Results 11,601-11,620 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: 179. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to make the Spiranza drug available to persons suffering from the degenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40198/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Housing (Homeless Families) Bill 2017: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome our colleague to the meeting. This is worthwhile, appropriate and timely legislation. I find that the people who are coming to my clinic now get a home when their eldest child is, at minimum, almost nine years old. They have been waiting for a home for nine years. In many cases, they have had a very difficult life. They are initially living at home with one parent or the other....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Joint Committee (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I remind members to turn off their mobile phones as they cause interference with the broadcasting equipment. I propose that we go into private session. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Joint Committee (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: Before we commence the main business, I wish to turn to correspondence No. 2013/330, an email from Deputy Browne stating he was recently in contact with the Sports Horse Alliance group, which is seeking an opportunity to appear before this committee. It is proposed to consider this request on our work programme. Is that agreed? Agreed. Nos. 2018/331(a) and 2018/331(b) are emails from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: The purpose of today’s meeting is the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the airport noise regulation Bill 2018. In this regard, I welcome the following officials: Mr. Ronan Gallagher and Mr. Michael O'Connor, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; and Mr. Gabriel O'Duffy, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. They are all very welcome. By virtue...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. Gallagher for that and I appreciate his analysis. I now turn to the members and ask them to try to confine their comments to questions. I will start with the Fine Gael members, as is normal. Does Deputy Troy have any queries or questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would add a further question. As Fingal County Council gets an income from rateable valuation and from premises, how will the decision making be seen to be independent of that council in its role as a beneficiary of airport income?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Department is appointing the chief executive or his agent as the deciding person. I can understand that if I had professional knowledge of all of these issues, I would have to be an expert. Therefore, I presume the chief executive would have to be advised by an expert. Could he ignore that advice in the context of this legislation or would he be bound by it? If somebody were to make a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: Does Senator O'Mahony wish to ask a question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I want to be devil's advocate now and go back to a point I raised earlier. I see the potential for significant conflict between the views of communities, elected members and the chief executive, or his or her nominee, of the county council because the legislation as proposed does not allow the council to "influence or seek to influence". Does that preclude a debate in a council chamber?...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I appreciate that. What I am saying is the corporate body will meet and there is an agenda item on a recommendation on the regulation. Can they discuss it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: What it says in the explanatory note is it will divorce the functions of the competent authority from any control or influence. The issue is how they are defined.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I think it is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: The question is that this is outside the development plan because it concerns the regulator. It is to do with technology and noise as opposed to physical structures.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I recognise and support the principle of what the Department is doing but I just want to make sure that elected members have a clear authoritative voice in their chamber, whatever that voice is. I see huge conflicts there which I do not think are absolutely necessary.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is really about how it will actually work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I acknowledge that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: As I do not know whether further issues will arise, it would be helpful if Mr. Gallagher were to take away the issues raised at the meeting and circulate his response.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: Including on the models they use and how they work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Airport Noise Regulation Bill 2018: Discussion (3 Oct 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand that. If Mr. Gallagher supplies the committee with the information it wants, we will not have a problem. I presume the Department will return when it is publishing the Bill.