Results 18,181-18,200 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: They may not have a father or other male figure in their household because, obviously, they are fighting a war. It is very welcome. Mr. Huddleston wanted to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is there a board?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not mean this to be a negative question, but how does the body manage, say, EU ideas along with those of the Irish Government and the British Government in a constructive way, given they put up the money? What sort of vigilance do they exercise over what the body does? I am not sure of the phrasing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes, that is the term I was thinking of.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Are there audits of all activities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is good. Looking at it from the outside, value for money is one issue but we cannot measure in money terms the improvement of the community or the changes. How does the body independently evaluate the impact of what it is funding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is that evaluation internal or external?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Very good. That is important.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely. It is about the quality of the results. Obviously, they can be hugely beneficial and people might not be aware of it. My final question is about the process. If I apply and am refused because I do not meet all the criteria, which is presumably a constructive response whereby help is then given to make a better application, is there an appeals process thereafter? I do not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: It sounds as though the body is very hands-on and as though the whole idea is to be inclusive. Is the figure €1.4 billion to run until 2030?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: If an applicant does not qualify this year, therefore, or if there is an excess of applications, the application will be moved to the next year. Is that it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: The body has a list of projects that are coming onstream. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: It seems that the witnesses have made a fantastic input, they are aware of all the issues and that they are changing all their systems to be even more inclusive or to extend the help that they can offer to people. I am very impressed with what they are doing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Same here. He is a great guy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: We agree totally with the Senator. We all concur with her very accurate, honest words.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACEPLUS Programme: Special EU Programmes Body (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Everybody has made a contribution. I thank the witnesses for their patience in answering all the questions in such detail. Their fund is an important one. It has survived Brexit. Notwithstanding the political differences between the UK Government and the EU, it is remarkable that such co-operation and commitment continues. I wish the witnesses all the best for the future. I also welcome...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 134. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to comment on safety and cyber concerns raised in an article (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2101/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 292. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will seek a full update from the HSE on much-needed plans to establish a community neuro-rehabilitation team in CHO8 area; if he will provide a timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2253/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Homes (18 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 309. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on plans to address and cease unfair additional charges being applied to medical card holders in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2174/24]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (17 Jan 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 129. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the required establishment of dedicated resources within regional lead authorities to provide co-ordination, expertise and advice to ensure enforcement of the new air-quality regulations nationwide, further to the €500,000 awarded to local authorities to support targeted...