Results 5,521-5,540 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Written Answers — Local Authority Services: Local Authority Services (28 Jun 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Programme for Government proposes the establishment of a new State-owned national water authority 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 and the EU/IMF commits Ireland to undertaking an independent assessment of the...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (30 Jun 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator Clune for bringing this matter to my attention and I will report the issues she raised directly to the Minister for Finance. NAMA has advised the Minister for Finance that the matter of unfinished estates is complex with no readily available solutions. Although NAMA must strive to achieve and set an overall strategy, solutions may need to be tailored individually to the...

Written Answers — NewERA Project: NewERA Project (5 Jul 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA). I have been given special responsibility for the NewERA project. NewERA will be established as a dedicated entity to oversee investment as referred to below. It is proposed that streamlined and restructured semi-States will make significant additional investments, over and above...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (5 Jul 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The objective is to install water meters in households connected to public water supplies and move to a charging system based on usage above a free allowance. My Department is currently preparing a strategy to implement these proposals, including the approach to be taken to...

Seanad: Mobile Phones: Motion (13 Jul 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are. This is the first time I have spoken in the House since my five years as a Senator between 1997 and 2002, which I enjoyed. I might come back, although I do not really want to.

Seanad: Mobile Phones: Motion (13 Jul 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is up to the people. The atmosphere in the Chamber is more encouraging in terms of debating issues than it can be in the Dáil. This is the Seanad's strength. I have listened to all of the contributions and will comment on them at the conclusion. I thank everyone who has spoken. I will outline to the House the relevant elements of research and policy in this area. It is important...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (20 Jul 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 240 together. The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The objective is to install water meters in households connected to public water supplies and move to a charging system based on usage above a free allowance. My Department is currently preparing a comprehensive...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (20 Jul 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senators on all sides of the House for their contributions to the debate. The comments focused both on the Bill and, as might be expected, the electoral agenda generally. In the time available it is not possible for me to comment on all the points made. I propose to respond to some of the issues raised and further discussions will take place on Committee Stage. I welcome the strong...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (21 Jul 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 230 and 240 of 20 July 2011, which outline the position on this matter.

Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (14 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, I have. I am responding on behalf of the Department to the issues the Deputy has raised.

Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (14 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ba mhaith liom freagra a thabhairt don Teachta. Tá sé an-thábhachtach go réiteofaí an cheist práinneach seo ar son muintir na Gaeltachta, go háirithe. Tá an Aire agus an Roinn ag déanamh a ndícheall lá agus oíche chun an scéal seo a socrú, i dtreo is go gheobhaidh gach chuid de gach Gaeltacht sa tír an buntáiste atá ag teastáil ón airgead seo. Is é sin an bun-aidhm atá...

Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (14 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbéadh na seirbhísí sin ar fáil ins na gaeltachtaí chomh luath agus is féidir iad a bheith ann. Tá sé an-thábhachtach go mbéadh an Roinn ag déanamh a dhícheall chun na seirbhísí a chur ar fáil, más rud é nach bhfuil an comhlucht in ann é sin a dhéanamh. Tá an Roinn ag déanamh a dhícheall. It is currently working on both long-term and...

Introduction of Water Charges (15 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The objective is to install water meters in households and move to a charging system based on usage above a free allowance. My Department is currently preparing a strategy to implement these proposals, which will include consideration of the impacts on those categories of...

Introduction of Water Charges (15 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy referred to the answer provided in March and will know that the report was commissioned at the end of July. A draft report will be before us shortly, so the Government will be examining all the issues he raised. When that report is to hand we will make decisions that will bring into effect what is in the programme for Government. There is no doubt about what we will do and the...

Introduction of Water Charges (15 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy is trying to raise hares that do not exist. The programme for Government states that "to achieve a better quality water and environment we will introduce a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water". So the objective is to install water meters in every household in Ireland and move to a charging system that is based on use above the free allowance. That is what we...

Introduction of Water Charges (15 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: We want to improve water services and funding is badly needed. There is an inadequate water supply in Dublin, so water will have to be pumped from the Shannon to protect the city's supplies in future. There are various issues concerning climate change also. While water does come out of the sky it must be purified to make it potable. Creating any other scenario does not make sense if the...

Introduction of Water Charges (15 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: All those issues must dealt with and that is what the report will deal with.

Introduction of Water Charges (15 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: There has been no decision.

EU Directives (20 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: As the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, is on official business and not in the Dáil today, I have been asked to take this important matter on his behalf. I thank the Deputy for raising it. In its judgment in case C-66/06, delivered in November 2010, the European Court of Justice found that Ireland's system of environmental impact assessment...

EU Directives (20 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.