Results 5,421-5,440 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The problem at present is that by virtue of a European directive Coillte is prevented from benefiting from grants such as those farmers receive for reforestation and, therefore, there is an issue which must be tackled. I believe Coillte has not planted a tree since 1995 for that reason - perhaps I may be corrected by a Member with greater knowledge. We need new synergies to plant more...

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: At present Coillte cannot plant it because it cannot benefit-----

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The idea is that the new company will have a new synergy and a new way of looking at this issue which is not the case at present. The only way we believe we can make it happen-----

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: -----is by the new company creating new jobs and new synergies. One cannot exclude the possibility that people might wish to co-invest with the State company.

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I said in my reply that investments would be set in the context of the new national development plan, which will be for the period 2012 to 2019. While everything must be done it must be done at the right time. The Deputy is right; there can be no fire-sale of assets and that is made clear in the programme for Government. Another report by Mr. Colm McCarthy is yet to be published and there...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The NewERA entity will be established through legislation, which takes time. It is important that we get this right and consult with our colleagues in Government, the Civil Service and the State and semi-State bodies. It is vital to our national recovery that we take the time to get this right and put the investments in place, taking time to sell those non-essential State assets at a time...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: At present Coillte is under the control of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister in that Department, Deputy Simon Coveney, could answer that question properly. I can state with clarity, however, that there is no question of not having access to existing and potential recreational amenities of the country. This is not to do anything other than to protect what we...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am happy to take on board the Deputy's suggestion. Perhaps after this we could discuss how to start that process and consult with the bodies that must be involved in it. I am talking about the sale of non-strategic State assets. Those will be defined by Colm McCarthy and others in the report that will be produced in the very near future. I am sure we all have a view on that. The...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy has a few bob himself.

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: As an example, if wood grows on a piece of land, it can be sold but the strategic asset of the land is held on to. I hope the Deputy can accept that.

Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The memorandum of understanding between Ireland and the European Union and the International Monetary Fund commits Ireland to undertaking an independent assessment of the establishment of a water utility with a view to commencing charges for water services in 2012 or 2013. The programme for Government includes a proposal to create Irish Water, a new State company which will take over the...

Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: First, we want to set up the water authority, Irish Water, as soon as possible. The independent assessment will be completed before October, but I understand there will be an interim report before then. I hope, therefore, the legislation will be ready before January next year. Second, I understand it could take up to three years in total to install water meters in every household. There...

Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: We had no choice.

Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: When the last Government signed up to have charges-----

Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will answer the questions put. The years 2012 and 2013 were mentioned in the deal agreed by the last Government. With regard to how meters will be installed and the problems in that regard, from the briefing I have received approximately 1,800 people will be employed for a period of three years to install meters in every house in the country. I presume that when all of that has happened,...

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11, 16 and 20 together. The programme for Government proposes the establishment of a new State-owned water utility company to take over responsibility for managing and supervising investment in water services infrastructure and to manage the domestic water metering programme. The memorandum of understanding between Ireland, the EU and the International...

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy O'Dea asked one of the four questions I answered. I am sorry he did not like what I stated, but I was replying to everyone who asked a question, not just his good self.

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The idea of the independent assessment is to examine each and every one of the issues the Deputy raised. Nationally, more than 3,000 local authority staff work in water services. It would not make sense to move them all into a new quango, but that is a matter for the report. It will make recommendations on which the Government will decide. If there are staff transfers, they will need to...

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy is correct in that it is not the intention of the Government to privatise Irish water. I repeat that despite the Deputy saying I did not need to do so. It is a crystal clear policy, like the water we hope to have. The Deputy's party will not have to carry out that campaign. The Deputy mentioned a second issue and we would be happy to get the figures from him regarding his county...

Water Services (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is an important point and that is what the independent assessment will consider. The implementation of water meters is expected to run to approximately €500 million, employing up to 1,800 people over three years. The Deputy's valid point is that if water meters are not installed, approximately 5,000 people would be employed in repairing burst water mains and other problems. The...