Results 17,441-17,460 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ms O’Donoghue might or might not be aware of issues around Oldbridge in County Meath, beside Drogheda. I do not know where the proposal is there. I met with the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, about developing that site. I do not know if Ms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I think the idea was that it is because it is the site of the Battle of the Boyne, which divided us. It might result in some investment that might bring people together there, particularly of a different persuasion – a unionist persuasion. Who do I go to in order to get information on that – is it the Department or the OPW?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is fine. My other question is slightly different. I find that people who would be of a unionist persuasion have some good ideas as well, that may or may not end up on the witnesses' desks. The key to all of that is getting the Executive up and running. Is the Department open to proposals, in theory, if and when the Executive comes back, that it could identify and work with? Would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: My last question is on County Down GAA. I do not if they have approached the Department.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is a positive suggestion that the British army is prepared to give land that would be useful to the community to the GAA club. I met them some time ago. Have they been to the Department and have officials had any discussions with them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ms O'Donoghue does not have to at all. She is in contact with them and aware of the proposal. That is good. Senator Black may go first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have a couple of quick questions about Derry. I met with the chamber of commerce and the port authority in Derry some time ago and one of the issues the port authority raised regarding facilities for passenger ships coming into Derry. The landing is located in Donegal. There was an issue about having a higher quality or wider road to transport passengers into the city. I do not know...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is fair enough. I will put her in touch with those people. While it is nothing to do with the Departmentper se, another issue the people I met in Derry were quite strong on was the need for a joined-up IDA Ireland investment policy for the whole north west. I do not know if the Department has had any discussions on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: All of that is very good. Ms O'Donoghue is on the ball there.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will forgive the Deputy for that interest.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, some time ago.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I raised that very issue at a county council officials' meeting about a plan for Louth, which is assisting community groups, voluntary groups and so on to apply and get the funding. There is an absence, sometimes, of knowledge or skills. I do not know what can be done about that. If I am right, Cavan County Council apparently has a very good, proactive engagement with community groups about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes. It is just a generic issue for which we need to find a method or one-stop shop to go to for all of these applications. Otherwise, the money is missed. Senator Blaney has a question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Are there any further questions from any members?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Engagement with Department of the Taoiseach (27 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I think we have exhausted our questions. I hope we have not exhausted the witnesses. It has been very informative, useful and helpful, and I want to thank the witnesses for coming here and identifying issues that we can help and support in, and providing us with information that we can circulate as well. I thank them for coming in, and I wish them every success. We are going into private...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Maritime Jurisdiction (4 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 124. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on whether a load line survey application has been applied for with respect to the Hebble Sand dredge ship, which is long overdue to be removed from the River Boyne in Drogheda following its sinking in 2022; if he will provide any further details with regards to the projected dates of removal and any...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (4 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 125. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any further progress has been made to source and secure an appropriate site to recommence driver testing in Drogheda, the largest town in Ireland, with the largest waiting time in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20924/23]