Results 13,281-13,300 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Private Rented Accommodation (18 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: As I noted earlier, the Minister's powers in this respect deal with making regulations, although it is the local authority which enforces them. The statutory obligation is on the developer to fix what has gone wrong. There have been important recommendations on the suitability of the accommodation, and I take the point that if somebody has a young family, particularly over the Christmas...

Private Rented Accommodation (18 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree with Deputy Wallace's comments on supervision and accountability. Mandatory accountability means developers will be accountable in law and there will be no doubt about the responsibilities. I repeat my earlier comments. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, is particularly concerned that there should be more efficient pooling of building control staff and resources across the local authority...

Private Rented Accommodation (18 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree with the Deputy. I will bring his comments and those of the other Members to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Hogan. I suggest this will be a matter of priority for the Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht. I will bring all their comments to the attention of the Department. Each local authority has its own statutory responsibility. There...

Private Rented Accommodation (18 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: A key point is that it is a matter for Dublin City Council to deal with the statutory functions and duties that it has.

Private Rented Accommodation (18 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Minister has no function in this matter except in regard to the making of the regulations. Clearly, the views of Members of the Dáil and issues that they specifically mentioned will be brought to the attention of Dublin City Council. I am not familiar with the report the Deputy mentioned but I will ensure I get a response on that issue from the Department for the Deputy

Private Rented Accommodation (18 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will bring all the points Deputy Ellis made to the attention of the Department and the Minister, Deputy Hogan. I fully support the thrust of what he is saying. We need to get on top of all these issues, identify the problems and have them dealt with by the appropriate local authority as quickly as possible.

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to share time with Deputy Tom Barry. In theory, this debate is about the sale of State assets but in reality, it is about the sale of the country by Fianna Fáil. The Deputies and Ministers of the previous Government destroyed our country and put our economy into rack and ruin. They left us with over 440,000 people unemployed. The positive, constructive debate that the country...

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: Deputy Fleming and his colleagues already sold the country down the river. Tens of thousands of households are in serious debt because of the way Fianna Fáil mismanaged and abused the privilege of government. On this side of the House, we are not doing so and we are using the sale of some of our State assets, and in the case of the ESB a majority share in the company, to bring about more...

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: That would be job creation.

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy's speech sounds very old. It reminds me of Joseph Stalin in 1922.

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: Does the Deputy not understand the concept of a minority shareholding?

Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: How does Deputy Adams pay them?

Seanad: Company Closures: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: We should all do that.

Seanad: Company Closures: Motion (Resumed) (28 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: A reply is being released at 4 p.m. today on that very issue.

Seanad: European Financial Stability Facility and Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: This has been an important debate. Whatever our political views, we are all here for the good of the country and everybody acknowledges that. I thank the Seanad for facilitating the taking of this legislation in one day. It is a unique and special circumstance, exceptional in every respect, and I acknowledge the commitment of all parties here to ensure we complete it. I will try to reply...

Seanad: European Financial Stability Facility Bill and Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages. (22 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Members for their contributions. The ten-year bond spread for Greece earlier on the Bloomberg website was 22% while ours was 8.6%.

Seanad: European Financial Stability Facility Bill and Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages. (22 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: We have recovered a great deal of ground and we are getting it right. There is hope and change is happening. We are all united on the fundamentals, notwithstanding the differences between parties. We are getting our act together. It is being increasingly recognised internationally that Ireland is different, that we are meeting our requirements and that the tough decisions that have been...

Seanad: European Financial Stability Facility and Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: On the absence of explanatory memoranda, I have a briefing that was circulated by the Department of Finance to all Opposition spokesmen in the Dáil and Seanad last Friday. This is clearly emergency legislation and it is important for the State that we pass it. I agree, however, that time is of the essence and this should have been circulated as explanatory memoranda but it has the same...

Seanad: European Financial Stability Facility and Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: Before I outline the purpose and contents of the Bill, I would like to thank the Seanad for agreeing to discuss and consider all Stages of the European Financial Stability Facility and Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011 today at short notice. Although a fairly technical Bill, it is of critical importance to the public finances and to our economy. Enactment of the Bill is required...

Seanad: European Financial Stability Facility and Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (22 Sep 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I had assumed it would be circulated and apologise if it has not been.