Results 17,561-17,580 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Report on the Good Friday Agreement: Motion (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Fáiltím roimh an méid atá ráite ag gach duine sa Teach inniu. Measaim gur féidir linn go léir leanúint leis an obair, ag comhoibriú agus ag obair le daoine ó thuaidh agus ó dheas ach go háirithe. I thank all the contributors for their remarks so far on the committee’s report. It is a collective report and the committee...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business Opportunities and Differences: Engagement with Irish SME Association (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: On behalf of our committee, I welcome Mr. Neil McDonnell, chief executive officer of the Irish SME Association, to discuss opportunities and differences facing businesses on both sides of the Border. Before we begin I will explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business Opportunities and Differences: Engagement with Irish SME Association (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. McDonnell from raising those points. We begin with the Fianna Fáil slot.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business Opportunities and Differences: Engagement with Irish SME Association (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is a very serious issue in terms of where Britain will export to apart from what it uses internally. It puts the British at a particular disadvantage if they do that and also creates issues around the credibility of the product and whether it will ever be bought again. How would anyone know where it is coming from? There would have to be clear identity markings on those products.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business Opportunities and Differences: Engagement with Irish SME Association (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will now move on to Ms Hanna of the SDLP.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business Opportunities and Differences: Engagement with Irish SME Association (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. McDonnell very much. That was very informative. On the question of the shortage of workers here as opposed to service providers, it seems that people who are seeking international protection may have the skills that are needed. Does Mr. McDonnell have a view on whether they ought to be able to work here if we need somebody-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business Opportunities and Differences: Engagement with Irish SME Association (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: -----and they have those skills and they are here?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business Opportunities and Differences: Engagement with Irish SME Association (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I accept that. According to surveys I have read, however, 40% of the Ukrainians intend to stay here in the medium term. Obviously, many of them would have partners. There is an issue we have to think about. If people seeking international protection have the necessary skills, is there a reason they should not be able to work if we need them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business Opportunities and Differences: Engagement with Irish SME Association (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is Mr. Hazzard on the line?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business Opportunities and Differences: Engagement with Irish SME Association (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Does Senator Ó Donnghaile wish to come in on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business Opportunities and Differences: Engagement with Irish SME Association (1 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. McDonnell for his contribution. I acknowledge the massive knowledge and insight he has into the issues that were raised here. I have certainly learned a lot from his contribution, as have our members. It is food for thought and gives us a different perspective on the problems we will face if and when we get our unity and on how we might increase co-operation, North and South,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 170. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he expects to approve a proposed increase in the pension entitlements of An Post workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24240/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Swimming Pools (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 336. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to the great success of a pop-up pool in Ardee, County Louth, which finished on 12 May, if there is any consideration being given to the provision of a permanent pool in the growing town of Ardee; if her attention has been drawn to any engagement on such a proposal, given the need that is quite evident and the lack of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 407. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if any consideration has been given to reducing the rent differential assessment in households of very low income, where the recipients have received small increases in their social welfare payments following budgetary changes; if such a policy would be considered where a total household income is below a certain level, with...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 408. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware that Louth County Council have closed applications for the housing adaptation grant schemes due to significant pressures the council faces in meeting demand; if he will advise, notwithstanding the increased funding delivered year on year, if any consideration has been given to providing additional and...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Departmental Reports (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 410. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when he expects to publish the report on the review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which has been prepared by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24329/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 437. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will seek details from each individual local authority in respect of the percentage of rural one-off housing applications that have been refused by county and local authority, over the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24729/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 438. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will clarify whether the fresh-start principal under the local authority home loan scheme is available to those who previously owned and sold/lost a property prior to their second home purchased with a spouse/partner, in so far as the person can show they have low income and savings and cannot attain loans through the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 451. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position with regard to the issue where priests were prohibited from paying a contribution before 1988 and where those priests who have since retired are now unable to achieve a full State pension due to the lack of contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24102/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Strategies (23 May 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 818. To ask the Minister for Health if a national strategy for haemochromatosis is currently under consideration, where everyone has equal access to testing, diagnosis, treatment and quality of care, regardless of where they live in Ireland or their financial circumstances; if consideration has been given to the development of a population screening programme for haemochromatosis in primary...