Results 1,301-1,320 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Sep 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 85: To ask the Minister for Transport if a cost benefit analysis was undertaken in respect of the Port Tunnel; if so, the impact the cost and time over-runs had on this analysis; if he sought clarification on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29723/06]

Written Answers — Railway Stations: Railway Stations (28 Sep 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 249: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress on the provision of a new railway station on the northern side of Drogheda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30215/06]

Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Taoiseach said that he does not know who went with him to Manchester aside from Senator Kett. However, he said there were other people with him. The Taoiseach said he went with friends to Manchester on many occasions and that he is well acquainted with Irish organisations over there. It is incredible that the Taoiseach cannot remember who went with him. He said today it was a unique...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (3 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 436: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if funding will be provided for an organisation (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30513/06]

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 479: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Louth will be assisted in any way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30715/06]

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Answer the questions.

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: How does the Taoiseach know that?

House Prices. (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 109: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans his Department has to encourage so-called empty nesters to trade down to smaller properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31194/06]

House Prices. (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: The CSO quarterly national housing survey has shown there are approximately 50,000 people living alone in houses with four or more bedrooms. Obviously they are not all elderly but a significant number is elderly. Many retired people, over the age of 65, are living in homes they can no longer maintain. These people are asset rich but cash poor. I ask the Minister of State to look again at...

House Prices. (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand the Minister of State's reply but the key point is to assist retired empty nesters to trade down should they so wish and thus make more homes available in the market place. One of the problems is supply and making affordable homes available. I agree with the Minister on the need for a mix in social and affordable housing. Will the Minister of State agree that, perhaps, we...

House Prices. (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: It needs to be examined further.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are well off target. The Government commitment to the Kyoto Agreement states that we should be ten points lower than where we are at present. In other words, we are ten points adrift. We are far above the carbon dioxide emissions that we should permit. I attended a lecture recently at the Dundalk Institute of Technology given by Lawrence Staudt, who is the head of the renewable energy...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is not working. The Minister should tell that to people travelling from Drogheda, Dundalk and Navan every day.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: I appreciate the time was short for this question and I am sorry we did not have more time to discuss it. The issue for me is that the Government has failed. Ten years ago I could get to the Seanad from Drogheda within the hour, now it is taking an hour and a half. Thousands of people are getting up earlier every day to get to work because of the traffic queues. There is not enough public...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 186: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will include all counties in the next spring clean pilot project where local authorities organise special open days to allow farmers to bring their stockpiled farm plastic waste to designated facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30970/06]

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 215: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether the practice of retrospective issuing of fire safety certificates for buildings is desirable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30969/06]

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (4 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: Question 316: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason there has been a 33% fall in the number of homes granted planning permission in the second quarter of 2006 compared with the same period in 2005; the expected consequences of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31196/06]

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: My colleague, Deputy Gay Mitchell MEP, has done much work in this area. In fact, he published the Electoral (Amendment) (Prisoners' Franchise) Bill 2005, which was the precursor to this Bill. We on this side of the House are very pleased that the Minister and the Department have taken on board the views expressed by Deputy Mitchell, as well as other views. Therefore, Fine Gael will support...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Minister.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (5 Oct 2006)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will decide that one. Internationally, there is a wide spectrum of approaches in different countries. Canada, the Ukraine, Iran — believe it or not — and South Africa allow prisoners to vote but bar some categories of prisoners. For example, in Australia, prisoners with a sentence of over five years cannot vote. In China, prisoners on death row cannot vote. It extends to a blanket...