Results 7,261-7,280 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Topical Issue Debate: Tree Remediation (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan. I thank the Deputy for raising it. The current legal position on high trees and hedges is that planning legislation does not make a particular provision for recognition of a right to light or a remedy from any other nuisance which may be caused by trees in a residential area. Complaints where...

Topical Issue Debate: Tree Remediation (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy Flanagan for his contribution and the points he raised. I will ask for a direct reply from the Department in respect of the query he raised about the costs and why that would be prohibitive and the way in which it would be prohibitive. My Department will give consideration to the high trees issues in the context of its legislative programme and will have to identify the most...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have previously outlined my position on this matter in the House and clearly stated that a compulsory charge for anglers is not being introduced. My Department, working closely with IFI, is completing a comprehensive review of the current legislation dating back to 1959 to consolidate, update and amend existing legislation which governs the conservation, protection, management and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Conscious that the existence of quality data is key to encouraging exploration, last June my Department, in conjunction with exploration company Eni launched a major two year seismic acquisition programme to provide a regional grid of high quality seismic data over Ireland’s Atlantic frontier basins, particularly in the Southern Porcupine, Rockall and Hatton basins. It is by far the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ireland manages salmon stocks generally on an individual river basis. Each river contains a genetically unique stock, which migrates to sea as juveniles and returns to the same river in adulthood to spawn. The conservation imperative means that exploitation of salmon of each river is only permitted where the independent Standing Scientific Committee for salmon determine that the stock in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bioenergy Strategy Implementation (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together. My Department is currently in the process of finalising a national bioenergy strategy. The strategy will set out the actions required to optimise the contribution that a sustainable biomass sector can make to the achievement of the 2020 renewable energy target for Ireland. Analysis conducted has shown that additional measures in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences Numbers (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: In the addition to the three Petroleum Leases currently held, the following table outlines the Petroleum Authorisations currently extant in Ireland: Authorisation Type Number in Operation Exploration Licence 30 Licensing Option 15 Petroleum Prospecting Licence 12 Total 57Exploration is ongoing under these authorisations.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fisheries Protection (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The licensing of aquaculture activity, including salmon farming, and the operation of national protocols for control of sea-lice are a matter for the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine (DAFM). Both My Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have consistently expressed support for the development of aquaculture which is sustainable and which complies with national and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: In November of last year the EPA launched a call for tenders, with the selection process to conclude shortly, to appoint the relevant expertise to conduct detailed research into the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on the environment. The key questions, that this research programme needs to answer are: - Can unconventional gas exploration and extraction projects and operations be...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Public Procurement Contracts (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, who cannot be here, unfortunately. I understand this question arises in the context of a procurement process that is currently being undertaken by local authorities. Activity being undertaken in that sector is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Public Procurement Contracts (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will bring Senator Whelan's comments to the attention of both Ministers. It might be important for them to be sent to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, if that is okay.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish to respond on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, who cannot attend. The overarching objective of our energy policy is to ensure secure, sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy. As a State, we have ambitious targets for 16% of our energy from renewable sources by 2020 through meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, with 10% for transport and 12% for...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will bring Senator Byrne's comments on the planning issue to the attention of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the wind turbine issue to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (17 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 409 together. The number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in each year between 2004 and 2014 are set out in the following table: Licences granted during period 2004 - 2014 (to 5 March 2014) Year Prospecting Licences (Minerals) Petroleum Exploration Licences 2004 26 3 2005 51 7 2006 84 4 2007 143 5 2008...

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputies who contributed to the debate for their valued and constructive input. As they will be aware, the purpose of this Bill is to provide for the merger of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency this summer. The necessary legal provisions for this, which are set out in the Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions)...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Local Authority Meetings (18 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Gabh mo leithscéal as bheith déanach, ach bhí mé gnóthach in áit éigin eile. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. The current position is that where a teacher in a primary or post-primary school is an elected member of a local authority, paid absence of up to ten school days in a school year may be availed of in...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Legal Costs (18 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality who unfortunately cannot be here, and I apologise for keeping the Senator waiting. The Minister appreciates that people, especially legal practitioners, are very interested in the matter of taxation of costs and efficiency. As the Senator is aware, there are two Taxing Masters who perform functions of a judicial...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Legal Costs (18 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I assure the Senator that I will bring the points he has raised to the attention of the Minister for Justice and Equality, particularly the statistics and the point that the income to the State could be increased if a third person was appointed. The Minister is examining all these issues and I will ask her to revert to the Senator directly on the particular issues he raised.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Inland Fisheries (18 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Senator for raising the matter and it is important to set out the background. I visited the area with the former Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Brian Hayes, and we had an enjoyable and useful interaction with the community. Ireland manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis and this is carried out by IFI. The individual river...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Inland Fisheries (18 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am happy to assure the Senator that the question he raises in regard to fish counters is addressed in what I said, but I will get him the detail of how many there are and on how many rivers. I know that a significant number of rivers do not have them. What the Department relies on is the catch log book and, as it has done on other rivers, including the River Boyne, it will work with local...