Results 12,321-12,340 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fishing Rights (18 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ownership of fishery rights, as distinct from ownership of the bed and soil of a river or lake, is a property right set out in relevant title or other relevant documents. In consequence, as the Deputy will appreciate, the complexity of the ownership of fishing rights means that the position varies from lake to lake. The owners of fishing rights and their agents have a right to reasonable...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Expenditure (12 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Water Sector Reform Implementation Strategy , which is published on my Department's website, is focused on ensuring that appropriate policy and legal frameworks are put in place for Irish Water and the water sector. A key objective is to rationalise the cost of the current service delivery and ensure more efficient operation of water services by moving from 34 water services authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Irish Water Funding (12 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The creation of Irish Water as a public utility, in a regulated environment, together with the introduction of domestic water charges, will allow for the building of a more sustainable and a fair funding model for the water sector in the future. The introduction of economic regulation will, inter alia, ensure that the funding certainty provided by stable and transparent regulation will help...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Licence Applications (11 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together. As the Deputy may be aware, in February 2011 my Department announced that it was offering Onshore Petroleum Licensing Options to: - Tamboran Resources PTY Ltd over 986 km2 in the Northwest Carboniferous Basin; - Lough Allen Natural Gas Company Ltd over 467 km2 in the Northwest Carboniferous Basin; and - Enegi Oil Plc over 495 km2 ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (11 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: At the commencement of the Dáil debate on the Report of the former Joint Oireachtas Committee for Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration I outlined my intention to seek independent expert advice on the "fitness-for-purpose" of Ireland's current oil and gas exploration fiscal terms. I also stated that I proposed to listen to the views of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences Applications (11 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The principal incentive that impacts on decisions by exploration companies to invest in exploration for oil, gas, or other minerals in the Irish onshore, or offshore, is the likelihood of making a commercial discovery. Other factors of relevance would include the fiscal terms, the regulatory regime, the relative harshness of the operating environment, along with access to infrastructure and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (11 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The 2D regional seismic survey, which is by far the largest regional seismic survey to be acquired in the Irish offshore, commenced earlier this month and it is planned that acquisition of data will continue into late autumn. The survey will provide a regional grid of high-quality seismic data over Ireland’s frontier basins and has been designed to infill data gaps that exist,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: My Department currently delivers an active and targeted promotional campaign directed at attracting an increased share of mobile international exploration investment to the Irish offshore. This promotional campaign forms part of a broader strategy that has contributed to the increase in the number of companies currently involved in exploration in the Irish offshore. It is not proposed to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (11 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The 2D regional seismic survey, which is by far the largest regional seismic survey to be acquired in the Irish offshore will provide a regional grid of modern seismic data over Ireland’s frontier basins and has been designed to complement existing datasets and to infill data gaps that exist, particularly in the Southern Porcupine, Rockall and Hatton basins. The benefit of addressing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: In the late 1980s and early 1990s the sea trout stocks in the rivers of Connemara collapsed. As the Deputy will be aware this has been attributed, among anglers and other stakeholders, to sea lice from marine salmon farms. The collapse of the sea trout stocks was seen in terms of adult breeding fish as well as the annual summer small ‘finnock’. I am advised by IFI that in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Ireland Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I can advise the Deputy that the information requested is a day to day operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). However, I have contacted IFI in this regard and I am advised that if the Deputy has a specific issue in mind he should contact the CEO of IFI directly.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Data (11 Jun 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The tables below set out, for the Deputy, the Salmon and Sea Trout angling catches, 2010-2012 in the Western River Basin taking into account Galway, Ballinakill, Connemara, Bangor, Ballina and Sligo Fisheries Districts. These catches are disaggregated by Salmon / Sea Trout caught and released, harvest and total catch by year. Data for 2013 will be available in early 2014 once logbooks are...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (29 May 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is clear where those on this side of the House stand. There is no division over the Government's commitment to proceed with solving the economic crisis. Of all the Ministers in government, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, is the most determined, resolute and fearless. He has tackled all the issues that have arisen in his Department with absolute clarity. He has...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na Seanadóirí go léir a labhair ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. Tá na leasuithe atá á dhéanamh ag an mBille seo bunaithe ar eolas atá ag na gardaí agus ag an Roinn le trí bliana anuas. We must constantly strive to ensure that the provision in our law to combat money laundering is of...

Seanad: Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013: Second Stage (28 May 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Of course, as I want to make perfectly clear. In the case of vintage cars, it will not be possible to avoid exemptions from the requirement to pay arrears on some categories of vehicles as the provision of exemptions for one group will inevitably lead to calls for other groups to be recognised. This legislation has been well flagged and there is effectively a four month period in which...

Seanad: Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013: Second Stage (28 May 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: We recognise the need for a transition period to allow motorists the time to put their affairs in order. Senator Sean D. Barrett raised the question of commercial and private users. The arrangements are straightforward and not designed to inconvenience compliant taxpayers. Those who need to take a vehicle off the road will be permitted to do so, but it will be necessary to notify the...

Seanad: Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013: Second Stage (28 May 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le gach duine a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht seo. I wish to respond to some of the questions, and others can be responded to on Committee and Report Stages, which will be taken later. The primary purpose of the Bill is to close off evasion. Tax evasion hurts the compliant. Failure to pay tax imposes a greater burden on all...

Seanad: Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013: Second Stage (28 May 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is cúis áthais dom é an díospóireacht seo a oscailt sa Seanad. The primary purpose of this Bill is to provide for a system of declaring vehicles off the road in advance for motor tax purposes. This will close a loophole whereby owners can declare retrospectively that a vehicle has not been in use on the public road, which is unverifiable. Under the existing system,...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2013: Second Stage (28 May 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Táim ag tógáil an Bhille seo thar ceann an Aire Dlí agus Cirt agus Comhionannais. Tugaim leithscéal ar son an Aire nach mbeidh sé in ann freastal sa Teach seo inniu. The Bill was originally published as the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Bill 2013. However, as it was amended to include a number of provisions unrelated...

Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013: Order for Report Stage (23 May 2013)

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