Results 5,801-5,820 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Go away.

Mahon Tribunal Report: Statements (Resumed) (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: This important debate comes after a long process, much of which was debated in the public domain, and after a long period of reflection for the tribunal before producing a result. The findings of the tribunal are serious, significant and true. As other Deputies have said, planning corruption has been endemic in our country. It is not the case that all the right is on one side and all the...

Poolbeg Incinerator (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. The Poolbeg project is provided for in the Dublin regional waste management plan for which the four Dublin local authorities have statutory responsibility under the Waste Management Acts. The facility is being advanced by Dublin City Council, acting on behalf of...

Poolbeg Incinerator (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will bring the Deputy's comments to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hogan. The programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection whereby service providers will bid to provide waste collection services in a given area for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. The approach to the future regulation of...

Sheep Worrying (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. As a Deputy from Louth, I am very much aware of this issue. The control of dogs, including for the harassing of livestock, is vested in local authorities under the Control of Dogs Act 1986. The Act sets out the duties of local authorities, the powers of local authority dog wardens and the...

Sheep Worrying (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Officials from Louth County Council met recently with a delegation of local IFA hill farmers on this matter and it continues to be active in addressing this problem. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government recently publicised this issue in association with Comhairle na Tuaithe, the Countryside Council, to raise awareness among dog owners who take part in...

Job Losses (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking this Topical Issue matter on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, who is unavoidably absent. I note and take on board all of the comments-----

Job Losses (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not interrupt the Deputy.

Job Losses (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am present to read the Minister's script and I would be more than happy to communicate to her the strength and significance of the contributions that have been made by the Deputies, who are from almost all parties in the House, so that she can understand the concerns, frustrations and deep disillusionment of the workers who have found themselves in this situation. The Minister's...

Job Losses (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: As I previously noted, I am taking this matter in the unavoidable absence of the Minister for Social Protection. I was given the script by her Department and I am required to read it. It may well be as dry as dust but that is what I have been asked to read. I have no particular knowledge of this issue but I acknowledge the strong feelings that the Deputies have expressed. I am confident...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (29 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Phase I of the independent assessment proposed an initial transition strategy based on a staged approach involving: · Appointment of an interim board and Project Management Office in 2012 pending the establishment of Irish Water under its own statute by mid 2013; · Irish Water would acquire statutory responsibility for water services in mid 2013, with ownership of assets transferring...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (18 Apr 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 787, 798 and 828 together. The Government decided in December 2011, based on the recommendations of an independent assessment, to establish a public water utility company, Irish Water, to take over the operational and capital delivery functions of local authorities in the water services area. Further consideration has been given since then as to whether Irish...

Estimates for Public Services 2012: Messages from Select Committees (24 Apr 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Boyd Barrett can use mental telepathy.

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (24 Apr 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 540 and 541 together. The Government has decided to assign responsibility for the economic regulation of the water sector to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The primary role of the regulator will be to protect the interests of customers and to ensure a consistent and appropriate level of service is provided to customers; the regulator will be...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as ucht na tuairimí a nochtaigh sé. Is mian liom freagra a thabhairt i mBéarla i dtosach don Seanadóir. As Senator White's amendments have been grouped, my responses will cover the proposed amendment in respect of both sections 3 and 4. The first part of Senator White's amendment, paragraph (a), substitutes provisions relating to the actions that a...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the views expressed by Senators Kelly, Barrett, Quinn and Ó Clochartaigh. Sticking to the civil issue, the advice to all Governments from Attorneys General has always been that we would be in breach of any provision in the Constitution if we did so; that is why there will not be civil fines. The Competition Authority and the troika both wanted civil fines but they are happy with...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am glad we agree the penalties should be increased when the Bill is passed and that the penalties for those who break the law are much tougher. Imprisonment of a person for ten years is very serious. The legislation allows for the doubling of the penalty from five to ten years. That must be paramount in the mind of anyone considering breaking the law. I worked with a whistleblower,...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: It would deter me.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is off the record.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (25 Apr 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Caithfidh mé a rá, mar a dúirt mé cheana, gurb í tuairim an Ard-Aighne nach féidir é a dhéanamh, mar a luaigh an Seanadóir, gan reafrainn a bheith ann. Tá sé soiléir gur féidir fíneáil a ghearradh sa chúirt, ach ní féidir l'aon fhoras seachas na Revenue Commissioners thaobh civil fine a ghearradh. Is féidir fíneáil a fháil uathu siúd. As simple as it might appear,...