Results 8,761-8,780 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: That was an encompassing and inclusive commentary. I invite Ms Sarah Lennon and Ms Sandra McCullagh, Inclusion Ireland, to make their opening statements.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Dr. Kennedy for her powerful presentation. It was very powerful indeed and it outlined the importance of us doing our job as she asks. It is our job to do that. I will take the members now. Deputy Troy was to be first but Deputy Munster may have to leave.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: There are a lot of questions there. Can the Deputy listen to some of the replies or does she have to leave now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: She must leave. That is fair enough. I am happy to proceed whatever way the committee wants to go.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy. I invite Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe to speak next and then Deputy Mick Barry. All the questions can be answered together.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy. We have had a very wide-ranging discussion. There are common trends in many of the questions and the presentations. I assure everybody here - it is universal within the committee - that we want to effect the changes the witnesses seek. That is our determination. To echo what Deputy Robert Troy said, we will all work together in that respect. To answer the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not mind, but I would like to hear from Inclusion Ireland first.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: A huge number of people use DART stations at particular times of the day. It is an anticipatory fact that someone is going to be there. That is why they should be manned. Somebody is going to turn up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is a very important point. I appreciate Senator John Dolan is under pressure as he is also a Member of the Lower House.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Mr. Redmond. Does Dr. Kennedy wish to come in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: Would Senator John O'Mahony like to comment? I appreciate he has been very busy all day with votes in the Seanad.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the delegates for attending the meeting and giving us their views. Their convictions carry huge weight and truth and we need to act on them-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Discussion (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: The delegates want change and equality, as do members. It is the job of the committee to transparently bring the witnesses' points to the attention of the companies and people responsible. The committee will have to discuss that but it seems to me that we should bring the chief executives of the transport companies - the boss people - before the committee. The committee will have to hand...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: COM (2017) 647 is a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Regulation (EC) No. 1073/2009 on common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services. This proposal does not comply with the principles of subsidiarity. It is proposed, therefore, that the committee agree to a report under Dáil Standing Order 114 and Seanad...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: 114. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding persons (details supplied) that are awaiting a decision on their status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53272/17]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (13 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: 201. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if a reply will issue to correspondence from a person (details supplied) regarding broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53274/17]

Topical Issue Debate: Respite Care Services (12 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree absolutely with the Minister of State and my colleague opposite that this is really good news for everybody who needs respite care. It is a start but it is not the final answer. It is a way of finding a reasonable solution. There is nothing reasonable about people who are on their own who cannot cope. There is nothing reasonable about a person bringing a family member to a house...

Topical Issue Debate: Respite Care Services (12 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Ceann Comhairle and other Members of the House for facilitating this debate. It is hugely important that carers are recognised and supported. It is a fact that there has been a crisis in respite services in County Louth. I welcome the interest shown by all my colleagues in Leinster House both in the Dáil and Seanad in resolving this issue. I acknowledge the intent and...

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is wrong that there should be such a huge disparity. Those counties are the two extremes, with most counties in between. If it is mandatory that someone gets penalty points for speeding or other offences, it is wrong that the poor box is used by a judge when he or she is not allowed to do so. I ask the Minister that when the next case comes to his attention, it is appealed to the High...

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Dec 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: The objective of this legislation is to make our roads safer by encouraging safer driving by motorists and ensuring, in so far as we can, that alcohol is no longer a factor in road deaths. It is not, as some speakers have claimed, an attack on rural or urban life or any group of persons. The purpose of the proposals is to make our roads safer for us all. Whether one is driving in west...