Results 13,421-13,440 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Water Charges (6 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will answer the questions put. The years 2012 and 2013 were mentioned in the deal agreed by the last Government. With regard to how meters will be installed and the problems in that regard, from the briefing I have received approximately 1,800 people will be employed for a period of three years to install meters in every house in the country. I presume that when all of that has happened,...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Government has set out clearly its intention to ensure that public enterprise plays a full role in Ireland's economic recovery. The new economic and recovery authority is the vehicle whereby it will manage the State's holdings of the key State companies undertaking investment in key priority areas. These include the energy networks, broadband, water and bioenergy. Under the NewERA...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: When we entered into government, the cupboard was almost bare thanks to the financial mismanagement of Fianna Fáil and previous Governments. There is less money than we expected, but the country must effect changes in its policies, particularly its investment policy. If the Government cannot borrow, State companies can use their initiative to create jobs. NewERA contains a commitment to...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The answer to the last question is clear - as many and as quickly as we possibly can. I am charged with dealing with the Ministries involved - the Departments of Finance and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government - and the Office of the Attorney General. Under a different heading in the NewERA policy, we will address the issue of a national water authority tomorrow. As quickly and...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will not quantify that, but I will give the House an absolute commitment to report to the Oireachtas regularly on my progress in respect of the significant changes we must make in how we run our country. In particular, State and semi-State companies rather than the State will invest in the creation of jobs.

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will be able to give the Deputy those facts as soon as I can. I will give 100% in ensuring a significant reduction in unemployment levels and in the shameful number of young people who must leave this country because they had no future under the former Government. We will bring them light and jobs.

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: In the context of the NewERA plan the Government commits to an ambitious strategy of accelerating the development of Ireland's forestry and bioenergy resources. Key to the realisation of this strategy is the plan to create a new State company, to be called BioEnergy Ireland, which will entail the merger of Bord na Móna and Coillte. The Government envisages that the new company will become a...

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The key point is that what is being discussed is the setting up of a State company, not a private company, and one which will remain in State ownership. To put it a different way, in medieval times if one were going through the forests of Nottingham, the Sheriff of Nottingham's writ would have run there and the Robin Hoods of the day would have prevented him doing whatever he wanted to do....

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: It will remain in State ownership. Does the Deputy require references?

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The problem at present is that by virtue of a European directive Coillte is prevented from benefiting from grants such as those farmers receive for reforestation and, therefore, there is an issue which must be tackled. I believe Coillte has not planted a tree since 1995 for that reason - perhaps I may be corrected by a Member with greater knowledge. We need new synergies to plant more...

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: At present Coillte cannot plant it because it cannot benefit-----

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The idea is that the new company will have a new synergy and a new way of looking at this issue which is not the case at present. The only way we believe we can make it happen-----

Afforestation Programme (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: -----is by the new company creating new jobs and new synergies. One cannot exclude the possibility that people might wish to co-invest with the State company.

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I said in my reply that investments would be set in the context of the new national development plan, which will be for the period 2012 to 2019. While everything must be done it must be done at the right time. The Deputy is right; there can be no fire-sale of assets and that is made clear in the programme for Government. Another report by Mr. Colm McCarthy is yet to be published and there...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The NewERA entity will be established through legislation, which takes time. It is important that we get this right and consult with our colleagues in Government, the Civil Service and the State and semi-State bodies. It is vital to our national recovery that we take the time to get this right and put the investments in place, taking time to sell those non-essential State assets at a time...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: At present Coillte is under the control of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister in that Department, Deputy Simon Coveney, could answer that question properly. I can state with clarity, however, that there is no question of not having access to existing and potential recreational amenities of the country. This is not to do anything other than to protect what we...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am happy to take on board the Deputy's suggestion. Perhaps after this we could discuss how to start that process and consult with the bodies that must be involved in it. I am talking about the sale of non-strategic State assets. Those will be defined by Colm McCarthy and others in the report that will be produced in the very near future. I am sure we all have a view on that. The...

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy has a few bob himself.

Programmes for Government (5 Apr 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: As an example, if wood grows on a piece of land, it can be sold but the strategic asset of the land is held on to. I hope the Deputy can accept that.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (31 Mar 2011)

Fergus O'Dowd: They are listening to the Deputy on the monitor. They are enthralled by the Deputy.