Results 7,281-7,300 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Adoption Services Provision (18 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Senator for bringing this very important issue before the Oireachtas and for the clarity with which she has presented the case and outlined her personal circumstances. She speaks on behalf of thousands of people and articulates the need for the State to meet their needs. I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Charles...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Adoption Services Provision (18 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I assure the Senator that I will speak to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Flanagan, and ask his private secretary to make contact with her immediately to provide the very important clarifications she is seeking.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Salmon Licences (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I refer to the reply to Question No. 155 of 8 May 2014 which comprehensively set out the relevant issues. The allocation of public licences for commercial draft nets is governed by the relevant Control of Fishing for Salmon Order, in this case Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No.132 of 2014, and is administered by inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in accordance with the S.I. I am advised, by IFI,...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the opportunity to have a constructive and full debate on Committee Stage. As Deputies are aware, the purpose of this Bill is to provide for the merging of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, RPII, and the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. That is why the legislation is important and we need it in place before the summer recess. The Bill introduces the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am not aware of that.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for her comments and acknowledge the difficulties of members. Being here is important, and Deputy Catherine Murphy took the time to put down the amendments. While we all have different experiences of the EPA, and I acknowledge that whatever experience Deputy Catherine Murphy had locally happened, my experience is entirely different. I always found it above...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Non-ionising radiation is a major issue in our country at present. This new merger will help to bring about responsibility within the EPA for non-ionising radiation, including in respect energy infrastructure, so that we have a one-stop-shop for dealing with the issue. Work has been under way for more than a year to join up the cultures of both organisations to ensure a smooth transition....

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am advised that the amendment brings in all issues relating to the effects on the environment that may result from radiation.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is included under the environment and all aspects of it. I am advised that it includes the issues the Deputy raised even if they are not specifically named. We can examine that further if need be at a later stage.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will revert to the Deputy with a note on the matter.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: When the Deputy says it has been changed, can she compare it with the previous definition? Just to be helpful, I will narrow it down. The Minister of State might give me a note on it to see if I need to clarify it.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, of course.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely, yes. That is no problem.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: It states "after consultation with the institute", so I presume that the Minister could not stand over not listening to the advice. However, he or she has to make the regulations on the advice of the institute. The section allows the Minister, in consultation with the RPII, to make regulations to exclude certain classes of low-risk nuclear materials from the requirements of this section....

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, absolutely. It would be the office of radiological protection within the EPA.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Certainly. If the Deputy can table an amendment to that effect, we will have a look at it. There is no reason that it should not be regularly reviewed within a reasonable timescale. We can come back to the Deputy on that.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes. It would mean that it would be reviewed regularly. There is no issue about it not being reviewed regularly, as opposed to "from time to time".

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: It states that the institute shall consult prior to the preparation, amendment or revocation of a contingency plan. It starts before any action takes place, so there will be consultation with the Minister at that stage before they effect the regulation. In other words, the Minister would have to take due notice of what was being said. I presume the Minister could not reasonably disagree...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: So the Deputy would like to strengthen the regulatory power of the office within the EPA, so that it would basically be mandatory?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, unless the Minister might want to add to it as opposed to subtracting from it.