Results 1,621-1,640 of 2,965 for speaker:Robert Dowds

Local Government Reform Bill 2013: From the Seanad (Resumed) (22 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: Briefly, in respect of the issue concerning the Valuation Office, this is an example of where central government does not always listen and this is something to which all Ministers must be in tune. This is even more the case for the permanent government, because anyone who is Minister must listen to his or her electorate and so on. As a result, Ministers receive representations whereas the...

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: The upper echelons.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (28 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: 332. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will support the introduction of a support scheme for small businesses where the Government would employ a person to look after the accounts and payroll for several small new businesses, thus encouraging more entrepreneurs to start their own businesses and help job creation. [3780/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Public Services Card (28 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: 443. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the measures put in place and progress to date in dealing with the high volume of applicants for the public services card; the number of hits on the new work ready reckoner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4316/14]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Educational Welfare Board Staff (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: 184. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff, in terms of whole-time equivalents, employed at the National Education Welfare Board as education welfare officers nationally and within the city and county of Dublin; her views on whether the numbers are adequate. [4700/14]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child and Family Agency Staff (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: 185. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if reports in the press by the Children's Rights Alliance earlier in the year that there are no child psychologists employed by the new Child and Family Agency are correct; and her plans to change same. [4701/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: We dissociate ourselves from that sectarian remark.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: I have a couple of pointed questions which the witnesses may ignore if they so wish. Have any of them smoked and how did they manage to kick the habit if they have given up?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: It is relevant to the issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: There is a related point. The witnesses are predominantly girls so where are the fellows? Are they not involved with the issue? Smoking goes across gender lines, although it may be more dangerous for women if they are expecting a baby. Why has the running been left mainly to women? I very much appreciate the delegations being here and I agree with the comments and questions from the two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked a question about young women, in particular. Are they tempted to smoke to keep their weight down? Is that an element of the culture or not? I am trying to understand the culture. When I was 13 or 14 the smoking culture in my school was down in the bicycle shed and it was fellows who were showing a bit of bravado.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: Yes, that is a good point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: Tell them they have a better chance of beating Cork if they do not smoke.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (4 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: 223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria that are considered when deciding whether to award a school DEIS status, either band 1 or band 2. [5112/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (4 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: 224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider reviewing the schools that are granted DEIS status and potentially granting it to additional schools. [5113/14]

Northern Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: How about the people of Kingsmill?

Northern Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: Is maith an rud é go bhfuilimid ag déanamh díospóireachta ar an ábhar seo inniu. In some respects I find this subject very difficult because I approach it from a slightly different angle than most. That is because although I am a republican and a social democrat, a lot of my ancestry is Unionist. I do not share their ideology and wish they would embrace a more...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: I am pretty much in agreement with the previous two or three speakers. If I recall correctly, however, Ms English stated that if the transcript were to be published, it would have to be tidied up to some degree. I would be interested in discovering what is the legal position in that regard. If the CPP is the correct body from which to seek advice, then we should refer the matter to it.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: We do not know that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: I would be interested in hearing Ms English's legal opinion, although I would also be happy if we were to decide not to do anything.