Results 11,521-11,540 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Departmental Funding (26 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am happy to progress the matter by immediately getting in touch with the Department to see whether we can clarify dates.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Illegal Israeli Settlements (26 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I assure the Senator that I will bring her comments, particularly the points she has just made, to the attention of the Tánaiste for direct reply to her good self.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Departmental Funding (26 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: So am I.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Departmental Funding (26 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senator van Turnhout for raising this matter. I appreciate fully the issues she has raised, the fact that she has raised this matter on a number of occasions and that finality has not been brought to it yet. I will be happy at the conclusion of the Adjournment debate to ring the Department immediately and hopefully we will try and get the matter resolved. That is all I can do.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Departmental Funding (26 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Hogan. The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector commenced in 2008 under the then Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. This scheme amalgamated and replaced schemes previously operating under the White Paper on Supporting Voluntary Activity. The scheme aims to provide...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Illegal Israeli Settlements (26 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs who is unavoidably absent. The Government's position on Israeli settlements has been clearly articulated on many occasions. Such settlements are illegal and, as the Senator outlined, in many cases they involve the seizure of Palestinian land and resources. They are the cause of the great majority of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (26 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that the lake in question, Lake Yganavan, is part of a Special Area of Conservation, (SAC no. 000370) and has not been previously stocked by IFI. I am also advised that as the lake in question is in an SAC any actions there would require submission of a Nature Impact Statement to the Competent Authority, the National Parks & Wildlife...

Seanad: Child Protection: Motion (25 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Senators for placing this important debate before the Seanad today and the Labour Party Members who have done so. The Minister unfortunately is unable to attend due to pressing business although this is an important topic for everybody about which the Minister is particularly concerned. This motion serves to draw the Government's attention to the important issues of child protection,...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The legal advice received from the Attorney General is that all of these issues are comprehended by the wording and that the prudent management practice to which the Deputy refers is a matter for consultation and is being worked on.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: If it is helpful, I will circulate a note on the issue to the Deputy.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Espoo is a separate convention and is not, therefore, included in the Bill. If it is helpful, I will have the officials provide the Deputy with a note.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would say it is implicit in that. It would be in the general EPA legislation but if people do not conform and comply, then automatically they are in breach. I presume the other sections of the Act and the powers of the EPA would have to apply. I can confirm that later.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Section 34A(4), as inserted by section 40, states: "The Institute may, prior to the preparation, amendment or revocation of a contingency plan, consult with the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Justice and Equality, the Minister for Health or such other Ministers of the Government or persons as the Institute considers appropriate." The Minister for the Environment is a notice party...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Department of Justice and Equality is included.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The normal proofs would apply. It would have to consult where it could. I know this may not be part of the Deputy's argument but I presume the Freedom of Information Act would apply, although there could well be exceptions. This would be post the event obviously.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I had occasion to look for information from the RPII, which I could not get. Unfortunately, I had to go through freedom of information but I could not get the information through it either because there were issues, in particular security issues. Given the nature of the business, I was not entitled to it. At all times, the EPA operates in a transparent way. In my experience, it is always...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Section 8(3) states that all leases, licences, wayleave or other permissions in respect of land granted by the RPII shall continue in operation after the dissolution day as a responsibility of the EPA. In terms of the transfer of rights and liabilities and the continuation of licences, they continue, so none of them cease.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are talking about nuclear materials.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The definition has been changed to update it to the current international definition. The previous legislation was behind. It has been tightened up.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (24 Jun 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is stronger. We can give the Deputy a note on that.