Results 9,561-9,580 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Medical Bureau of Road Safety: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: The levels are reducing downwards. When people are on holidays in a different country, they might be confused about the drink driving limit. That is a problem if they are caught. Tomorrow, the 21 September, is a day when it is hoped there will be no fatality on our roads across the European Union. I welcome that initiative. I welcome countries working together. I would like to think...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Medical Bureau of Road Safety: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Dr. Bedford.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: Before I call our next witness may I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones. I welcome Dr. Joseph Hiney. I draw the attention of the witness to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Dr. Hiney. I presume Deputy Munster, as a Drogheda Deputy, would like to ask some questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy O'Keeffe wants to get in as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: There is no issue. There is nobody rushing Deputy Munster. I just want Deputy O'Keeffe to know he has not been forgotten.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I think the conflicts of interest are more likely to rest with business people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I refer to conflicts of interest.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: We would both disagree profoundly with Dr. Hiney in that regard. I say that respectfully.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I refer to the point Deputy Munster is making. I hear everything Dr. Hiney said and I welcome his personal commitment to engage fully with us. I have no doubt about that at all. The question is the relationship between the local authority, as it will now be, and the port authority and the issue of democratic accountability to that forum either by way of membership or consultation. I do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is a good thing because it is bringing ports back to local accountability through a system that is accountable in itself to public representatives. I think that covers that issue. Deputy O'Keeffe is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: We very much need people like Mr. Hiney coming in and applying through that process. It is very welcome that he brings all of his skills to the board.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I know the Deputy is not criticising Dr. Hiney,

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have a few questions, if I may. I welcome Dr. Hiney's knowledge and experience which is valuable to the port. Not so long ago, there was talk of an expansion of the port out through Gormanston. I do not know if Dr. Hiney was familiar with that plan. Dr. Hiney referred to waiting for leadership from the political system but we actually changed legislation in this House. We voted to give...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: When he spoke earlier on, Dr. Hiney referred to moving the port to the mouth of the river. There was a lot of controversy over that in the past which he may not be aware of; there was huge opposition to that proposal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: No, on the river. Sorry, towards the sea. I do not think that would be particularly welcomed were it to be proposed again. I am just acknowledging that Dr. Hiney wants to change. The fact that the river can only take boats of a particular draft means that Drogheda is very much a niche port. I welcome its success so far but am interested in the plans for the future.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: One of the proposals some years ago was that there would be a new link road coming down near Tom Roe's Point that would link to the northern cross route and then link across a bridge on a new road across the Boyne. I do not know the position on that now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is not in the capital plans but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: It was a proposal long before even Deputy Munster was on the council, and I do not mean to be rude in saying that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drogheda Port Company: Discussion with Chairman Designate (20 Sep 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: The idea was that there would be a new bridge to the east of Drogheda that would allow traffic circulate from the motorway in and out of the port. Theoretically, the port could develop and we would not have the problem we have now of heavy goods vehicles, HGVs, driving through the town.