Results 1,441-1,460 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: -----whether in government or opposition.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Listening to the addresses of the Opposition, obviously most of them are entirely unaware of what is happening in my constituency, County Louth, with one clear exception. Deputy Ó Murchú is well aware, familiar and supportive of what is happening in the town of Drogheda and in County Louth in fighting crime, organised crime and drugs. There were appalling murders, the dismembering...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Since the resignation of the members of the independent Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal in 2021, more than 759 severely disabled and permanently disabled citizens have been denied an appeals process, having been refused a HSE primary medical certificate. They are entitled to appeal that. There is no way they can appeal now. This very day I have the case of an 81-year-old...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Apologies have been received from Stephen Farry, MP. On behalf of the committee I welcome, online, Dr. Ciara Fitzpatrick, lecturer in law at Ulster University, and, in person, Dr. Tom Boland, lecturer in sociology at University College Cork, to discuss the social protection systems on both sides of the Border and how they might operate in a unified or federal state. I will explain some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Dr. Fitzpatrick for her address. We will now hear from her colleague, Dr. Boland, after which we will have questions. Each group will have 15 minutes to ask questions. It will be an informal session which will, I hope, allow us to benefit from the witnesses' knowledge in this area. I invite Dr. Boland to make his statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I was reading more of Dr. Boland's analysis. I thank him for his contribution. How did the group originate? Do they self-select? When Dr. Boland says “a group”, I presume he means two or more.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome what you are doing because it is something that is of great concern to everybody. If there is a proposition to be made, it has to be based on fair and appropriate analysis. From what Dr. Boland was saying, are there any advantages in the present system that he would note? Given some of the language that the witnesses are using - I know they are academics and I am the politician...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is not harsh at all, in fact, and I want to make that point. It is not harsh, to my knowledge. That is an important point to make because, of all the Departments I deal with, I find it the very best.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am not aware of that but Dr. Boland's narrative is a real one, which I accept. It is important for us to analyse and support the view that the system needs to improve, and if we have a unitary system or federation, that it is the best of both systems and that we work to improve it. On another point, there are significant differences between North and South. Has Dr. Boland written or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Fifty years ago, when I started off in politics, the community welfare system was very harsh but it is much more client- and family-focused now. In particular, I find that with exceptional needs payments and issues such as that, the system has become far more supportive of people and less judgmental, which is all good and is what we need in our system.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: The other point I would make is slightly different. At one stage, medical card applications were done by the local community welfare officer and then, unfortunately, they were centralised and, therefore, people either get it or they do not get it. When dealing with the community welfare officers, they understood and knew the families concerned, and would always make that exception, if they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I spoke to some people in Belfast yesterday. They told me that unemployment in the North is very low, at 2.9%, which is remarkable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: How do these people manage to exist?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: I do not know if I heard Dr. Boland correctly, but I fully agree with what he says about the State being as generous as it can possibly be. The only way we can be generous is if we have the income to pay the benefits and to look after people who need it. Am I correct in thinking Dr. Boland has said that growth is a bad thing for the economy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Pensions and Social Security: Discussion (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: Is the point that if we help people towards training, retraining or self-improvement in whatever way suits people and their needs as they see it, that it would be a constructive way? I question the approach not to offer an opportunity for people to work or not to have growth in the economy. In the period in the economy Dr. Boland referred to, the 1950s and 1960s, when there was one...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (20 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 343. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role of the HSE safeguarding team in regard to a person with a disability (details supplied) who is awaiting the outcome of a trust in care investigation; if he will provide the details on what the HSE has done to assist in safeguarding the service user in this instance; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disability Services (19 Apr 2023)

Fergus O'Dowd: 41. To ask the Minister for Finance when he expects the Disabled Drivers Medical Board appeals board to be re-established and in place to deal with the excessive waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18404/23]