Results 14,561-14,580 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (29 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Seo an chéad chruinniú den choiste seo agus tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeimis in ann comhoibriú le chéile. Níl aithne agam ar gach duine anseo, so b'fhéidir go gcuirimis muid féin in aithne ar dtús. This is the first meeting of our joint committee. I do not know everybody here and I apologise for that. If members' names are in front of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (29 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Tá fáilte romhaibh. Because of the Covid-19 restrictions, some members are seated away from microphones but are properly and appropriately present.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (29 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Everyone is very welcome. One of the problems we have is that, because of Covid, we have to have distance between attendees. If all members turn up, this room will not suit us, so we have to think about that, not today but for our next meeting. If we could get a different room, perhaps the Seanad Chamber or even the Dáil Chamber, it would be more appropriate because this is such an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (29 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Everybody has a right to make a contribution. We held meetings on Thursday afternoons to allow those travelling from the United Kingdom to come here. The decision is entirely in the hands of the members, however. We must remember other committees also have times allocated. The alternative is to sit on a Monday or Friday, when there would not be a problem over publicity and with giving due...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (29 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (29 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I acknowledge Deputy Tóibín coming in. He is very welcome. I do not know whether there is a seat with a microphone at which he can sit. If not, there are seats at the back or the side. We will facilitate the Deputy whenever he wishes to make a contribution. It is not the tradition for the clerk to the committee to speak in public session so we may go into private session in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (29 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (29 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: We have many ideas. We will draw on our collective wisdom and communicate to the clerk to the committee the dates that are available and the options. We shall meet next Thursday week with a view to solving this issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (29 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will leave it for the moment. We will meet Thursday week, think about it and look at all the options and we can make a decision then. Is that fair to everyone? Agreed.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (30 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 221. To ask the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) relating to employing swabbers and tracer teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27452/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Prescriptions Data (30 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 222. To ask the Minister for Health if a response will issue to concerns (details supplied) in relation prescription dispensing changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27453/20]

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish to strike a positive note. Yesterday, it seemed as though the witnesses were not going to come in; today they are here. I welcome them. I propose that we start our meeting. If any member wants us to seek an extension of the committee's business for one further meeting to go through all the issues members may not believe they have the time to raise now and to question the witnesses,...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Minister and the members of NPHET. We listen to everything NPHET says. Its message is very important and is certainly getting through in County Louth. The 14-day incidence rates for the period from 15 to 28 September, which have just been published, show the incidence rate in Louth declined from 107 cases to 80.7 per cases per 100,000 people. That is a significant change but...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I respect that. The Minister is aware of what I am talking about. It is not acceptable that people have died. People cannot get closure when relatives have died. They are being charged hundreds of euro by the HSE for submitting freedom of Information requests, which is not acceptable. Will the Minister intervene to have freedom of information fees waived, as a policy issue, where...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: The information from New York indicates the positivity rate state-wide was 1.58%. I accept and acknowledge that Dr. Glynn is the expert and I am not. I am just asking the question. I appreciate the difference Dr. Glynn has outlined but it worries me that this metric triggers an automatic response. It is an indication that a very serious level has been reached if the metric exceeds 3%...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand and appreciate Dr. Glynn's answer in this regard. I ask him to provide a note if there is more information I could read on the matter.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Business of Special Committee (30 Sep 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is extremely important and would be most welcome.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Oct 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 270. To ask the Minister for Health if he will order an independent investigation into Covid-19 deaths in a nursing home (details supplied) in County Meath further to the publication of a HIQA report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27779/20]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (6 Oct 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 210. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if further supports will be made available to protect jobs in the travel agents sector; if a special range of supports are being reviewed; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28180/20]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Collection (6 Oct 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: 265. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will respond to correspondence received (details supplied) in relation to preliminary tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28321/20]