Results 7,141-7,160 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fish Farming (25 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 620 and 621 together. I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that they received communication on 14 February from the company (licensee), in the location referred to by the Deputy, that it was likely that an escape of farmed salmon from their marine salmon aquaculture site had occurred as a consequence of very poor weather conditions which had...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (25 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have previously outlined the position on this matter in the House. The legislative framework governing inland fisheries is extensive, but quite dated. While the principal instrument is the 1959 Inland Fisheries Act, there are a myriad of other provisions. I made clear some time ago my intention to work to bring forward a legislative code fit for the twenty-first Century and have been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fishing Licences (27 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The annual allocation of public licences for commercial draft nets is governed by the relevant Control of Fishing for Salmon Order, in this case Statutory Instrument No. 132 of 2014. This Order also sets out the closing date for receipt of applications for public licences for commercial draft nets as 5pm on 28 March 2014. Any person over the age of 18 is entitled to apply for a public draft...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Search and Rescue Service (27 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am advised that the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG), has delegated responsibility to provide search and rescue (SAR) and preventative services for the Ireland internationally assigned search and rescue region, the littoral area, rivers, lakes, waterways, mountains, caves and offshore islands. The provision of support for inland waterways SAR in a similar manner to supports for mountain rescue is...

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome this debate but I utterly refute the content and tone, as well as the hypocrisy shown by the leader of Fianna Fáil on the other side. I note his sorry ranks today and there is at least one fellow traveller with a red tie who, in times of serious political issues, voted with the party's former leader, Bertie Ahern, and kept him in power during the most appalling ruining of our...

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I represent the Government this morning.

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not interrupt anybody over there. The party is noted for its absence more than its presence. Deputy Martin's attack on Oireachtas committee chairmen is disgraceful and should be withdrawn. He correctly pointed out that some committees are properly chaired by members of different parties, but the Deputy is being partisan in his treatment of committee chairmen who do not have his...

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: That was really a low blow.

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is my conviction that all the chairmen of the Oireachtas committees, regardless of party membership, are not partisan, but they are fair and objective and hold Ministers to account. The Joint Committee on Health and Children is an example. The Deputy cannot say the Chairman - a Cork colleague - is not absolutely fair and mature in reflecting on very serious issues. That has added to the...

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I say this as somebody who has repeatedly praised committees such as the Committee of Public Accounts. I have no difficulty with impartial and fair chairing of committees, which is what this House is about. I utterly refute the Deputy's comments in that regard. Notwithstanding his party's new commitment to reform of the Oireachtas, Fianna Fáil has in the past used the support it...

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is lame duck politics. The Bill being debated here today is entitled "An Act to reform the method of election of members of Seanad Éireann-----

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not shout down others, although I appreciate that the presence of some of those opposite is rare. They probably want to be recorded on the sound system.

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is what I want to do. The next time the Deputies speak they could at least be surrounded by other Members.

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: In repealing the Seanad electoral acts and replacing certain provisions in those Acts, the Bill, on the face of it, reforms the method of election of Members of the Seanad. However, in the view of the Government, many of the provisions in this Bill are either incomplete or would be unworkable in the form presented. The Government has already settled its approach to Seanad reform following...

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: -----to analyse a Bill section by section but we want to be helpful to the Fianna Fáil Members who are here. It is important today to identify and highlight some of the incomplete and unworkable provisions in the Bill. The Constitution stipulates that Members of the Seanad are elected by secret postal ballot. Arising from this provision, ballot papers are issued to voters by...

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy would win it every time.

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Perhaps he will do it again.

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would like to point out to Deputy Mathews that we have made significant progress, North and South, as a result of actions taken by this Parliament, regardless of government, in bringing peace to our land. Now we have shared Administration in the North and, thank God, after many years of violence, there is no violence on the streets. This is a result of our Government, the British...

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Apr 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am standing in for the Minister, Deputy Shatter, who has to attend to other business this afternoon. He sends his apologies. I propose to take amendments Nos. 1 and 2 together. In the Bill, as it stands, only fines greater than €100 in value can be paid by instalments. However, under section 6(5)(b) where more than one fine is imposed at a court sitting, these fines can be added...

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Apr 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: These amendments address a number of issues. In the first instance, the Minister has considered again the orders to be made in default and is proposing a change from what is currently in the Bill. In the Bill as it stands, a court can make any one of an attachment order, a recovery order or a community service order in default. The Minister proposes to change this so that the court will...