Results 1,521-1,540 of 2,965 for speaker:Robert Dowds

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive (27 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: I apologise. Obviously it was dealt with before I arrived. I wish to ask about two of the non-compliant organisations. I realise because they are non-compliant the witnesses may not be able to give me much in the way of answers. I wish to express an interest because I am on a leave of absence from a school under the patronage of the Central Remedial Clinic. I wish to ask about this...

Topical Issue Debate: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (27 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: Good.

Topical Issue Debate: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (27 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: I thank the Minister for his reply. I wish to put on record my absolute condemnation of the treat by Philip Morris, the tobacco producer, to the Minister, the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly and, by extension, the State in terms of pursuing plain packaging. It is absolutely disgraceful given it is purveying a product which kills people. I fully support the Minister's efforts to bring in...

Topical Issue Debate: Illicit Trade in Tobacco (27 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: I thank the Minister for being in the Chamber to respond to this Topical Issue matter. I wish we did not have to discuss tobacco at all because it is a killer which does not have any beneficial effects for anybody, but it will come as no surprise to the Minister that there is a significant level of illegal tobacco sales in Ireland. The estimates fluctuate from 30% down to 15%, with the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Expenditure (26 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: 638. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the petrol and diesel costs incurred by Health Service Executive staff in the Dublin mid-Leinster region for the past ten years. [50646/13]

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: Like the Minister of State, I regret that the medical card situation for the over 70s has to be changed but if we are required to make savings in this area, it is better to impose cuts on those who are most able to bear them. This legislation will have that effect. It is important to highlight two other issues - or perhaps three given that Deputy Kelleher has reminded me of his past. Some...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Health (Alteration of Eligibility Criteria) (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (21 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: ----- because most people's health care needs at old age are dealt with at that stage of their lives. The €900 threshold protects those who are least able to look after their own needs.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (20 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: 150. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider the installation of CCTV cameras in Garda stations and in holding cells to ensure the safety of Garda officers and those in custody; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49677/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (20 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: 151. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider introducing, on a trial basis, the placement of mini-cameras on the uniforms of gardaí, as is being trialled in police forces in the UK, to assist gardaí in prosecuting criminals and to ensure the safety of both gardaí and the members of the public with whom they deal; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Remit (20 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: 152. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider strengthening the powers and impartiality of the Garda Ombudsman Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49679/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Job Protection (19 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: I thank the Minister of State for his reply, only some of which has been circulated. I ask him to circulate the rest of it. I call on the Minister to brief us on what he can do to get on top of this issue. There is an air of pessimism in part of the Minister of State's reply, particularly with reference to Lufthansa. The fact that there is a 30 day consultation period means, I hope, that...

Topical Issue Debate: Job Protection (19 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: With my colleagues, Deputies Joanna Tuffy, Emmet Stagg and Jack Wall, I am very concerned about the risk to more than 400 jobs at the Lufthansa Technik plant at Rathcoole, County Dublin. These are highly skilled jobs of a type of which we do not have enough in Ireland and it would be a major blow to our area and the country generally if they were lost. It is welcome that the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: 87. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he last met the British Prime Minister, David Cameron; the extent to which he made him aware of the destabilising impact of marches and violence in Northern Ireland; if the British Prime Minister and his Cabinet issued any response to these problems. [41829/13]

Local Government Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: I appreciate the Minister's presence in the Chamber. Local government reform is something I feel very strongly about, having served on a council for almost 12 years. It was always a matter of great frustration that so much power was in the hands of unelected people. There are some positives in this Bill. There are some things that could be improved on but it is really important that we...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: I am due to speak on the Local Government Bill in the Chamber. I have one question about discretionary medical cards. I note that approximately 5.5% of medical cards are awarded on a discretionary basis. Mr. O'Brien gave some explanation as to how the HSE decides on discretionary cards. This issue was raised at my party's parliamentary party meeting and there was considerable anger...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: Is it possible to provide a timescale?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: I ask Mr. Hennessy to send me a note, please, because it would be useful for clarification. I also ask Mr. Burke to send me a note about the central office.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: These frustrations are expressed by Deputies and I can imagine it is much more difficult for ordinary members of the public. I ask if the HSE would try to allow for a situation where one can deal with the same person about the same case - I do not mean always dealing with that person for all cases.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: I am talking about difficult cases.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards (14 Nov 2013)

Robert Dowds: If Mr. Burke accepts the point, does that mean he will ensure that one can talk to the same person about the same difficult case?