Results 4,801-4,820 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Central Bank Reform Bill 2010: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Apr 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree with that, and I am sorry the Acting Chairman thinks I might not have said that. In case the Acting Chairman or somebody else thinks I meant anything different I will clearly state what I said at the beginning. Every citizen, whether it be Seán FitzPatrick, the Acting Chairman, me or anybody else is entitled to make an application on any issue before the courts and it is entirely...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (28 Apr 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 171: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the response by each Irish embassy or consulate by location regarding the manning of out of hours service provided to the public by each such embassy or mission during the recent aviation crisis; the number of calls received; if emergency funding was requested and provided; the policy regarding the way medical queries were dealt with; and...

Merchant Shipping Bill 2009: Report Stage (Resumed) (29 Apr 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: I share Deputy Broughan's concerns. The vast majority of Irish people are not happy with the transport of nuclear materials anywhere near this country. There was a famous incident some years ago when nuclear waste was being transported to Sellafield where the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, sent out Air Corps spotter planes to have a look at what was going on. I...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (29 Apr 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 159: To ask the Minister for Transport, further to Parliamentary Question No. 360 of 23 March 2010, if he will further respond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17357/10]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (29 Apr 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 259: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for extension and building by a school (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17350/10]

Public Transport (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 38: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the subvention this year to CIE, particularly Dublin Bus; his further views on whether Dublin Bus's plan is in contravention to his policy on Smarter Travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18339/10]

Public Transport (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is it not a fact that the subvention for Dublin Bus ten years ago was €17,000 per bus and that this figure currently stands at approximately €80,000 per bus, a significant increase in taxpayers' subsidy? Also, there was a decrease of 210 in the number of buses on the road and owned by Dublin Bus in January 2009. The company has cut back its fleet by more than 200 which means the public...

Public Transport (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: One cannot carry more people on fewer buses. There are 210 fewer buses owned by Dublin Bus on the streets of Dublin today and the subsidy has increased by almost 400% in ten years. Is it not a fact that there is a sweetheart deal between the National Transport Authority and Dublin Bus? The authority was established last December and has agreed to allow Dublin Bus to close off the market to...

Public Transport (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Minister has increased the subvention and reduced the number of buses.

Public Transport (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is exactly what it has done.

Appointments to State Boards (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 40: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that all future proposed appointments by him to State bodies will be referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport in the interests of transparency and accountability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18340/10]

Appointments to State Boards (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: There was no public consultation whatsoever when the Minister recently appointed an executive chairman to CIE, a job that pays at least €210,000 per annum. Given this appointment was made after the Minister's experiment with the National Transport Authority, which we all supported, why did he not advertise the position publicly? It is important that the principle the Minister rightly...

Appointments to State Boards (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree with the Minister that there is a need to break up the CIE group of companies and let them run their own show, but they should be made accountable to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport. Fine Gael agrees that the person should be appointed as a chairman rather than as an executive chairman. However, there are critical issues concerning transparency and accountability within...

Appointments to State Boards (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, but as chairperson.

Appointments to State Boards (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: No, but we have to invigilate him.

State Airports (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: The key point is that the heavy hand of the DAA is felt in all airports. When T2 was opened to competition, vibrant international companies failed to get through the process. Is it not time to re-examine the principle of the DAA running those airports and to invite tenders? International airport companies have assured me that there is vibrancy and competition among the international...

State Airports (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is it not the case that at least two of the companies that tendered for the contract have experience of running international airports that are far bigger than Dublin Airport? Notwithstanding what the Minister said, would it not be possible to ask those companies - which, having met certain criteria, were pre-selected before entering the tendering process - to put forward the best deals they...

State Airports (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish to withdraw Questions Nos. 45 and 49.

State Airports (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: No, but I did submit them.

State Airports (5 May 2010)

Fergus O'Dowd: We lost time earlier. Let us not waste further time now. The Minister can read the reply.