Results 14,481-14,500 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: Some form of economic charge needs to be imposed. I presume the levy will be imposed on everyone who applies for a licence. I ask the Minister to clarify the matter. Under Deputy Broughan's amendment, the levy would only apply to private operators. If it is applied to all applicants for a licence, it should be set at a level that is not prohibitive. It must be fair and equitable because...
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: No, I have listened for aââ
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: Hallelujah.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy is always on a tangent.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: I would be surprised if the regulations with regard to disability are not applied universally; otherwise, it is discrimination against disabled persons using either public or private transport. Many bus operators are small-time entrepreneurs on a small budget. They do their best to keep their buses on the road. Prior to this legislation, most of them were confined to small runs such as the...
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: We want competition and choice. Notwithstanding my serious criticisms of the Bill, I ask the Minister to clarify that point. As regards the aviation sector, one of the largest European aviation companies, Ryanair, was founded by an Irishman. It is a fantastic company. If Deputy Broughan ever wishes to go to places far afield, such as east or west Germany or Russia, I am sure that company...
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: Therefore, they would not secure the licence. It could be a significant factor in determining the application.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: That is clear then.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: One cannot have a level playing pitch if one side is subsidised by the taxpayer. How does the Minister propose to discount to private operators the advantage public operators will secure through having the taxpayers foot the cost of putting a bus on the road? This is an important issue. The Freedom of Information Act expressly provides that individuals are not entitled to obtain sensitive...
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: That is rubbish. I never suggested that.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: I want to challenge what has been said.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: Rubbish.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: I need to address the issues.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: On a procedural issue, I was informed at 11.30 a.m. that amendment No. 3 would be dealt with in a group with the other amendments. I want to reply to the serious points made but I will not be able to do so in two minutes. Is it possible for me to address each of the amendments?
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: Yes. I would expect to press it before that time.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: I appreciate that.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: In terms of this debate, I have never come across a more uninformed Minister of State. I am not being personal. We are talking about choice for consumers yet he chooses to misrepresent what I said as being an extreme view and as being in favour of complete deregulation, which is untrue. I would put the Minister of State on one side of the Berlin Wall, which featured on George Lee's...
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy should sit down. We listened to him for long enough.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy cannot make a point of information. He can make a point of order, with the consent of the Chair.
- Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Report Stage (25 Nov 2009)
Fergus O'Dowd: I know much more about it than Deputy Broughan.