. If a parliamentary question is for the HSE, as we are all aware, sometimes it goes away to never, never land. Will the DTA be directly accountable through the Minister? If we ask him a parliamentary question about a new railway station proposed by the DTA, for...

Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is just like the HSE.

Radiology Services Review. (2 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is becoming increasingly difficult for the public to understand why, despite so many external reviews of clinical services in north-east hospitals, so many problems continue to occur. External independent reviews have been conducted in the past few years on services in Cavan, Monaghan and Navan, and on maternity and midwife services in Drogheda and Cavan. All of these reports have been...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (3 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the fact that the Taoiseach yesterday flatly contradicted the Minister for Transport's repeated assertions that, even in difficult economic circumstances, the necessary funding will be provided for Transport 21 projects. This means major projects such as metro north may, as a direct...

Order of Business (3 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Keep them under cover.

Order of Business (3 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: A writ of habeas corpus.

Order of Business (3 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: But it is promised.

Order of Business (3 Jul 2008)

Fergus O'Dowd: Will the Tánaiste set out the position on metro north in the context of the proposed public transport regulation Bill?