Results 1,321-1,340 of 2,965 for speaker:Robert Dowds

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: What is IBEC's view on plain packaging?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: IBEC, therefore, opposes it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: I thank the Chair and welcome our guests. I thank Mr. Vincent Jennings for pointing out the blot on the part of the State in terms of tobacco. That is a matter I will pursue. Perhaps he would e-mail me his presentation as there are one or two questions I would like to tease out

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: Sorry, it has not just to do with that but if Mr. Jennings can e-mail me his contribution I would appreciate it. I ask Ms Sharon Higgins from IBEC to outline its relationship with the tobacco industry. May I have that question answered now?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: I am very concerned as to IBEC's ability to be objective in this whole issue. There are serious concerns here. Mr. Mike Ridgway has been very upfront about his connections with the tobacco industry but IBEC needs to come clean. As Mr. Vincent Jennings is aware, I met him and various other people with the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, on some of the problems about illegal tobacco....

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: We do not know that.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: I would be interested in hearing Ms English's legal opinion, although I would also be happy if we were to decide not to do anything.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: I am pretty much in agreement with the previous two or three speakers. If I recall correctly, however, Ms English stated that if the transcript were to be published, it would have to be tidied up to some degree. I would be interested in discovering what is the legal position in that regard. If the CPP is the correct body from which to seek advice, then we should refer the matter to it.

Northern Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: Is maith an rud é go bhfuilimid ag déanamh díospóireachta ar an ábhar seo inniu. In some respects I find this subject very difficult because I approach it from a slightly different angle than most. That is because although I am a republican and a social democrat, a lot of my ancestry is Unionist. I do not share their ideology and wish they would embrace a more...

Northern Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: How about the people of Kingsmill?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (4 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: 223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria that are considered when deciding whether to award a school DEIS status, either band 1 or band 2. [5112/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (4 Feb 2014)

Robert Dowds: 224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider reviewing the schools that are granted DEIS status and potentially granting it to additional schools. [5113/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked a question about young women, in particular. Are they tempted to smoke to keep their weight down? Is that an element of the culture or not? I am trying to understand the culture. When I was 13 or 14 the smoking culture in my school was down in the bicycle shed and it was fellows who were showing a bit of bravado.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: Yes, that is a good point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: Tell them they have a better chance of beating Cork if they do not smoke.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: I have a couple of pointed questions which the witnesses may ignore if they so wish. Have any of them smoked and how did they manage to kick the habit if they have given up?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: It is relevant to the issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: There is a related point. The witnesses are predominantly girls so where are the fellows? Are they not involved with the issue? Smoking goes across gender lines, although it may be more dangerous for women if they are expecting a baby. Why has the running been left mainly to women? I very much appreciate the delegations being here and I agree with the comments and questions from the two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: We dissociate ourselves from that sectarian remark.

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: National Educational Welfare Board Staff (30 Jan 2014)

Robert Dowds: 184. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff, in terms of whole-time equivalents, employed at the National Education Welfare Board as education welfare officers nationally and within the city and county of Dublin; her views on whether the numbers are adequate. [4700/14]