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

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. Roberts very much. We look forward to meeting him again. Earlier, in fact, we were talking about, hopefully, having an early visit up to the North, especially if the Assembly and Executive are up and running again. It will be an important opportunity. Obviously, the picture will, hopefully, have changed significantly by then. We certainly appreciate Mr. Roberts giving us his...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator Blaney. I call Mr. Kelly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Many of the issues that have been raised are not political but economic. Some of them exist in the UK as well. While the North remains part of the UK in constitutional terms, the only way we can see light going into that tunnel is a softening of or an improvement in the relationship between the UK Government and Europe. Until we get that, or until we get a different configuration on this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. Kelly and our other guests. The ideas they have put forward have been informative and helpful and we will seek to incorporate them in our report. We will reflect on some of the important points the witnesses made. This engagement has been beneficial to us all. I look forward to meeting the witnesses again. I wish you all a happy Christmas and I hope Santa looks after you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. Roberts for his constructive suggestions. I now invite Mr. Neill to make his opening address.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not have a problem with that. We will have 15-minute slots. There is no issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Ireland Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: We have Mr. Kelly for the following hour, by the way, I hope. We will allow our two guests online to come in, if that is okay. We will then go back to Mr. Kelly answering questions and everybody can get in then because there is no time pressure. I believe Mr. Neill wanted to say something.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (13 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 155. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline her Department's response to the results of a recent survey of palliative care nurses by an organisation (details supplied) which found that many terminal cancer patients were dying in cold homes which they could not afford to heat; and if she will extend the household benefits package, the fuel allowance payment...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: A HIQA report on Castlebridge Manor Nursing Home was published this week. It shows non-compliance with seven out of ten regulations. This is the third inspection in 12 months which shows significant non-compliance in respect of governance, healthcare and staffing. I believe this is institutional abuse and elder abuse. It is absolutely appalling that people who are not incontinent are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Nuclear Plants (12 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 178. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the concerns raised in a recent article published in a newspaper on 5 December 2023 (details supplied) in respect of the Sellafield power plant and the potential risk to the public; when his Department learned of this risk; the actions taken by his Department since; if he will provide the relevant dates...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (12 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 236. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to respond to concerns raised by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55359/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (12 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 676. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures are being proposed to remove the significant administrative delays with respect to available sites and premises that are ready to provide IPAS accommodation but are waiting for final fire officer sign offs and so on; if private fire safety specialist firms can be contracted to sign off such sites...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (12 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 677. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will seek confirmation from IPAS, the total number of beds nationwide that have been offered to IPAS as ready with certification by a competent person in place, but have yet to be taken up by persons seeking international protection and are awaiting a further inspection and sign off by the fire officer;...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is díospóireacht an-tábhachtach í seo agus ba mhaith liom cúpla rud a rá i dtosach. I would first like to praise “RTÉ Investigates” for the fantastic work it has done, particularly even this week, in exposing corruption in public life on our television screens. I was absolutely disgusted to see that houses that were being proposed by a...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: It was the case in the past that usually, if not always, the new development plan coincided with the first two months of the new council. The old council knew nothing about it and was not in a position to challenge or interrogate the development plan. The Minister of State is the man who is in place, but I think the development plans should be dealt with in the cycle of the existing council...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are now in public session. With members' agreement, we will go into private session just for a moment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome our guests online. We have two engagements today. The first is with representatives of Relatives for Justice. We have Professor Bill Rolston, chairperson; Claire Hackett, vice chairperson; Irati Oliega Aiesta, legacy caseworker; and Mark Thompson, CEO. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the witnesses to today's meeting. Before we begin, I must explain parliamentary practice...