Results 7,181-7,200 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Topical Issue Debate: Water Meters Installation (1 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The topic the Deputy raised was the lack of notification to householders prior to installation of water meters and that is what is addressed in my prepared reply. The questions the Deputy raised are not part of that. I will be very happy to ask Irish Water to reply directly to the Deputy on the statistics and the process. As the Deputy will be...

Topical Issue Debate: Water Meters Installation (1 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I assure Deputy Stanley that all of the information he has laid before the House and the issues he has raised will be brought to the attention of Irish Water-Uisce Éireann immediately for direct reply to him. I will ask it to copy me and perhaps we can discuss it after that communication has been received.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for putting this question. I can confirm that we are very much looking at the biomass policy and apart from a couple of final meetings between the Minister, myself and the Department, I expect to be in a position to publish the strategy document by the end of this month. As we are meeting those involved in the industry all of the time, we will be consulting them about a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: A recent report produced by Rethink Pylons stated that converting Moneypoint from coal to biomass would meet our targets of 40% without the need to upgrade the grid or for further wind development. It argued that the conversion would cost €380 million, which is approximately 10% of the cost of upgrading the grid. The decision on the fuel type to be used would be a matter for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: While the issues raised by the Deputy are not in my briefing document, I will be happy to obtain a briefing on the plant in the UK and share those data with him. I assure the Deputy that we want to increase the use of indigenous biomass on this island. I am happy to take on board the issues the Deputy has raised and will get an official response for him. When the plan is published we will...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Applications for licences to carry out exploration and production activities in jurisdictions outside the Republic of Ireland are matters solely for the authorities in those jurisdictions. Other than statutory trans-boundary consultation, the Irish authorities have no role in the consideration of such applications. On the broader issue of unconventional gas exploration, officials in my...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am not aware of what the British Government intends to do in this regard, no more than the Deputy or his party is. Such decisions are a matter for that government. As I said, we are involved in a joint North-South study to identify all of the issues involved. It is important, too, that we be fully up to date with all of the international research. The objective of our research is to...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely. That is our commitment. We will not progress any application or accept any further application until the study has been completed and debated.

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I cannot speak for what happens in the Six Counties. Perhaps the Deputy is in a position to do so.

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for tabling her question. I wish to make it clear that I have not read today's edition of The Guardian. Unlike her, I have not had the time to do so. Now that she has brought the relevant article to my attention, however, I will certainly read it. I reassure her that I read everything I can find about developments relating to fracking. I visited America recently and...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: On the other side of the argument is the fact that fracking or unconventional gas extraction has absolutely transformed the American economy and that the country has become an exporter, rather than an importer, of energy. The fundamental question concerns what process, if any, the Government is allowing. The answer is absolutely none. A decision was made in the February before we took...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I stand to be corrected, but on the latter point, as I understand it, submissions were sought by the EPA before anything happened. I understand the agency has received thousands of submissions, all of which are being gone through. There has been total transparency and total involvement. The views expressed to the EPA will obviously have to be considered. Reference was made to community...

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: His leader bought two.

Topical Issue Debate: Water Services Provision (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy Doyle for raising this important matter in the House. However, the Department has no responsibility for, or role in, the management, maintenance or operation of water infrastructure. This is a matter for Uisce Éireann, the water services authority, which is responsible under statute for the operation, maintenance and management of water infrastructure. Local...

Topical Issue Debate: Water Services Provision (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am shocked that Irish Water has not responded to the Deputy's e-mail of more than one week ago. That is not good enough and I will ask it to investigate the issue urgently. Everybody is entitled to a response to his or her queries, whether he or she is a Member of the Oireachtas through the 1890 278278 telephone number or the e-mail facility or an ordinary member of the public. One of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ireland manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis. This management is carried out by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the State Agency with statutory responsibility for inland fisheries under the 2010 Inland Fisheries Act. The individual river management strategy is based on the fact that each of Ireland’s 143 salmon rivers has its own unique stock of salmon which migrates to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: My Department is currently in the process of finalising a national bioenergy strategy which will be published in a matter of weeks. The strategy will set out the actions required to optimise the contribution that a sustainable bioenergy sector could make to the achievement of the 2020 renewable energy target for Ireland. A strong bioenergy sector could also make important contributions to a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. In that role it provides scientific advice to my Department regarding the most up-to-date status of species under its brief. Sea trout, bass and salmon are all managed as recreational angling species. All three are highly...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Details of all Prospecting Licences can be found in the six-monthly report to the Oireachtas, which I am obliged to lay before the Houses under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999. The last such report was in respect of the six-month period ending 31 December 2013. This report is available on my Department’s website at . The number of Mineral Prospecting Licences granted in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (6 May 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The report published by the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture in May 2012 contained a number of recommendations in respect of the fiscal and regulatory framework applying to oil and gas exploration in Ireland. In subsequent Dáil debates I stated my intention to seek further independent expert advice on the...