Results 17,701-17,720 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: That would be very helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: If we put that down as a motion, we can all approve it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I appreciate that the organisations have shared a number of documents with us. Obviously, the absence of the Executive and of a Government in the North is the big weakness. If Stormont was functioning, those on all sides could pressurise it in a constructive way. In its absence, we are going after the Government in Britain, which is not engaged or which does not want to engage. It has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: We acknowledge that, absolutely. The NIHRC could not exist otherwise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Dr. Farry. That point was well made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: That could be given to the Committee on Justice or whatever as part of its brief. Is that Ms Gibney’s point? Or does she think it would be more onerous than that and it would need a separate-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: What I meant was that the IHREC would have a committee that would be responsible – whatever the body. Our committee has no statutory remit as such.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Ms McGahey very much for her contribution. I have a different question for her. It may not be relevant to her work but it is a question which is relevant to me, as a person with grey hair who is not in the youngest cohort of people in the world. Ms McGahey speaks about ageism and of it being a very significant issue. The older and the greyer one gets, the more one becomes aware of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am talking about in the South. I am not going to sing a song over here; I just want to make a point about positive ageing and affirming the importance and value of older people, people with disabilities and minorities. This is something that is perhaps lacking in how we deal with these issues in public discourse, in our society and in the way the press deals with them. I do not know if...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Right, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Of course, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am not suggesting it should have. I am not drawing Ms Gibney into that. I am just saying our society needs to say something on it and we need to demand that this never happens again. I am not criticising or implying anything here but a human rights statement from the commission is hugely important in making politicians, administrators and everyone with accountability step up to the mark....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I raised that with the Taoiseach last night. Obviously, people will always say the year has come and gone and we still do not have our inquiry, which is a major issue for me. It should be up and running and wide consultation should be happening. It is not good enough that it is not there when other countries are well advanced in looking at all the issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: What I mean is vindicating that; in other words, this will happen again if we do not make sure it does not happen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Another issue is families in crisis about the deaths of their relatives in care homes during this period and the refusal of the State so far to inquire into what relatives believe are the issues surrounding the deaths of their loved ones. This is a major issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Could Ms Kilpatrick send me that information? That is the answer I want.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Divergence of Rights and Best Practice on the Island of Ireland: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree that people should not have to wait. That is very good. I note the witnesses' conclusion and what they want us to do and I have no doubt we will do it. The clerk will make sure that we will raise those points at the appropriate level with vigour. I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee and answering questions.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Jul 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 165. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline the current situation with respect to Irish soldiers who used malarone, doxycycline and lariam for overseas service; if any compensation process is open to soldiers adversely affected by the drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32040/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 Jul 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 183. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will urgently engage with Louth County Council and Meath County Council to investigate whether any additional funds can be provided to fund a temporary dolly bridge at the site of the Obelisk Bridge in Drogheda, given the expected closure dates of this key transport link outline a ten-month closure timeline and its key position...