Results 6,641-6,660 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: We cannot have our debate here without energy or electricity. We cannot drive our cars without petrol or diesel. Let us stay in the real world. The real world from the Government perspective is that there is an independent study. It is independent of Government and everybody else, taking on board everybody in the country who had an opinion. That has all been put into the mix and out of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Government's strategy for the exploitation of the State's natural hydrocarbon resources aims to maximise the level of exploration activity and increase the level of production activity, while ensuring a fair return to the State from these activities. It is important then that the State provides suitable opportunities for international investors and provides the right environment to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Connemara Oil Field (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Connemara Oil Field is located in Block 26/28 in the Porcupine Basin, approximately 165 km offshore the west of Ireland, and was discovered by BP in 1979. In 1997, as part of a planned full field development for the Connemara Field, Statoil Exploration Ireland Limited drilled two appraisal wells on the field. The first well was aimed at testing the main reservoir sands of Upper...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (24 Oct 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 164 together. The number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in each of the past ten years is set out in the following table: Licences Granted during period 2003 - 2013 Year Prospecting Licences (Minerals) Petroleum Exploration Licences 2003 22 0 2004 26 3 2005 51 7 2006 84 4 2007 143 5 2008 91 5 2009...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (5 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is proposed that a portion of the financing of Irish water will be provided in the form of an equity investment. The arrangements under which the investment will be made have not been finalised.  However, it is not envisaged that it will be funded through Voted Expenditure or from the Local Government Fund.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (5 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 707 to 710, inclusive, together. The Water Services Act 2013 which provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bórd Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act also provides for the normal governance arrangements for a commercial State body in relation to its financial sustainability. This includes...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Staff (5 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 711 to 714, inclusive, together. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. In line with the , the determination of the remuneration of the senior management of commercial State bodies, with the exception of the Chief Executive,...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Minister will return shortly and will be in a position to respond.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Minister will return and I will only be in the Chamber briefly.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (7 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The establishment of Irish Water and its financial relationship with the local government sector will have a considerable impact on local authority financing from 2014. Work is also underway on the funding model for Irish Water’s operational costs, to ensure that Irish Water can fund the Service Level Agreements being put in place with local authorities for the delivery of water...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (19 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: While petroleum systems assessments for the Irish offshore frontier basins based on geological criteria and regional comparisons may indicate significant potential reserves, I must stress that the only commercial discoveries of petroleum made in the Irish offshore since exploration began in the early seventies are the three producing gas fields in the Kinsale area, along with the Corrib Gas...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (19 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 435 together. The Water Services Act 2013 which provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bórd Gáis Éireann, to be formed and registered under the Companies Act, also provides for the normal governance arrangements for a commercial State body in relation to its financial sustainability.  Bord Gáis has...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Staff (19 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 452 and 454 together. The Water Services Act 2013 which provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bórd Gáis Éireann to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. Irish Water is currently recruiting to build up the internal capabilities required within the organisation and the numbers of staff employed is an...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Establishment (19 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann, to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. Further proposed comprehensive legislation will transfer statutory responsibility for water services to Irish Water and will provide for local authorities to act as agents for Irish Water, with this relationship being...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Appointments (19 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann, to be formed and registered under the Companies Act. Bord Gáis has put in place appropriate programme management arrangements to establish Irish Water, to prepare for the transfer of assets, liabilities and functions from local authorities from 1 January 2014,...

Topical Issue Debate: Water Services Provision (20 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am sorry I cannot give the Deputy the guarantees he requires because, with due respect to him, his summary does not make sense. My note suggests the Deputy is talking about robbing Peter to pay Paul. In my reply, I want to talk about the economy and the future of the country, including the area represented by the Deputy and the greater Dublin area. I want to broaden the issue. The...

Topical Issue Debate: Water Services Provision (20 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The word is "abstraction", not "diversion". Diversion suggests a change to the physical course of the river, but abstraction is the taking, by licence, of a volume of water from the river. As the water can only be taken at particular times, as the Deputy rightly points out, the level of the River Shannon cannot and must not be affected by the abstraction. It will be done according to a...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Sector Staff Redeployment (20 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to the attention of the Dáil. I apologise for the absence of the Minister for Justice and Equality who is on official business elsewhere. The Deputy and the House will be aware of the importance of delivering a vetting service that protects the most vulnerable in our society. Significant additional resources have been provided for the...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Sector Staff Redeployment (20 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for the detail he has provided to the House. I will ensure the Minister for Justice and Equality is made aware of what he said. Any additional resources that are made available to the vetting unit must be sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Minister for Justice and Equality must have sufficient resources to pay the additional staff. It...

Government Decision on Exiting Programme of Financial Support: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is mild from Deputy Martin Ferris.