Results 3,001-3,020 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 (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Ms O'Donoghue for that. I can only laud the shared island unit for the fantastic work it is doing, the way it is interacting with all of the appropriate groups and bodies, and the research and co-operation it is involved in. They are working with everybody. That is the key to it - everybody working together. As for the involvement of this committee, the shared island unit has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will move onto Sinn Féin now. We can have a second round. It is not a problem. The three speakers nominated to me were Deputy Conway-Walsh, followed by Mr. Francie Molloy and Mr. Mickey Brady. Fianna Fáil is after that, if it tells me the order in which it wants its speakers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I just do not want to cut anyone off.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will call in -----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am happy to do whatever the Deputy wants. I want to make sure that she gets her time but that we do not exceed it because I know that people are under pressure. If the Deputy wants the answers, that is fine. There is 12 minutes left.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will stop when we stop. We do not want to stop a speaker in the middle of speaking.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will now have Mr. Francie Molloy, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the event that took place at the Narrow Water Bridge. As it happens, I was out of the country on that day. I could not have been there anyway. It is important that elected representatives from Louth and constituencies north of the Border are included in functions. Some of them are members of this committee. I want to stress I was not around on that particular day. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Minister, Deputy Harris, has visited DkIT a number of times, has met the board and is more than anxious to facilitate board-led initiatives. That is the key. In DkIT there are issues because some trains have left the station and DkIT is not on them. Obviously, the question of finding the appropriate partner is a key issue. We and the shared island unit will help as much as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will move to the Independent members and Aontú. I call Senator Black.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I support the Senator in that point. It is important.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Ms O’Donoghue and Mr. Duffy for attending here today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: Before I bring the witnesses in, and I understand Deputy Smith has a final contribution to make as well, I want to make the point that our witnesses are civil servants and-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is important to note this. I support absolutely everything they are doing, as the Senator does. The political issue is a separate issue. In fairness to our witnesses, it is not their domain. It is ours and it is mine. On that very point, if the Senator wishes to ask a Minister or the Taoiseach to come to this committee, let us have them in here. In fairness to Ms O'Donoghue and to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I call Ms O'Donoghue for a final summation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (4 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Ms O'Donoghue and Mr. Duffy. I remind members that on Wednesday, 10 November at 9.30 a.m. we are meeting the House of Lords committee digitally. Members of the Oireachtas must be in the House in order to participate.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (3 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome this important debate. One of the key points of the debate in Europe concerned the question of energy. Many speakers today have addressed the issue of rising prices, how they can be controlled and what more we can do in this regard. I take a totally contrary position to Deputy Paul Murphy in regard to how we produce electricity in this country and how we should react to the huge...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (3 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: 146. To ask the Minister for Health if a copy will be provided of the independent review that was recently commissioned and completed by the HSE which assessed addiction services in counties Louth and Meath; the recommendations on same; the follow up actions which will now take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53440/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (3 Nov 2021)

Fergus O'Dowd: 147. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1164 of 9 September 2021, if progress has been made from September 2021 in terms of the health service provision of an appropriate needle exchange in Drogheda, County Louth following the removal of a harm reduction worker in early 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53441/21]