Results 6,561-6,580 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: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I heard the reports. I asked departmental officials and they have no knowledge of that. I have been advised that the contracts are a matter for Uisce Éireann to announce following due process. The names and numbers of contractors are a matter for Uisce Éireann, not the Department.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely none. I put in an e-mail request on the issue because I was surprised by the radio reports. In anticipation of the Deputy's query, I had an e-mail earlier today from the Department on the issue, which states: The regional metering contracts will be awarded this month. No information is publicly available on the numbers of contracts or contractors. That is a matter for Irish...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Those decisions have to be made. The cost per household will be announced by the regulator. He or she will announce his or her intended decision and then people will have the opportunity to make submissions. There will be a consultative process before a final decision is made. People will be aware, therefore, of what the cost may be and they will have an opportunity to make submissions....

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: To be fair to the Deputy, the full facts will be transparently made available. I cannot give him the detail now but the consultants who analysed the water system said it is costing twice as much as in the UK to provide the service. That is why we expect that when Uisce Éireann takes over from 1 January next, there will be new efficiencies and synergies. We will not work on a county by...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Murphy raised the water pressure issue and I do not know if I have dealt with that adequately. The costing will have to be included in the work programmes submitted to the regulator by Uisce Éireann. They will be decided in conjunction with the regional water committees. The plan will start, local government will state what it wants, it will move up the line and then it will be...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The committee made its own separate report as well. On the point about whether one is metered or unmetered, it is not the case that if one is not metered by the end of 2016 the charge one will be paying is unreasonable. It is a question of its being based on a number of different criteria, which will include the number of persons in the house and other variables. If there is a significant...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is part of the ongoing process. It is a key question. Obviously, there must be a spatial strategy. It is a matter for legislation by the Oireachtas. I presume that local authorities will be part of a local plan, a county plan, a regional plan and a water district management plan, and my expectation is that at the regional level all of those issues will be debated and must be...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is similar. Notwithstanding the current difficulties, there is a significant continuing commitment to it. Having visited the Kilmeena group water scheme in County Mayo, I can testify that the work done by rural communities in sustaining, supporting and investing in the group water schemes is phenomenal. I have been to a number of national conferences on group water schemes. There is no...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The key point is that it is fine if one can provide one's self with safe, treated, potable water. The reason people have group water schemes is usually that they cannot do this, and so they get together to provide such a supply. The example in Mayo is fantastic. It involves not only the householders but also their children. The committee will be glad to hear they that have water...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ní gá. Bhí mé ag éisteacht leat.

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Particularly for the Senator's good self.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator Byrne for bringing this matter before the House. Bhí mé ag éisteacht leis níos luaithe san oíche. Tá Gaeilge an-mhaith aige. Chuir sé pointe an-mhaith romhainn. I acknowledge the points raised by Senator Byrne and welcome the opportunity to clarify issues regarding the recent report of the 2013 Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I take Senator Byrne's point. I remember when St. Finian's Park was a new estate in Drogheda, the residents voted out in Donore for quite a number of years. There are such anomalies so I will bring the Senator's comments to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hogan.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Tá mé ag tógaint an díospóireacht seo thar cheann an Aire Sláinte agus glacaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh as ucht an rúin seo a chur faoi bhráid am tSeanaid. Mar is eol duit, an buiséad 2013 tá sé an-thábhachtach go mbeadh an méid airgid agus is féidir a bheith againn chun na cúrsaí,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Bhuel, mar a dúirt mé tá an-sásta do thuairimí a nochtadh don Aire Sláinte agus tuigim na pointí atá déanta agat agus tá sé ráite san ráiteas ansin níl dabht ná go ndéanfaidh sé maitheas do dhaoine áitrithe ach go háirithe, ach caithfear níos mó eolais a chur faoi bhráid na n-othar...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality. I thank the Senator for raising this issue. As the Minister indicated to this House just yesterday, the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013 does not create any new right of repossession on the part of lenders. It restores a right which was specifically intended to continue to exist under reforming legislation...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Senator for her views and assure her that I will convey them to the Minister. I repeat that for a lender to seek a court order to repossess the home of a mortgagor who has defaulted in repayments that should be a last resort where all other avenues to resolve the arrears situation have been exhausted. That is the context of the reply, namely, that it will be done as a last...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Mortgage Arrears Proposals (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the translators as well.

Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network: Statements (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish share time with Deputies Penrose and Bannon.