Results 6,441-6,460 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is not the Department that makes such rulings. An amendment either meets the criteria laid down by the Houses of the Oireachtas or it does not. If an amendment involves a potential charge on the people, it must be ruled out of order. It is not a decision for the Department to make.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: In the context of the rules of the House, the amendment cannot be allowed. However, the Deputy can make the points he wishes to make to the relevant section of the Bill. The Deputy is not being prevented from speaking on the issue.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I note that Deputies are opposed to the increases that took effect from 1 January 2013. I recognise that any increase in tax is unwelcome, this being the second increase in as many years. However, it is an unavoidable fact that the new CO2-based system introduced in July 2008, has resulted over time in a decline in motor tax receipts. This means it has worked. Instead of the switch being...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will ask the Department to provide the Deputy with that information.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: A maximum of €150 million from the fund will go to central taxation. It does not necessarily mean that all that amount will be taken. The Deputy is correct in his point about emissions. The legislation will provide transparency. Everybody has the right to comment on it and to question it. In regard to what Deputy Ellis said, what he is asking for is a county by county breakdown-----

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: -----of how much is collected and what the equalisation figures are for each county. I will ask that the Department to provide the Deputy with that information.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Apologies, Deputy Stanley. I can read the response provided to the amendment. The need and resource model was developed in 2000 to assist in the determination of the allocation of general purpose grants to local authorities. The aim of the model is to bring about equalisation between local authorities over time so that each will have sufficient resources from a combination of central...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move amendment No. 3: In page 12, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following: "Amendment of section 6 of Local Government Act 19986. Section 6 (amended by section 6 of the Act of 2012) of the Local Government Act 1998is amended—(a) by substituting the following subsection for subsection (2C):"(2C) (a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), the Minister may, on or before 31 December...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: This amendment proposes to amend the Long Title to provide for the insertion of the words "to amend the Local Government Act 1998".

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: First, in regard to what Deputy Ellis stated, it was announced in the Dáil on the night of the budget that this would happen. I appreciate that-----

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: In terms of transparency and accountability it is clear what is going to happen. We are accountable for it as we are accountable here today, listening to everything Deputies have to say. It is like buying a house. When the Government came to office the foundations of the house were rotten and the house could not stand. The nation could not stand. The finances of this country were in an...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I acknowledge the arguments that were made but we must proceed. I accept the integrity of the Deputies' position and I believe they accept ours in making these decisions. Although they may disagree profoundly with them we believe this action must be taken. That is why it is in the legislation.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move amendment No. 4: In page 3, line 7, after “thereunder;” to insert “to amend the Local Government Act 1998;”.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (20 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 366 together. The Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy , which is published on my Department’s website, is focused on ensuring that appropriate policy and legal frameworks are put in place for Irish Water and the water sector. The Implementation Strategy provides clarity on the steps involved in this process and the key milestones and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (20 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: In January 2012 my Department initiated a public consultation process seeking views in relation to the development of an implementation plan for Water Sector Reform. The consultation paper and a copy of the independent assessment which examined the optimal organisational structure for the Irish Water utility have been published on my Department’s website. The development of the...

Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Order for Report Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now." I will be proposing a verbal amendment to the Short Title of the Bill to correct a small error: in section 8, on page 13, to delete the word "Vehicles" and replace it with the word "Vehicle". It is purely technical. I make the point so we will know what we are talking about.

Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (27 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputies for their comments and views. I should first point out that the amendments tabled by Deputies Catherine Murphy and Dessie Ellis were ruled out of order not by the Department but by this House. I am happy to debate the issues. While they cannot be put before the House by way of amendment, they can be debated in the context of our discussion. I note that Deputy Murphy...

Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (27 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am trying to deal comprehensively with the points raised. Is that okay?

Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (27 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am speaking specifically on the amendment and the points made by Deputies Catherine Murphy, Dessie Ellis and Thomas Pringle. I believe this is a balanced approach. The Government is committed to supporting the Local Government Fund, which will retain the bulk of income from motor tax to be used to fund local services. The balance of the fund, for distribution to local authorities and to...

Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (27 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am not denying that.