Results 5,981-6,000 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (6 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have been advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that, along with other major salmon rivers in Ireland, the River Feale contains a genetically unique population of salmon. Best scientific advice, both nationally and internationally, indicates that the introduction of a salmon hatchery operation into a wild salmon fishery can reduce the ability of the genetically distinct native strain...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (6 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the questions I answered in this House on 2nd October and again on 11th October . The International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advice is that the eel stock continued to decline in the period 2009 to 2011 and urgent action is needed. In 2011 ICES reiterated its previous advice that all anthropogenic mortality (e.g. recreational...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (6 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Thirteen licensing options were awarded in November 2011 under the 2011 Licensing Round. There are currently eighteen exploration licences, seventeen licensing options and five petroleum prospecting licences extant in respect of exploration in the Irish offshore. All authorisations granted are subject to the carrying out of agreed work programmes. While work programmes in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Industry Data (6 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would like to advise the Deputy that my Department maintains an extensive national archive of definitive petroleum exploration and production data on industry activities carried out in Ireland. All operators and contractors are required to submit all technical data and information relating to all authorisations, drilling activities and exploration surveys to my Department. In order to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (6 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: In February of last year, following an open competition, onshore petroleum licensing options were awarded by the then Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to: Tamboran Resources PTY Ltd over parts of counties Cavan, Leitrim and Sligo; Lough Allen Natural Gas Company Ltd over parts of counties Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo; and Enegi Oil...

Topical Issue Debate: Regulatory Bodies (13 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter in the House which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, who is unavoidably absent. ComReg is statutorily responsible for the regulation of the postal sector and independent in the exercise of its regulatory functions. Furthermore, the EU regulatory framework for the postal...

Topical Issue Debate: Regulatory Bodies (13 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I assure the Deputy that I will bring his comments and views, which have been strongly and clearly expressed, to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte. I appreciate what he has said but I reiterate two things. The EU regulatory framework for the postal sector requires that the regulatory function is discharged separately from the shareholder function of the Minister. That is one...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (13 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputies Paudie Coffey, Ciara Conway, John Paul Phelan and John Halligan for raising this matter. I note Senator Maurice Cummins is here also. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. A key stepping stone towards the introduction of universal health insurance will be the development of independent not-for-profit hospital trusts in which...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (13 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputies for their comments and acknowledge the presence of Senator Maurice Cummins in the House. All I can say is that I will make sure the Minister is made aware of the concerns raised by the Deputies and of the local feelings that were so clearly expressed. I wish to reiterate the point that, with specific regard to Waterford, the intention is that the hospital will retain...

Topical Issue Debate: Education and Training (13 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Department estimates that expenditure on employment supports will be over €960 million in 2012. This substantial expenditure, which is against a backdrop of significant fiscal consolidation, underlines the Government's commitment to enhancing support for activation and assisting people return to employment. As outlined in the Pathways...

Topical Issue Debate: Education and Training (13 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I acknowledge the Deputy's point that qualifications at a very high level are no longer sustainable in terms of employment. If one changes one has to take a course at a lower level. The Deputy argues that this should be addressed. I will ensure the Minister for Social Protection is made aware of the issue urgently.

Credit Union Bill 2012 (Resumed): Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: He would not go anyway.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (21 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that the information sought is available in respect of those fisheries that are public fisheries. I am advised that no salmon catches were recorded on the River Maine which has been closed for the years in question. IFI advise that they conducted a pilot study in the Castlemaine Fishery in 2010 which led to the opening of that Fishery in 2011...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Senator. I will make him a Senator for life.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (28 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together. Firstly, I should clarify that no petroleum exploration activity has been licensed in Dublin Bay. The exploration licence held by Providence Resources and their partners PSE Seven Heads Limited is over an area of the Kish Bank Basin off the Dublin/Wicklow coast. The licence is for a six year period and includes an obligation to drill...

Topical Issue Debate: Leader Programmes (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Funding of €314 million is available under the Leader elements of the rural development programme for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. There are 35 local action groups or Leader companies contracted on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to deliver the rural development programme throughout the country. These groups are...

Topical Issue Debate: Leader Programmes (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy O'Mahony for the manner in which he has raised this matter. The Deputy has raised some important issues, which I will bring to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hogan, for direct reply to him. It is important that the Minister ensures that the funding programmes are delivered in an efficient and effective manner and in compliance with EU and national requirements. When...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Offshore Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Standard Exploration Licence 2/11, which was issued last year, is held by a consortium comprising Providence Resources Plc and PSE Seven Heads Ltd. over an area of approximately 380 square kilometres in the Kish Bank Basin off the Dublin-Wicklow coast. The licence is for a six-year period with an obligation to drill an exploration well by August 2014. The licensees have not as yet...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Offshore Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The joint committee published its report on offshore oil finds in May. The report recommends an increase in the tax rate to 80%, but it does not address the continuing low level of offshore exploration and makes no suggestion on how it can be improved. It also makes it very clear that even if there were to be changes from its perspective, they could not apply retrospectively. The key...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Offshore Exploration (29 Nov 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I reject all of those assertions because they do not make sense. As I said, we have had a very small number of drills off our coast compared to the numbers in Britain and Norway because of the fact that there is a much better chance of finding oil off their shores. We have to get companies to invest here and we are getting them. However, during the years, the graph showing the number of...