Results 18,381-18,400 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Ms Deane for her attendance and for the detail she has given on the recent announcement. It is very helpful. It is really a sign of the progress for the future that we can make on this island. These are the days we get to see Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly playing hurling - or was it camogie - and we must not forget to mention the education Minister, Paul Givan, and his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will go to Sinn Féin, who have ten minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is no problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I think they have officers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree with the Deputy. I have raised this issue myself. The other problem is that one can deliver coal from the Northern base to places in the South cheaper than one can commercially purchase that on sale in the South.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: On that point, if we, as a committee, can agree that we can follow that up later on, we could write to the Department. This is a significant issue. I thank the Deputy for making the point. Deputy Conway-Walsh has a minute left if she wants.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am only joking. We will come back to the Deputy if she wants.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ms O'Donoghue has left the Department of the Taoiseach and is ambassador to the EU.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: She was always available and helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Wynne is present. I will call her because I said I would call her next. Dr. Farry will be after her.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Dr. Farry is the next speaker. I remind people of what we agreed at the beginning. Dr. Farry will be followed by Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Fine Gael. That is just the way the order fell today. Dr. Farry is very welcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will now move back Sinn Féin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will go back to her when she comes in. We will take Ms Hanna, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am very kind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I congratulate Senator Blaney on his nomination in the European elections. There are a lot of Donegal natives in Drogheda and some of them are very nice people, although not all of them. I am joking. There is one person in particular and I recall our conversation 20 years ago. However, there are a lot of people there and that is a hint to him if he wants to use it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I simply make the point that I support everything the Senator has said. The one point I would like to make is that the problem of trains being late on the Northern line has to do with congestion in the Dublin area. The capacity is not there to take the increased number of trains that everyone is talking about without building new access, namely, a third line into the city. That is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: ----- but Irish Rail has a lot to do. I know it has plans, that is part of the issue but the future is what Ms Deane is saying, namely, greater connectivity. On that point, to go back to the national strategy planning, is the Drogheda, Dundalk and Newry linked cities. I do not know where you are on that. I know it is essentially a local government issue in one sense but how much a part of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Does any member or witness which to say anything on this matter?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: While I understand what Mr. Duffy is saying, the issue is around the linear cities and that is a critical part. It was an overview, obviously. In the joined-up thinking between local authorities and Departments in the North and in the South, who has the hands-on role? Can the unit give the committee a briefing and an update on this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand that it is aspirational but there is huge growth on the Belfast to Dublin corridor. Senator McGahon and I live on that economic corridor. I know there is criticism that there is too much investment but that is now being addressed with the A5 road and so forth. I wish to say that, since the Good Friday Agreement, the witnesses' unit and their Department are making a significant...