Results 6,601-6,620 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have allocated €6.385m for Dormant Accounts Measures in 2013, which includes €2.835m to cover once off costs such as health and safety training, personal protective clothing, necessary equipment and materials, that will be incurred by local authorities providing placements in the Department of Social Protection’s (DSP’s) Local Authority Employment Initiative,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I published A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland in July 2012. The publication of the policy confirmed the retention of side by side competition in the household waste collection market and also brought much needed policy certainty to the waste sector, particularly in terms of facilitating planning and investment decisions. The policy further sets out a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Issues (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have been informed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that the stretch of the River Barrow between Borris and St. Mullins is approximately 15kms in length. Over a stretch of river this long it is likely there will be multiple owners including private owners. IFI does not have ready access to details of fishing rights held by the private owners on the stretch of river in question. Details...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: A fundamental underpinning of the water reform programme is to ensure that the skills and experience built up over many years in local authorities are put to best use for the long-term benefit of the customer and t hat there is no negative impact on service to customers during the transition. It is intended, therefore, that the legislation to transfer statutory responsibility for water...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (16 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Irish Water’s operational and capital costs in 2015 will be funded through revenue from the domestic and non-domestic sector, an exchequer subvention and funding from the National Pensions Reserve Fund. It has been decided, following the previous review of the Memorandum of Understanding by the European Commission, the IMF and the ECB, that water charges will commence with effect from...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (17 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Three onshore licensing options were granted by the previous Minister of State at the Department, Conor Lenihan, in February 2011 immediately prior to the general election. Two were over parts of the north west carboniferous basin of Lough Allen and one was over parts of County Clare. These licensing options conferred upon the holders the first right to apply for an exploration licence. I...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (17 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Hydraulic fracturing is not an industrial wasteland. I have been to the United States and looked at a site after hydraulic fracturing had taken place and it looks like any normal rural landscape. The assessment which must take place must consider the potential impact of the project on the population, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, the architectural and...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (17 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I spoke to the environmental secretary in Pennsylvania, the person charged with this, about the issue. We must deal with facts, and we will not have the facts until the research is done. All of the issues the Deputy mentioned including the people, the population, the economic conditions, the flora, fauna, the archaeology, the heritage and the landscape are being studied and this is a fact....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Job Creation Issues (17 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Question Nos. 35 and 36 together. I am committed to facilitating the exploration and development of Ireland's mineral, oil and gas resources with a view to maximising their contribution to Ireland's society and economy, including the provision of employment, whilst having due regard to any potential environmental impact. Exploration and development of mineral, oil or...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (17 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Earlier this year the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the draft terms of reference for the more extensive second stage of its research into the use of hydraulic fracturing, the final results of which are expected in early 2015. The key questions to be addressed by this research are, -To establish if shale gas exploration and extraction involving the use of the fracking...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Tax Yield (17 Jul 2013)

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. Despite the low level of commercial discoveries to date,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (17 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ireland currently imports approximately 95% of its natural gas needs and 100% of its oil requirements. Successful development of our indigenous resources would contribute to significantly reducing dependence on imported supply. There have been four commercial natural gas discoveries since exploration began offshore Ireland in the early 1970s, namely the Kinsale, Ballycotton and Seven...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (17 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: There are various methodologies currently being used with respect to minerals and petroleum exploration both onshore and offshore Ireland that will continue to be used into the future. Exploration for “unconventional gas” or “shale gas” is a live issue in a number of EU Member States. Exploration is on-going in a number of Member States while others have taken...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (17 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann, conforming to the conditions contained in the Act and registered under the Companies Acts. The Act provides that Irish Water will be required to submit an annual report on the performance of its functions each year...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (17 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: 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. A key objective is to rationalise the cost of the current service delivery and ensure more efficient operation of water services by moving from 34 water services...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: EU Directives (18 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: On 13 October 2010, the European Commission presented a communication called ‘Facing the challenge of the safety of offshore oil and gas operations’. Following the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010, the Commission carried out an analysis of the legislative and regulatory situation in the European Union, and suggested a course of action, including revision of existing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Properties (18 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 290 on 18 June 2013, matters in relation to the sale of premises are a day to day operational matter for the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) subject to Public Financial Procedures. Details as regards public tendering and the transaction referred to by the Deputy are included on files held by the Board and not the Department. In...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely.

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Sep 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Give the Deputy three minutes.

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Sep 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is a regulated sector.