Results 5,681-5,700 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Gas Exploration (18 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I inherited the decision made in the month prior to the election by the previous Government to issue licences. Part of the recitation of the licence is that the Department will have to consider but not necessarily grant an exploration licence, which is the second phase, as part of the application. Environmental issues must be dealt with and EPA guidelines, European directives and planning...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (18 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 27, 30 and 31 together. Standard Exploration Licence 2/11 was granted last year to a consortium comprising Providence Resources Plc and Star Energy Oil and Gas Ltd over an area of approximately 380 square kilometres in the Kish bank Basin. The exploration licence is for a six year period with an obligation to drill an exploration well during the first...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (19 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can advise the Deputy that Board appointments to North South Bodies are a matter for the North South Ministerial Council in accordance with the British Irish Agreement Act 1999. The term of appointment of the previous Boards of the North South Implementation Bodies and Tourism Ireland came to an end on 12 December, 2011 and new appointments to these Boards were approved by the North South...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The 2007 EU Eel regulation (1100/2007), drafted in response to the endangered status of the European Eel, required EU States, including Ireland, to develop Eel Management Plans. Based on the scientific facts available, a recommendation of this plan was that Ireland close both the commercial and recreational Eel fisheries in 2008. The then Central and Regional Fisheries Boards engaged with...

Written Answers — Water Charges: Water Charges (24 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432, 439, 440, 446, 447, 454 and 464 together. The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The Programme for Government also commits to the establishment of Irish Water, a State company that will take over the water investment and maintenance programmes of the 34 county and city...

Rail Network (25 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, who is unavoidably absent. I thank Deputy Ferris for raising this issue. I was not aware until now of the information which the Deputy has just put into the public domain. Perhaps he will provide me with a copy of it. As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and...

Rail Network (25 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: During my time as Opposition spokesperson on transport, CIE and Iarnród Éireann were regularly invited to committees to discuss issues like this. Following receipt of the information from Deputy Ferris, I will ensure it is given to the Minister and will ask that it be forwarded to the board of CIE. The key point is that the Minister for Transports, Tourism and Sport has no role in...

Gas Exploration (25 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in the Dáil and the Ceann Comhairle for selecting it. I agree with the Deputy that it is an important issue. My Department has not received applications for or licensed the use of onshore hydraulic fracturing in Ireland. The earliest an application could be made is early 2013 and the earliest exploration drilling could be considered is 2014. The...

Gas Exploration (25 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: While I appreciate the Deputy's comments, I repeat that when in government, Fianna Fáil granted the initial licences and that a process has commenced. Consequently, it is not realistic to tell me that it has not commenced. The Government is considering and dealing with the process.

Gas Exploration (25 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: May I finish? I did not interrupt the Deputy and it is important to have complete clarity on the issue. The process has started and the companies in question will return by the end of the year with a view as to what they think they have found, after which they will proceed to the next stage when I will have to give due consideration to all the arguments made. When that stage is reached, I...

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: First, I apologise to the House for the delay at 7.30 p.m. There was an unavoidable mix-up between who was meant to be present and who was present, for which I apologise. It was unintentional and was an accident but, please God, it will not happen again.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The motion before the House is both timely and appropriate. Having listened to the contributions and debate, the Minister for Finance is of the view that there is considerable common ground on all sides of the House. All Members are agreed that every effort must be made to reduce the cost to the Exchequer of the promissory note. They are also agreed, to various degrees, that the State...

Seanad: Water Services: Statements (25 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Not at all. I was quite happy to listen. The most important thing a Minister can do is to listen to the views of Members of the Oireachtas. I am happy to have heard many of the points made. The reason Irish Water is being set up is to ensure the 34 local authorities and the 952 separate water supplies are brought together in a one-stop-shop and that there is a focus nationally, regionally...

Seanad: Water Services: Statements (25 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: -----fixing public lighting and so on. The local authority is not going to disappear. It will be very much there and will be very much focused on the core issues. When Kerry County Council or Louth County Council makes a development plan, Irish Water must have regard to what is in it. In other words, if the council wants to expand zoning in Cahirciveen, for example, if that is a legitimate...

Seanad: Water Services: Statements (25 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: This important debate is only the commencement of our deliberations on water services. The legislation is not being rushed and the full details will probably not be finalised until next year. That is not to say, however, that Irish Water will not be established before the summer. We will need time to draw up legislation providing for its powers. Senators have raised a variety of issues and...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (31 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Standard Exploration Licence 2/11 was granted last year to a consortium comprising Providence Resources Plc and Star Energy Oil and Gas Ltd over an area of approximately 380 square kilometres in the Kish bank Basin off the coast of Dalkey, County Dublin. The exploration licence is for a six year period with an obligation to drill an exploration well during the first three years. Drilling...

Seanad: Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (31 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil don Seanadóir Ó Domhnaill as ucht an rún seo a chur faoi bhráid an tSeanaid. Tá an freagra as Béarla, ach cuirfidh mé Gaeilge ar an chéad chuid de, más féidir liom. Comhlacht áitiúil do ghaeltachtaí is ea Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta, go mórmhór do ghaeltachtaí ins na contaetha seo a leanas, Corcaí, Ciarraí, Dún na...

Seanad: Rent Supplement Payments (31 Jan 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator Daly for raising this matter. The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme is intended as a temporary income support payment and is not designed to be...

Health Service Plan 2012: Statements (Resumed) (2 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am surprised there are more than one.

Water Services (2 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The memorandum of understanding with the EU, IMF and the ECB also contains commitments for the reform of water services delivery and operation and the introduction of domestic water charges. To meet these commitments, the Government intends initiating a universal water...