Results 9,441-9,460 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Topical Issue Debate: Respite Care Services (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy Breathnach for agreeing to allow me to speak on this. I appreciate his commitment, which we share, as does Deputy Adams. We have met regularly with the HSE and with Drumcar and St. John of God's to try to get a solution to the problem that continues. It will continue until adequate and proper funding is provided. I welcome the commitment of the Minister of State and the...

Topical Issue Debate: Respite Care Services (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I absolutely agree with everything Deputy Breathnach has said. It is universally true in every home in Louth where there are people with disabilities. There is an absolute lack of clarity, support and services. Yet, at the same time, more than €30 million is spent on the services of St. John of God's. It is reducing its services but is not giving the funding back to the HSE or to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Irish League of Credit Unions (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the work done by credit unions over the years. When I was younger and buying my house, we got our bridging finance from the credit union. Credit unions are hugely helpful to people, in particular when they are buying homes or making any significant purchase. My question is slightly different from some of the questions that have been asked. One of the difficulties I find is that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Irish League of Credit Unions (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: It has to be sustainable in the context of the applicant's existing income.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Irish League of Credit Unions (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: There is no doubt about that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: This is a very important discussion. I agree with many of the points that have been made. I wish to raise a number of points as I have questions I need answered. I agree with Deputy Coppinger that one needs protocols in place between the housing agencies and elected representatives. I had a case where a constituent was being put out of his home as a result of significant difficulties by a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: No. I am addressing the issue of housing. I will take no lectures about my views from anybody.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: The family should be in a home. Regardless of whether one likes to hear it, we need to do more and be much more active. I feel strongly about this matter. I hope I get an opportunity to speak about this matter in the Dáil on Thursday. People who are not officeholders or leaders of other parties are allocated 12 minutes in which to speak. This agenda must be debated in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will finish, if I may. The challenge for all of us is to stop human rights being abused. We must act outside of our little boxes. We must go for it and do it. That is the challenge I set for the organisations. I do not know what reply I will get. Notwithstanding all of the good work that has been done by the organisations, they have not done and are not doing enough.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: On a point of order, is that a specific reference to what I said?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: Let me be very clear. Everybody else has raised the same issues as me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I hope that the Chairman did not criticise me specifically.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Chairman for her leniency. The job of a Chairman is to allow members to speak.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: Chairperson or Chairwoman. I do not mind using any title. I do not want to offend anybody by not using the correct title. The job of this committee is to articular our views. The job of any Chairperson, Chairwoman or Chairman is to facilitate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Chairperson. I have made my point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: Working with local authorities. I accept that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: With respect, some actually do. I appreciate that Mr. Brennan is giving his opinion.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: So the approved housing body will not. That is fair enough.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Finance for Social Housing: Housing Supply Alliance (4 Jul 2017)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not disagree with Mr. Coyle, but it is working and the houses are occupied now whereas they were not a year ago. That is my point. I accept all of the issues that Mr. Coyle has properly raised and Oaklee Housing is doing an excellent job in County Louth, where it has transformed areas where houses had actually been burned out and left derelict. That is the future, but doing that work...