Results 11,821-11,840 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 25 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would like to comment on the points made by Deputies Cowen and Stanley. I particularly wish to address Deputy Stanley's assertion that he was deliberately misled during debates in the Dáil. I utterly refute that assertion. The commitment to make Irish Water or Uisce Éireann subject to the Freedom of Information Act was given by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is very important being a small country.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: We are part of some joint working groups as such. The organisations are listed and include International Lead and Zinc Study Group and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program. It basically means we are part and parcel of international thinking in science interactivity and we can punch-----

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Additional money was allocated last year for a new headquarters.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The reference is to money spent on an angling study. It was a comprehensive production which indicated that over €800 million is being spent annually in that area and that approximately 10,000 people are employed directly or indirectly in inland fisheries. It also dealt with the importance of the sector, particularly in remote or rural areas where inland fishery activity is very...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not have that information but I can get it for the Deputy.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will get that information for the Deputy.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: As stated by the Deputy, we communicated earlier on that matter. I am happy to follow up further on the matter with him after this meeting.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies (21 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together. Issues relating to accommodation and staffing are day- to-day operational matters for public bodies, in this instance Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Accommodation and staffing are among the most significant cost components of public sector organisations and it is incumbent on all agencies to achieve economy and efficiency. In this...

Irish Water: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (16 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is not true. The Department did not get back to me. The Deputy should be factual.

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2014: First Stage (16 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: No.

Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2014: First Stage (16 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Bill is not being opposed.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Angling Season (16 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I refer to the reply to Questions No. 456 and on 15 January which fully addresses the issue raised by the Deputy. I have already made it absolutely clear that no proposal was made by me or my Department to introduce a "rod licence", nor is it intended to introduce such a licence.

Private Members' Business - Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: The statement made by Deputy Keaveney, formerly of the Labour Party, relates to a very serious issue. I wish to assure the Deputy and the House that the transcript of his statement will be brought to the attention of the Minister and the Secretary General and all other appropriate persons. It is very serious and must be dealt with immediately. The establishment of Irish Water as a fully...

Private Members' Business - Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: Irish Water is a commercial State body within the BGE group and all the normal governance and accountability rules which apply to commercial bodies - such as requirements for ministerial consent to enter into capital commitments and raise borrowing and requirements on the provision of annual reports and accounts - also apply to it. The legislation under which Irish Water was established...

Private Members' Business - Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: That said, the Minister, Deputy Hogan, has asked that the Department put in place an appropriate arrangement to provide a mechanism for Deputies to obtain details of the establishment costs of Irish Water in future. In the context of the programme budget for the establishment of Uisce Éireann, the Minister, Deputy Hogan, sought the advice of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER,...

Private Members' Business - Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to share time with Deputies Tom Barry and Michelle Mulherin.

Private Members' Business - Irish Water: Motion [Private Members] (15 Jan 2014)

Fergus O'Dowd: I move amendment No. 1:"To delete all words after "That Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:- notes the critical importance of water services to the social and economic well-being of the State and it citizens, and the vital part that a strong water services system plays in attracting investment and promoting economic growth; - welcomes the establishment of Irish Water as...