Results 12,281-12,300 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ní gá. Bhí mé ag éisteacht leat.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Yes.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The committee made its own separate report as well. On the point about whether one is metered or unmetered, it is not the case that if one is not metered by the end of 2016 the charge one will be paying is unreasonable. It is a question of its being based on a number of different criteria, which will include the number of persons in the house and other variables. If there is a significant...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is part of the ongoing process. It is a key question. Obviously, there must be a spatial strategy. It is a matter for legislation by the Oireachtas. I presume that local authorities will be part of a local plan, a county plan, a regional plan and a water district management plan, and my expectation is that at the regional level all of those issues will be debated and must be...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is similar. Notwithstanding the current difficulties, there is a significant continuing commitment to it. Having visited the Kilmeena group water scheme in County Mayo, I can testify that the work done by rural communities in sustaining, supporting and investing in the group water schemes is phenomenal. I have been to a number of national conferences on group water schemes. There is no...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The key point is that it is fine if one can provide one's self with safe, treated, potable water. The reason people have group water schemes is usually that they cannot do this, and so they get together to provide such a supply. The example in Mayo is fantastic. It involves not only the householders but also their children. The committee will be glad to hear they that have water...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Stanley asked when the cost of the water metering would be known. To say anything about this before the procurement process is finalised could prejudice the cost.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I heard the reports. I asked departmental officials and they have no knowledge of that. I have been advised that the contracts are a matter for Uisce Éireann to announce following due process. The names and numbers of contractors are a matter for Uisce Éireann, not the Department.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Absolutely none. I put in an e-mail request on the issue because I was surprised by the radio reports. In anticipation of the Deputy's query, I had an e-mail earlier today from the Department on the issue, which states: The regional metering contracts will be awarded this month. No information is publicly available on the numbers of contracts or contractors. That is a matter for Irish...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Those decisions have to be made. The cost per household will be announced by the regulator. He or she will announce his or her intended decision and then people will have the opportunity to make submissions. There will be a consultative process before a final decision is made. People will be aware, therefore, of what the cost may be and they will have an opportunity to make submissions....

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: To be fair to the Deputy, the full facts will be transparently made available. I cannot give him the detail now but the consultants who analysed the water system said it is costing twice as much as in the UK to provide the service. That is why we expect that when Uisce Éireann takes over from 1 January next, there will be new efficiencies and synergies. We will not work on a county by...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Murphy raised the water pressure issue and I do not know if I have dealt with that adequately. The costing will have to be included in the work programmes submitted to the regulator by Uisce Éireann. They will be decided in conjunction with the regional water committees. The plan will start, local government will state what it wants, it will move up the line and then it will be...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (9 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the opportunity to discuss with the sub-committee the water services component of the 2013 Estimate. The Estimate demonstrates the high priority given to water services despite the financial constraints. A provision of nearly €326 million is being made available for this purpose. Of this, over €286 million is allocated to implementing the Water Services Investment...

Topical Issue Debate: Fisheries Protection (3 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputies for bringing this matter to my attention. As they pointed out, I am very happy to meet them at any stage, in particular as we are from the same town. I have met all of the angling organisations in the county of Louth in Ardee and Drogheda on Friday afternoons and Wednesday nights.

Topical Issue Debate: Fisheries Protection (3 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish to be perfectly clear because I wish to be specific on the matter. Ciaran Byrne, chief executive officer of Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, has always made himself available to everyone concerned. He has visited on Friday afternoons and on Wednesdays. He has gone to Dundalk. His senior management team has met on a number of occasions with interested parties. The first point is very...

Topical Issue Debate: Fisheries Protection (3 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will respond in more detail as I am entitled to a further two minutes following the supplementary questions. I do not know whether the Deputies have my reply but it contains facts and figures. We must be clear on the issue.

Topical Issue Debate: Fisheries Protection (3 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I would be very happy to ensure a formal response is made. The clarity is in the figures. In terms of opening a river for catch-and-keep fishing, the Flurry river is at 23% of its conservation limit, which is well below the required level. Even if only every second fish was being counted, the level would only be at 46%, which is not even half the level required to catch and keep fish. We...

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Services (3 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I ask her to accept the apologies of the Minister for Health and the Ministers of State at that Department. Like Deputy Murphy, I extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased. The loss of a loved one is hard for family and friends at any time, but a sudden and unexpected death is particularly difficult. The response of the HSE...

Topical Issue Debate: Ambulance Services (3 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I again acknowledge what the Deputy has stated and assure her the questions she has asked will be brought to the attention of the Minister for Health. I do not have the expertise or the specific knowledge she requests but I have no doubt it will be made available to her as soon as possible. I will ask immediately whether it is possible and I appreciate the Deputy accepting this explanation.

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (2 Jul 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a thabhairt do chlann Phádraig Ó Fachtna, a bhean chéile, Kitty, agus a chlann uilig. Bhí aithne mhaith agam ar Phádraig le tamall fada. Bhí an-suim ar fad aige i gcursaí Gaeilge ach go háirithe. Is minic agus is mó an chaint a bhí agam leis, de ghnáth as Gaeilge. Bhí an suim aige sa...