Results 5,921-5,940 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

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

Fergus O'Dowd: This matter originally came to the attention of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and only more recently was the matter raised with my department for action. From the information that has become available since this issued was raised, I am informed that Reendonegan Lake was created in and around the late 1950s and was stocked as a put and take fishery by the...

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: He thought the Senator would beat him.

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I commend the House on this discussion and I have listened to Senators' comments with great interest. Like Senator Keane, I agree with Senator Norris's comments regarding an tUachtarán na hÉireann, who is doing a fantastic job and going from strength to strength. The office is held in the highest esteem and each of its holders has increased people's respect for it. This debate is timely....

Seanad: Presidential Nominations: Motion (18 Jul 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am not directing my comments at any Senator. I am addressing the general arguments of some. While Senator Norris would not hold this view, some may. I appreciate that such a suggestion is not in the 1998 report of the all-party Oireachtas committee of which I was a member, but I wanted to make the point in the context of this discussion. Some concerns were aired in the run up to the 2011...

Alternative Energy Projects (19 Jul 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Officials of my Department have had contacts with their counterparts in Northern Ireland on onshore exploration authorisations in place in the two jurisdictions. The primary purpose of these contacts has been to facilitate an exchange of information on the nature of the activities that have been licensed and their associated timelines. There has also been a sharing of information on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (18 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: There have been four commercial natural gas discoveries since exploration began offshore Ireland in the early 1970s, namely the Kinsale, Ballycotton and Seven Heads (Kinsale area) producing gas fields off the coast of Cork and the Corrib gas field off the coast of Mayo. There have been no commercial discoveries of oil to date. The Kinsale area gas fields are now nearing depletion and...

Seanad: Irish Water and Related Reforms: Statements (20 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is mór an onóir dom bheith anseo arís chun an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo - uisce a sholáthar do gach cuid den tír - agus na ceisteanna práinneacha a bhaineann leis sin a phlé. Is rud maith é gur féidir linn tosú ar maidin ceisteanna a freagairt ó dhaoine agus go dtiocfaimid ar ais go luath chun an clár a bheidh á scaipeadh againn a scrúdú ionas go mbeidh gach duine sásta íoc...

Seanad: Irish Water and Related Reforms: Statements (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Perhaps too much whiskey is being added to it.

Seanad: Irish Water and Related Reforms: Statements (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank all the contributors to the debate. Some important views have been put forward. If I do not answer all the questions, including those from the Acting Chairman, it will not be a question of not having enough time but of getting a proper briefing back to Senators on the issues they raised. They are important and fundamental questions about where we are going and how we are going to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (20 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Tá má ag tógáil an rúin seo thar cheann an Aire, an Teachta Shatter, atá as láthair inniu. Cuirim fáilte roimh mo chairde atá anseo ó Chontae na Gaillimhe. The Reception and Integration Agency of the Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in accordance with the Government policy of direct provision. The State provides levels of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Asylum Seeker Accommodation (20 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I take note of the comments of the Senators. In case they missed it in my statement, I will repeat the following commitment given by the Minister: ... in the light of the seriousness of the suggestion in the Irish Refugee Council's report, the Minister has directed that it be comprehensively examined and any issues arising addressed. In particular, he has directed that issues relating child...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Unfinished Housing Developments (20 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Senator for bringing this matter before the House. I am appalled by the litany of problems she has outlined and by the fact that families are living in such conditions. I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Finance and would be happy to bring what the Senator has said to his direct, personal attention. The Minister has been informed by NAMA that the receiver,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Unfinished Housing Developments (20 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree with the Senator. These houses are in my constituency and I would be very happy to follow up on the matter with the Senator. The first step might be to arrange a meeting with the receivers and with NAMA to go through the issues. NAMA has stated that it was informed that the works were completed but clearly, there is work that was not done. That is the most practical suggestion I...

Topical Issue Debate: Television Reception (26 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. RTE has built, owns and controls the SAORVIEW TV network and is responsible for its roll-out, coverage and operation. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 which provides that the development of the RTE network is an operational matter for RTE and, therefore, not one in which the Minister for Communications, Energy and...

Topical Issue Debate: Television Reception (26 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will bring the Deputy's views to the attention of the Department which will communicate directly with him on the issues he has raised.

Topical Issue Debate: Missing Persons Issues (26 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: What about County Louth?

Topical Issue Debate: Missing Persons Issues (26 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality who regrets that he is unable to be present. He is aware of the concerns expressed by the Deputy relating to the finding of human remains off the coast of counties Wexford and Waterford. It is natural that these developments cause renewed sadness and heightened...

Topical Issue Debate: Missing Persons Issues (26 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: On behalf of the Minister, I thank Deputy Martin Ferris again for raising this matter which has given us the opportunity for a useful and important discussion. It is clear that all in this House share the general concern to support the families of those who, tragically, have been lost of sea and to help them pursue any reasonable avenue for the recovery and identification of the remains of...

Topical Issue Debate: Television Reception (26 Sep 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. RTE has built, owns and controls the SAORVIEW TV network and is responsible for its roll-out, coverage and operation. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 which provides that the development of the RTE network is an operational matter for RTE and, therefore, not one in which the Minister for Communications, Energy and...