Results 5,701-5,720 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Water Services (2 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy has posed many questions, some of which I may not be able to answer today. I will be happy to follow them up with him later. This is the largest infrastructure project since the establishment of the ESB during the foundation of the State. Irish Water will be established as an entity by the middle of this year and will deal with the contracts for the installation of water meters....

Water Services (2 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The €500 million figure is not our estimate.

Water Services (2 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: There is an active programme in local government to replace lead piping on the public end of the supply system. Approximately €120 million will be spent this year to replace lead piping because it is an important health issue. Metering, to which the Deputy is opposed, will conserve water and save money in the long term. Water services on this island cost €1.2 billion last year. Savings...

Water Services (2 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The regulator will examine issues pertaining to the charges applied. A charge will apply above a free allowance and those with health or significant income poverty issues will be dealt with by the regulator. We are meeting representatives from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, carers for the elderly and other interest groups to ensure the system is fair, practical and realistic.

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (2 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The programme for Government provides for the establishment of a new State-owned national water authority, Irish Water, 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...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (2 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The strand at Inver bay is inside the half seaward mile of the defined mouth of the river Eany. Salmon fishing can take place by ordinary draft net outside the half seaward mile in accordance with the regulations. In relation to the protection and conservation of salmon stocks, under the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 – Part VII; Section 94 (1) – It shall not be lawful for any person...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (7 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can inform the Deputy that my Department has not received applications for, nor licensed the use of hydraulic fracturing in the Irish onshore at this time. In February of last year my Department granted onshore Licensing Options to Tamboran Resources Ltd over parts of Cavan, Leitrim and Sligo, the Lough Allen Natural Gas Company Ltd over parts of Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo and to...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (7 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Act, 2010 makes provision for the safety of petroleum exploration and extraction (upstream) activities and associated infrastructure to be regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). It provides that the regulation of upstream safety will be achieved through the establishment and implementation of a new risk assessment based...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (7 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Inland Fisheries Ireland has sought funding from a number of agencies for the continuation of the control of the invasive pondweed in Lough Corrib as in previous years. To date, funding commitments have been received from the Office of Public Works, Galway County Council, Inland Fisheries Ireland itself (IFI) and the Caisie – (Control of Aquatic Invasive Species in Ireland) EU project....

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (7 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can inform the Deputy that the opening and closing dates for lakes are fixed annually by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) on the basis of assessment of demand from anglers and resources to manage those lakes responsibly. IFI seeks to ensure that the resource and opportunities are available to recreational and tourist anglers at peak times at a reasonable number of lakes. Over the years the...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (8 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can advise the Deputy that the Gweebarra Rod Fishery is mainly state owned with a small portion in private ownership. Prior to 2007 access to both public and private parts of the Fishery was unregulated. Neither the state agencies concerned nor the private riparian owners took steps to limit access to their portion of the Fishery nor required a permit fee to be discharged by visitors. A...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (8 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Prosecutions taken by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) against the three named Anglers for allegedly fishing on the Gweebarra River system are currently adjourned before the District Court. The costs of these prosecutions are unlikely to be significant or out of the norm for routine Fishery prosecutions in the District Court. In my reply to Parliamentary Question No 109 of today's date, I have...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (15 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can inform the Deputy that in October of last year, Minister Rabbitte requested the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct research and advise on the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing as a means of extracting natural gas from underground reserves. The EPA is currently funding preliminary background research into the environmental aspects of shale gas extraction...

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Here comes the Socialist International.

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: He should at least define what he means by ignoramus.

Leader Programmes (21 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The rural development programme 2007-13 is divided into four axes. Axis 1 deals with the competitiveness of the agriculture sector; Axis 2 aims to improve the countryside and the environment, while the objectives of Axis 3 are to support the diversification of the rural economy and improve quality of life in rural areas. Axis 4, or the Leader axis, provides support for the use of a...

Leader Programmes (21 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and I are fully aware of the value of the agrifood business and acknowledge the valuable contribution Leader funding is making. Considerable amounts of money are spent on RDP programmes. This year there was an increased allocation of €34 million for the Leader programme, bringing the total allocation in 2012 to €96...

Dublin Regeneration Project (21 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputies Conaghan and Ellis for raising this matter. It affords me the opportunity once again to confirm the Government's commitment to the regeneration of the most disadvantaged areas of our cities and towns. Despite the challenging financial climate, we want to see real and meaningful progress made on regeneration. Capital investment in regeneration will be prioritised by the...

Dublin Regeneration Project (21 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I share the Deputies' concern that the construction of the 75 social houses and associated works on a new crèche and estate office in St. Michael's Estate is progressed to completion as quickly as possible. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, will announce details of the capital allocations under the social housing investment programme for 2012 very shortly. I can assure the House...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (21 Feb 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 410 and 411 together. Section 12(5) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 (No 10 of 2010) provides for twelve areas of experience from which the nine members of the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) shall be drawn, including business, commercial affairs, environment and biodiversity, aquaculture, fisheries ownership etc. The Act makes clear that members of...