Results 1,241-1,260 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is important legislation which will fundamentally alter the rights of mutual building societies to demutualise or to stay as mutual companies. This is rushed legislation and only one hour and 20 minutes remains to deal with all Stages of the Bill. This Bill is supported by the collective wisdom of the building societies, the Financial Regulator and the Department of the Environment,...

Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Minister of State's proposal will not change anything. I do not wish to accuse him of misleading the House but he is not being completely clear that there is no change and this is really window dressing. I met the borrowers recently. They have endured trauma, penal interest rates and have been forced to fight their case in court. This Bill will not vindicate their rights. They want this...

Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: We want the right to go to court, as is the procedure in the United Kingdom.

Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Fine Gael wants that provision in the Act. This would make a difference to these borrowers who have been treated so appallingly. They borrowed money, went to court and won their case. The costs were awarded against the building society but it passed the costs of €100,000 onto the borrower. Before there is a transition from a mutual society to a plc company, these issues must be properly...

Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is the point I am making. It can demutualise immediately but it cannot become a private limited company in terms of ownership of more than 15% of the shares for a period of five years.

Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Nobody taking it over may own more than the 15%. I do not object to the principle enshrined in what is being done. If the body wishes to stay mutualised, it can do so. Pressure is clearly building from people which have been referred to as "carpetbaggers". There is a feeling that they would like to get their hands on the EBS. Anybody who may have borrowings or shares in the EBS may want it to...

Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: I appreciate the point being made by the Minister of State. I am trying to clarify the debate. Perhaps the Minister of State has received e-mails also from people who would like the membership to be able to propose the resolution. I appreciate that is not covered in the Bill, and I am not arguing that it should be. I wish to clarify the matter with the Minister of State that it cannot be so.

Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will have an opportunity to discuss it on Committee Stage. We will be pressing our amendments to a vote, but we will support the Bill in principle. I thank the Minister of State's departmental officials and all the people in financial institutions to whom I spoke about this Bill. I was anxious to understand it fully, which I believe I do. We will be in favour of the Bill, but we will vote...

Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Except here on a Bill like tonight's.

Written Answers — Resource Exploration: Resource Exploration (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 68: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent of positive indicators arising from oil, gas or other mineral explorations, onshore or offshore; if adequate scientific resources are being made available to develop the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26584/06]

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 97: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his preferred options for the development of the radio and television industry with particular reference to terrestrial broadcasting and the changing and growing needs of the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26550/06]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 224: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the progress to date in the provision of broadband in County Louth, and in particular to detail any problem in the provision of broadband; if he will comment on the problem in Monasterboice and any other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26693/06]

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 341: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress to date in 2006 in the provision of a new railway station on the north-side of Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26820/06]

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 342: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress to date in the provision of a new railway station at Dunleer in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26821/06]

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (5 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 368: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the grants allocated to local authorities to meet their expenses in implementing the Control of Horses Act 1996 for each year since 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26689/06]

Written Answers — National Museum: National Museum (6 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 35: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the proposed extension to the National Museum at Collins Barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26676/06]

Written Answers — National Conference Centre: National Conference Centre (6 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 43: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the provisional preferred tenderer has been appointed as preferred tenderer for the provision of the National Conference Centre; the timeframe for the remaining stages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26677/06]

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (6 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 152: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will address the shortage of speech and language therapists (details supplied) in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27750/06]

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (6 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 105: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the process in the selection of a site for the new acute hospital in the north east; the timetable proposed; if submissions can be made by the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27510/06]

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (6 Jul 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 106: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals for improving acute hospital services in the North Tipperary area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27511/06]