Results 121-140 of 18,510 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Dr. Farry is the next speaker. I remind people of what we agreed at the beginning. Dr. Farry will be followed by Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Fine Gael. That is just the way the order fell today. Dr. Farry is very welcome.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will now move back Sinn Féin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: We will go back to her when she comes in. We will take Ms Hanna, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am very kind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I congratulate Senator Blaney on his nomination in the European elections. There are a lot of Donegal natives in Drogheda and some of them are very nice people, although not all of them. I am joking. There is one person in particular and I recall our conversation 20 years ago. However, there are a lot of people there and that is a hint to him if he wants to use it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I simply make the point that I support everything the Senator has said. The one point I would like to make is that the problem of trains being late on the Northern line has to do with congestion in the Dublin area. The capacity is not there to take the increased number of trains that everyone is talking about without building new access, namely, a third line into the city. That is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: ----- but Irish Rail has a lot to do. I know it has plans, that is part of the issue but the future is what Ms Deane is saying, namely, greater connectivity. On that point, to go back to the national strategy planning, is the Drogheda, Dundalk and Newry linked cities. I do not know where you are on that. I know it is essentially a local government issue in one sense but how much a part of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Does any member or witness which to say anything on this matter?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: While I understand what Mr. Duffy is saying, the issue is around the linear cities and that is a critical part. It was an overview, obviously. In the joined-up thinking between local authorities and Departments in the North and in the South, who has the hands-on role? Can the unit give the committee a briefing and an update on this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand that it is aspirational but there is huge growth on the Belfast to Dublin corridor. Senator McGahon and I live on that economic corridor. I know there is criticism that there is too much investment but that is now being addressed with the A5 road and so forth. I wish to say that, since the Good Friday Agreement, the witnesses' unit and their Department are making a significant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is a huge issue. It is a health issue. The Deputy is absolutely right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (7 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Ms Hanna very much. We will go back to Sinn Féin. I kept Deputy Conway-Walsh's slot for her.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (6 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 109. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide a full progress report on the draft wind energy guidelines considering the significant number of applications that continue to be submitted despite the use of outdated guidelines; the expected timeframe for publication of finalised deadlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10873/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Funding (6 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 194. To ask the Minister for Health to respond to concerns raised (details attached); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10840/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (5 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 405. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to seek updates from both Louth and Meath county councils on projected affordable housing units that are schedule or in the pipeline for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10238/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 592. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the date that the contract to provide accommodation for international applicants in a hotel (details supplied) was signed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10606/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 593. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a break clause in the contract between his Department and a hotel (details supplied); if so, the notice period for the break clause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10607/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 594. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a cooling off period applied to the contract between the Department and a hotel (details supplied) in Drogheda; if so, the associated cooling off dates that were included in the agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10608/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (5 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 600. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will seek an update from IPAS on the total number of beds nationwide that have been offered to IPAS as ready with certification by a competent person in place, but have yet to be taken up by persons seeking international protection and are awaiting a further inspection and sign off by the fire officer;...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (5 Mar 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: 611. To ask the Minister for Health to respond to follow up concerns in respect of mastectomy supports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9935/24]