Results 6,621-6,640 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

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

Fergus O'Dowd: No.

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

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank all of the Members who spoke and who raised important and constructive points. I noted the presence of Sinn Féin Member throughout the debate and I want to acknowledge that. I acknowledge the important points raised by that party and others. The Department officials who are here with me have taken note of all the significant points that were made and any questions that I...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Referral to Select Committee (19 Sep 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Sep 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Whilst there are no petroleum authorisations extant in respect of Dublin Bay, there are two authorisations in respect of areas in the nearby Kish Bank, namely: Standard Exploration Licence SEL2/11 held by Providence Resources Plc; and Licensing Option LO10/2 held by Albativ Resources Ltd. My Department is not in receipt of a drilling proposal in respect of either of these authorisations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (1 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is current licensing policy that applications for petroleum authorisations in respect of onshore areas will not be considered pending the outcome of the Environmental Protection Agency's studies into the use of hydraulic fracturing, which are expected in early 2015. My Department is not in receipt of petroleum authorisation applications proposing onshore petroleum extraction.

Financial Resolutions 2014 - Financial Resolution No. 8: General (Resumed) (16 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: In the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government one of the significant changes that has taken place is the question of how we deal with our water and water infrastructure. The responsibility for public water supply and waste water, currently with local authorities, will pass to Irish Water from 1 January 2014. Irish Water will have a general duty to provide safe and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (22 Oct 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. As a first step in this process, the Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann, conforming to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am aware of reports of the incident to which the Deputy refers. No application proposing the use of unconventional gas exploration or extraction has been approved in Ireland. No decision will be made on applications for exploration licences proposing the use of this technology until after the results of the Environmental Protection Agency research into the potential environmental impacts...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I assure the Deputy that I have met and will continue to meet any group or agency that wishes to discuss with me their concerns about fracking, regardless of whether they are from County Leitrim, Pennsylvania, Colorado or wherever. My door is open and my job is to listen and to learn. To be specific however, the proposed EPA study will include consideration of the regulatory approaches of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely, yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: On the question of public consultation, I also might add that when the EPA advertised for public views, more than 1,000 submissions were received. Obviously many of them dealt with the environmental impacts to which the Deputy has referred but a considerable number of concerns were raised on the potential impact to human health, leading to the steering group agreeing it would add a health...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: That obviously would have to be a planning consideration.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: And mine.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It was not allowed in any event.

Other Questions: Broadband Services Provision (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: What time are we continuing until?

Other Questions: Broadband Services Provision (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: We thought we were going.

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The objective of the Environmental Protection Agency's research is to establish if shale gas exploration involving the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, can be carried out in a manner that will not cause significant environmental pollution, to identify all possible environmental risks associated with fracking, to ascertain if these risks are manageable and to identify best practice...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: For the sake of absolute clarity, the EPA will study many different countries, as the Deputy knows, including two European countries, at least one in which there has been a ban on hydraulic fracturing. It will assimilate all the evidence available. There is no issue about establishing facts and this involves only facts, not hearsay or what one might see on a television programme. It is a...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: This process is completely open and transparent. It was open to anybody in this country to comment. The comments have been listened to. They have been taken on board. The study will be objective and scientific. There is another side to this debate. It is very clear that in America, for instance, the economy has been transformed by shale gas. The benefit to each individual taxpayer or...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It has.