Results 6,101-6,120 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Many of the points made by Senator Walsh are about a company which he is entitled to bring before the Oireachtas committee dealing with energy and interrogate it on the issues about which he is concerned. It is not my job to accept or reject what he says. He needs to make his points to Bord Gáis. I am happy to ensure he meets the company to discuss the points he has raised here, have them...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is very important that we get it right, and I accept it is the view of Senator Walsh that we must get it right and avoid the pitfalls and traps which can arise in State agencies and private companies. I will be happy to come back to him on Report State with the details on the questions he has raised. He is entitled to know the salary of the chief executive officer.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is fine, but the question was raised and I shall not avoid giving an answer. The House is entitled to know the facts and I shall be back with them. I stand over transparency and accountability and I am sure the Cathaoirleach does as well but let us get it right. We must get this matter right. The measure will not work if we do not cross all of the t's and dot all of the i's, and...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Any moneys borrowed will be off the State balance sheet. Therefore, the borrowing, which will be a maximum of ¤500 million at any time, will be off the Government balance sheet and will not be on the State bill, as such. As regards different currencies, it means that when one is doing the sum as to whether the figure is under ¤500 million, one will use whatever the exchange rates are at...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can get the answer to that for Report Stage. I presume the company will go to the markets, but if somebody will lend them money, that is fine. I do not have the answer to that question but I will get it for the Senator.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: If it is helpful to the Senator, I have seen a local authority training manual in which reference is made to training staff for metering, including district metering. I understand the local authorities have a training centre where all this is done. If it is helpful, I would be happy to observe what is happening in Laois County Council. I have visited Galway and have observed what happens...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: If it is helpful to the Senator, the next legislative item to be introduced will deal with a lot more information than is available in this regard. However, I undertake to revert to the Senator with greater clarity in respect of what is happening and on what will be the principles. In order not to mislead the Senator, I refer to the issues that must be examined. For example, as the Senator...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Senator's comments and I will return to these issues.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: This Bill enables us to establish Uisce Éireann and it is not envisaged this will be in the full Bill when it is set up. It is to ensure that the board is required to comply with such policies of the Government as are specified in the direction. It is a prudent measure inserted at this stage to ensure Government policy is adhered to as we progress and the company is set up. The...

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Senator's comments and I will return to these issues.

Seanad: Water Services Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: This Bill enables us to establish Uisce Éireann and it is not envisaged this will be in the full Bill when it is set up. It is to ensure that the board is required to comply with such policies of the Government as are specified in the direction. It is a prudent measure inserted at this stage to ensure Government policy is adhered to as we progress and the company is set up. The...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator Conway for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on such roads are funded from local...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As I am not a Minister in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, I am unable to answer the Senator's questions. However, I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister and ask him to reply directly.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator Conway for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on such roads are funded from local...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As I am not a Minister in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, I am unable to answer the Senator's questions. However, I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister and ask him to reply directly.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (31 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ireland operates a model where the State provides the opportunity and private industry bears the risk associated with investing in exploration activity. Exploration investment is encouraged through an active and targeted promotion campaign, the holding of regular licensing rounds and by supporting petroleum research projects that deepen knowledge of the petroleum potential of the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (31 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As the Deputy will be aware inland fisheries activity is based in “domestic waters” and interaction at EU level is limited. Some discussion on Inland Fisheries issues takes place as part of the broader Fisheries Agenda under DG Mare of the European Union. Working Groups and Committees are mainly attended by colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (31 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Countries that have petroleum production use a range of models to obtain a financial return from their natural resources. These models vary both in terms of the instruments used and in terms of the level of take which the State seeks to obtain. Some countries, including Morocco, use a combination of instruments, such as: State participation in licences; production royalties; along with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (31 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ireland operates a model where the State provides the opportunity and private industry bears the risk associated with investing in exploration activity. In addition to offering regular and attractive licensing initiatives and actively promoting the opportunity to invest in exploration in the Irish offshore, my Department works with a range of other State bodies to support the conduct of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (31 Jan 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: No application has been received by my Department for a permit to drill an exploration well using hydraulic fracturing. The purpose of an exploration well is to obtain data on a specific geological objective or objectives. The depth of each individual well will, therefore, be determined by the depth of the related geological objective. In relation to the diameter of exploration wells,...