Results 8,101-8,120 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: Did the Minister receive legal advice?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: What we are hearing from the Minister indicates that there are not enormous differences between Deputies in terms of what we want and what our objectives are. In setting targets we could make significant advances in the State and semi-State sectors, including schools, hospitals and other high energy users. We could, for example, set a target that within two years every school, hospital,...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is fine, but may I finish my point when we resume?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: I want to finish the point I was making before the suspension of the meeting. There is a gap between legislation and what people think. While the law and the obligations we have are black and white, people believe changes should be made and we, as legislators, must cross over to the way they think. We must initiate, through them and the targets we are discussing here, probably initially by...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Minister is talking a lot of sense. Agriculture is an expanding part of our economy and if it can add greatly to our wealth by selling the best product across the world, why would we not encourage developments in the sector? Hand in hand with these developments, we must examine issues related to developments in assessing the potential for transforming agricultural waste into energy....

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish to return to something that we discussed earlier. I was not clear in a question I directed to the Minister and appreciate that I should have been clearer. When the Minister was looking for legal advice did he get it from the Department?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would welcome that.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: In view of what the Minister has said in the context of the independence of the council and given the stature and professionalism of those involved it would be unwise to be prescriptive in terms of what it should and should not do. With respect to what Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett has said and notwithstanding his concerns, I cannot imagine anybody on that council not having these and other...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: If the Department was criticised specifically in the report, it should be given an opportunity to respond but it should not be an unreasonable time and should be within a couple of weeks. Ten days might be too short.

Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: An rud is tábhachtaí faoin díospóireacht seo ná go mbeidh fiosrúchán neamhspleách againn agus go mbeidh breitheamh i gceannas ar an bhfiosrúchán sin a bhfuil meas mór ag gach duine air. Rud eile atá ag titim amach as seo ná go bhfuil cumhacht na Dála ag dul i méid. Tá sé sofheicthe ón obair atá...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Protection Services (11 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: 139. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of the concerns of the head of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, (details supplied) as expressed in The Irish Times on 8 June 2015, regarding Louth-Meath child protection services; the action that is necessary to ensure a rapid improvement in these services; the way this situation has arisen and the concerns he has; and if...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (16 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: 314. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the status of works (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23710/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (16 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: 692. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a passport will be issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23927/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: I was just reflecting on the point made there and I agree with Dr. Reidy's comment about encouraging people to vote. I am unsure whether Professor Farrell referred to this - I note his observation about voting in shopping centres, that is, where people actually go - but having a day for voting and whether we really have experimented with Saturdays or Sundays, which for many people are not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: I did not interrupt the Senator. The Government put that to the people, they gave a result and the Government accepted it. The other reform proposed by the Government concerned the power of Oireachtas committees, which was put to the people. That was turned down but to state there was no reform is not accurate. The other point I wish to make concerns the question of local government...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not disagree with what Mr. John O'Dowd states but perhaps I did not make my point sufficiently clearly. Local government is both hugely expensive and extremely important. The problem is that it is currently not functioning either adequately or well. The authorities in the bigger towns are failing in terms of their responsibilities. I am not referring to the smaller-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is exactly what I was saying.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Electoral Commission in Ireland: Discussion (16 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am entitled to make my point and I disagree with the decision in question. I accept that the commission should not be examining the possibility of tinkering with the system. What I am suggesting is that it should consider what are the alternatives, rather than leaving it to the Government of the day to do so. Obviously, the Government must ultimately either introduce legislation or put...

Topical Issue Debate: Animal Diseases (17 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am aware of his commitment to ensuring the transparency and accountability of the Department in regard to BSE. I welcome the clarity he has brought to the detection of a possible case of BSE in my county of Louth. I am aware of how isolated this case is and that its detection indicates the checks and balances in our system are robust and stand up to...

Topical Issue Debate: Animal Diseases (17 Jun 2015)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Minister's hands-on approach to such issues provides the necessary leadership and clarity in this matter. I look forward to the circulation by him of further details when they become available to him.