Results 11,301-11,320 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: There are no new powers conferred on anybody in respect of any of these issues. If, as a Minister of State, I wanted to sell off one of the designated bodies, I could only do so under the existing Acts that govern the sale of the body, should the power exist. There is no question of privatisation or any issue such as that. If the existing legislation, separate from this Bill, exists, then...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I note that the Deputy's amendment reproduces the provisions of section 4 as it stands. That section contains a standard provision requiring that orders made by the Minister be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and may be annulled by a resolution of either House within 21 days. The practice in legislative drafting is that where an Act gives a Minister a power to do something that...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Order for Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pension Provisions (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Matters in relation to pension payments are, in the first instance, an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Pension payments by public bodies are made in accordance with the terms of the pension scheme in operation in each instance and the relevant legislative framework.  In this regard, I have asked IFI to contact the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wildlife Conservation (8 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can inform the Deputy that catch and release angling is being undertaken on the Suir in 2014 and the rod catch, combined with a rod exploitation rate and catch data over the previous four years will be used by the Standing Scientific Committee for Salmon (SSCS) to provide a salmon stock assessment for the Suir in 2014. The Stillwaters Consultancy letter notes that higher proportions of...

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I listened with great interest to the debate today. Apart from one or two contributions it was a very positive and constructive engagement which is how this Dáil works. We all share the same commitment to the democratic process and the desire to increase voter participation. Many different views and interesting points have been raised here today. All of these will have to be...

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Tuam.

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy should go.

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: If Fianna Fáil had not wrecked the economy, we would not need it.

Electoral (Amendment) (Hours of Polling) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the debate. Voter participation continues to be a major challenge for everyone involved in the democratic process and any recommendations as to how we can stimulate greater participation is very much worthy of consideration. This Private Members' Bill is part of the debate and, accordingly, the Government does not propose to oppose it. The stated purpose of the Bill is to promote...

Valuation Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy Cowen again for bringing this Bill before the House. We have had a very useful debate with contributions from all sides. The agreement we have reached in principle is very welcome. An outcome like this shows it can be useful to have debates on these issues on a Friday. I look forward to the Committee Stage debate. Having attended many matches over the years, I am aware...

Valuation Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (4 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: He is going for one of those tickets.

Topical Issue Debate: NAMA Social Housing Provision (3 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I answer this question on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who has special responsibility for housing but is unavoidably delayed. I thank Deputy Seán Kenny for raising this matter and I have listened with interest to what he has said. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local...

Topical Issue Debate: NAMA Social Housing Provision (3 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am happy to raise these comments with the Department, along with the assurances on the timeline the Deputy seeks as they are not included in the speech I have given. I will ask the Department to contact the Deputy as a matter of urgency and I support the views he expressed. Regardless of the complexity of the matter, it is the intention of all concerned, particularly the Minister of...

Parliamentary Scrutiny of Appointments (European Commission) (No. 2) Bill 2014: First Stage (3 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: No.

European Regulation on Eurodac: Motion. (3 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move:That Dáil Éireann approve a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of Eurodac (recast) and for the effective application of the Dublin Regulation.

Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Fifth Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The position of the Deputies opposing this Bill is clear and I acknowledge their concerns, though I think they are unfounded. The EPA will have an extra arm dealing with radiological issues. There is clarity on membership of its board and its responsibilities. The EPA is responsible for other issues such as monitoring drinking water, waste management, water quality and emergency response...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies (3 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish to advise the Deputy that information in respect of the members of the Board of the Loughs Agency from 2010 to 2014 can be found on the eGovernance website or by contacting the Body directly. For the convenience of the Deputy, a list of the membership of the Board is set out in tabular form below. Expenses arrangements are an operational matter for the Agency but I will bring the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (3 Jul 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I refer to the reply to Question No 129 of 27 March 2014. The position is unchanged. Inland Fisheries Ireland is and always has been prepared to assist search and rescue or recovery operations in practicable ways insofar that it can. The provision of funding to clubs as suggested in the question is not within it's statutory remit.