Results 5,901-5,920 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Written Answers — Salmon Management: Salmon Management (26 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would draw the Deputy's attention to the response I gave to the House on 1st May last on both issues. In relation to the issue of salmon smolts going to sea, the Electricity Supply Board operate 10 large-scale hydro-electric stations located on the Rivers Shannon, Erne, Liffey, Lee and the Clady/Crolly. ESB have advised that during the downward salmon migration to sea (March-early June),...

Road Safety (27 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Certain people lost their jobs.

Hospital Accommodation (27 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health. I can assure the Deputies that the comments they made will certainly be brought to his attention as soon as possible. It is a very important issue and the HSE South Tipperary General Hospital regrets that because of increased activity some patients are experiencing delay in being transferred from the emergency department to...

Hospital Accommodation (27 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Patient care is paramount in South Tipperary General Hospital. The situation is a priority for hospital management and is being continuously and actively reviewed. Additional staff are in the emergency department to ensure patient care and safety at all times. Hospital management wishes to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all staff during this busy period to ensure that all those...

Hospital Accommodation (27 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I assure the two Deputies opposite who have articulated their strong views that the Minister will be made aware of their points of view. Either the staff are doing their best or they are not and it is clear that the two Deputies are commending the staff and the organisation of the hospital and its capacity to respond, given the difficult situation. I refer to three significant achievements...

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputies O'Dea, Tóibín and Lawlor for their comments thus far in the debate. The purpose of the amendment tabled by Deputy O'Dea is to provide for the removal of the prohibition contained in the Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1999 on insurance intermediaries incorporated as limited companies availing of the exemption provided for at section 32 of that Act from the requirement to...

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: In the event that the position of the Department of Finance and Central Bank in regard to audit exemptions for insurance intermediaries changes, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation would be prepared to consider making amendment to these provisions in a manner acceptable to the prudential supervisors. Such amendments will be considered in the context of an appropriate company...

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the points made by the Deputies and I am happy to clarify the issues. With regard to the letter referred to by Deputy O'Dea, it contains other paragraphs which I will read into the record. I do not know whether the Deputy has a copy of it. Deputy O'Dea's quote from the letter was: "The proposed amendments included removing insurance intermediaries from the scope of the Investment...

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy O'Dea was in government in 2009 and 2010 and, thankfully, for only a short period of 2011. That Government failed to bring in the regulations over a number of years.

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not interrupt Deputy O'Dea and I ask him to listen to me as I listened to him. The Government of which he was a member did not do it when it was in power and we are doing it now. We are making a commitment with regard to the appropriate vehicle when the regulations are in place.

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: If we were to include it now, the problem would be how to protect the public with regard to audits, requirements and regulations when the change is made.

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Members of the public receive services from these companies. The public must be protected. The Central Bank is not happy at this stage for it to go ahead. It wants everyone to move forward together and put through this Bill. The previous Government did not do it and we are saying that we will do it. It is as simple as this. It is very clear to all objective commentators what we are...

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (28 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am pleased to stand in for my colleague, the Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, for the taking of Report and Final Stages of this Bill, which is compact and focused in nature and proposes a small number of changes to an existing company law measure. It is proposed in the interest of maintaining a dynamic and flexible operating environment for the commercial...

Written Answers — Irish Water: Irish Water (28 Jun 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: 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. Following further consideration as to whether Irish Water should be established as a new entity or whether existing bodies in...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (3 Jul 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the recent publication by the Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture of its report on offshore oil and gas exploration. The report is a detailed document running to almost 130 pages and makes a total of 11 recommendations. On initial consideration, I can see merit in a number of the recommendations and look forward to discussing the report in more...

Seanad: Flood Relief (5 Jul 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator Colm Burke for raising this matter and my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee for facilitating this arrangement. On behalf of the Government, I express my sympathy to those affected by the flooding in Cork last week. While, thankfully, no lives were lost, the flooding has had a significant impact on homes and businesses in various areas of Cork. I commend the...

Seanad: Flood Relief (5 Jul 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Senator for bringing that issue to my attention. I will ensure that the Minister is made aware of it immediately. The quicker all claims are settled, the better. What can be done must be done quickly.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (17 Jul 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), that the presence of low volumes of algal growth on resistivity strips does not cause a pronounced attenuation of the electrical signal nor does it adversely affect a counters operation. The build-up of such algal material is common on all in-stream structures. The routine maintenance of fish counters usually includes the removal of such...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Jul 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The costs associated with the purchase and operation of the MMC Ostrea since its procurement is a day to day operational matter for the Loughs Agency and I have no function in the matter. However, in order to assist the Deputy I asked my officials to contact the Lough's Agency to request the details he has sought. I will advise the Deputy as soon as the Agency's response is received.