Results 6,681-6,700 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I hope the Deputy is going to apologise.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: On Committee Stage the Minister, Deputy Noonan, made it clear that his position remained unchanged and that he did not believe there was a great deal of difference in principle between his position and that of Deputy Doherty. Analysis can play a very important part, but it should not be applied to everything, particularly in instances where we do not deem it necessary. If the cost in terms...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: And transport.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Perhaps Deputy Doherty has a problem remembering things. He spoke about developers. The biggest developer who was involved in the biggest controversy in the country for a long time was a member of his party.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, he was. He spent some time in a certain house in the North and in his house in Dublin he hid a few bob, amounting to €250,000, in the bathroom and forgot about it. The relationship between developers and the Deputy's party is very clear. I know that those opposite do not like it, but the number of people in employment increased by more than 58,000 this year.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not interrupt the Deputy. I ask him to be kind and to listen, difficult though that may be for him. There are more people working now than there were last year, tax returns have increased and a greater air of confidence is evident. Notwithstanding the difficulties families face - and no one is denying that such difficulties exist - when I knock on people's doors, I am met with hope...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy should have some manners, as we say in my house, and listen to people rather than trying to interrupt them. He should refrain from interrupting. People have informed me that they believe the Government is succeeding in dealing with the issues, notwithstanding the fact that there is a long way to go. It is no surprise that Forbes magazine has an article on its website today which...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: If we were to refer to the troika representatives as "emigrants", then we would be extremely happy that they are leaving. We had the courage of our convictions and we dealt with the issues that arose. We did not shy away from difficult decisions and our policies are successful. That is the reality of the situation.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will conclude shortly. I just want to finish reading my reply.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I know that. I will be as brief as possible. The Deputies opposite need to examine the independent analysis from Forbes and other international magazines and journals because they will discover that we have restored both our economy and our credibility and that our budgetary policy is having an impact.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: No; sorry-----

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not name him.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I want to respond to that.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: On Deputy Doherty's amendment, I would like to clarify any confusion which may exist in relation to the point he has raised in his amendment. I share his concern that the initiative should be targeted at the areas where it will do the most good and that it should not be available on a wide-scale basis. The landscape of this country is still scarred by the rampant tax-driven property...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I advise Deputy Doherty that the officials have offered to meet with him to clarify the issues he raised. If he is happy to accept that offer, they would be happy to do. However, the position still stands and we do not accept the amendments.

Electricity Infrastructure: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: First, I would like to assure Deputy Ferris that the Grid Link project has nothing to do with the export project. Grid Link is not being built to facilitate any traded sector that may emerge in the future. I have listened carefully to the points made by Members from both sides during this debate and previous debates and to the concerns raised by the Oireachtas committee in the past two...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Staff (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 120 together. The Water Services Act 2013 provide d for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary under the Companies Acts within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group. The Act also provided Irish Water with the necessary powers to undertake the domestic water metering progamme. The Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013, which was...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Tá áthas orm an Bille seo a chur faoi bhráid an tSeanaid inniu. Tá súil agam go mbeidh díospóireacht mhaith againn agus go mbeimid in ann na cúrsaí a ardóidh Seanadóirí ó gach cuid den Teach a phlé. Má theastaíonn ó Sheanadóirí aon rud nua a chur isteach sa reachtaíocht, tá súil...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Gabh mo leithscéal. Tá sé ag teacht. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeidh díospóireacht oscailte againn agus go mbeidh seans ag gach éinne a gcuid tuairimí a nochtadh. This Bill is the second legislative milestone in the Government's strategy for the reform of water services provision in Ireland. The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the...

Seanad: Water Services (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (4 Dec 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It will identify leaks on the customer side that would not be otherwise identified.