Results 5,861-5,880 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Departmental Staff (10 May 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is not as beautiful.

Mortgage Resolution Process (10 May 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy Broughan. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. I acknowledge the ongoing, stressful, and distressing situation being experienced by these residents. They have been placed in a very difficult position and the Minister and all concerned wish to see their difficulties resolved as quickly as...

Mortgage Resolution Process (10 May 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Again, I thank Deputy Broughan for his comments and I assure him I will bring them to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hogan, and also to the Department. He has raised important points that are not part of the briefing I was given but nevertheless they represent the deep concerns of the Deputy and other public representatives, and of the community of Priory Hall in general who have been...

Housing Aid (10 May 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy Ellis for bringing this issue before the House. I will respond on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. The shared ownership scheme was introduced in 1991 to a very different housing environment, as Deputy Ellis outlined. It was designed to facilitate access to full home ownership in two or more stages to persons who could...

Housing Aid (10 May 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Ellis raised some important points, some of which I do not have an answer to. I am sure the Department will be able to provide statistics and a response on the Keane report. Local authorities face serious challenges and mortgage holders across the country and shared ownership borrowers are facing additional challenges. We must take account of this. Revised guidance to local...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (22 May 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 an Eel Management Plan. Based on the scientific facts available, a recommendation of this plan was that Ireland close both the commercial and recreational eel fisheries in 2008. Bye-laws, Conservation of Eel Fishing Bye-law No. C.S. 303,...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (22 May 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am advised that a planning application was made to the Local Authority in July 2010. The proposal was for construction of a weir on the River Fergus and, at the request of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the proposal included a fish counter. While an initial decision to grant planning permission was made in January 2011, on appeal, planning permission was refused by An Bord Pleanála. The...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (22 May 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Following scientific research conducted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) indicating that the European eel stocks are in a critical state, the EU introduced Council Regulation 1100/2007, the objective of which is to achieve recovery of the stocks to previous high levels. The Regulation required that all Member States prepare a National Eel Management Plan...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 May 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 463 to 466, inclusive, together. The fiscal terms for petroleum exploration and production are set out in the Finance Acts, while the operational frameworks are detailed in the 1992 and 2007 Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Development. Since 1992 a corporation tax rate of 25% has applied to profits from all oil and gas production...

Polling Stations (7 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Hogan, who is unavoidably absent. I thank Deputy McLoughlin for raising this important issue which is of interest to all Members. One of the duties that fall on a returning officer at elections and referenda is to provide a sufficient number of polling stations at every polling place for which he or she is responsible. Polling places...

Polling Stations (7 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for his comments and I assure him I will bring them to the attention of the Minister. I agree that priority must be given to unemployed people where possible. Obviously, there must be some experienced staff but there is no reason young unemployed people or older unemployed people should not be able to do all the jobs done in any polling station in the country.

Planning Issues (7 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I regret that the Minister is not present and I must stand in the bearna baol. I will ensure the Deputies' views will be clearly and absolutely brought to the attention of the Minister and his Department. When Deputy Ross was a Senator, he and I sat on the Joint Committee on Transport, as it was known. We called in representatives from CIE...

Planning Issues (7 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputies for the views they expressed, specifically on the importance of education. I note also the statistics provided in this regard. I assure Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan that her comments on the importance of community representation in filling the vacancies on the council will be brought to the attention of the Minister. I fully understand the decision to wind up the Dublin...

Planning Issues (7 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: While I presume that is a matter for the Whips, such a debate would make sense. Having matters discussed in committees can also be enlightening as it allows us to extract information from people who may not otherwise volunteer it.

Community Employment Schemes (7 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for his contribution. I will respond on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection who is, unfortunately, not present. I will bring the Deputy's views to her attention. The financial review of community employment schemes is very near to completion. The review has proved to be a valuable exercise for both the schemes and the Department. Given the volume and breadth of...

Community Employment Schemes (7 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I assure the Deputy his comments will be brought to the attention of the Minister. I accept all the points he made, especially when he spoke about people who need special rehabilitation. The schemes are very useful to help these people along. The Minister will be made aware of his views.

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (12 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Tá mé ag tógaint an Bhille seo thar cheann an Aire Post, Fiontar agus Nuálaíochta, an Teachta Richard Bruton. I thank the Deputies for facilitating the debate on this urgent issue. The Bill, which has already passed all Stages in the Seanad, is compact and focused in nature and proposes a small number of changes to an existing company...

Local Government (Household Charge) (Repeal) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will not be upset if the Deputy wishes to do so.

Local Government (Household Charge) (Repeal) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is a very important debate and it comes at a time when the country remains in an extremely difficult position. Internationally, significant financial problems have arisen in countries such as Greece, etc. This debate focuses on a very narrow part of what the Government must do in order to meet the requirements laid down in the agreement with the troika. Nonetheless, I accept there is...

Local Government (Household Charge) (Repeal) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (19 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: They are quite willing to engage in populist pandering in this jurisdiction and complain about a household charge of €100. While it is difficult for many households to pay, by international standards it is not a lot of money. Let us compare it with charges in Northern Ireland. A home owner in Dundalk pays €100. Ten miles north of Dundalk, across the Border in Newry and Mourne, a home...