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Thursday 23 March 2023 Dublin: 10°C

# Fergus O'Dowd

Last year
2022
# Cost of Living
Govt won't be dropping motorway tolls as part of its plan to tackle the cost-of-living surge
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says he is not a fan of tolls but they do help pay for road infrastructure.
A spokesperson for Minister Eamon Ryan has confirmed that there are no plans to reduce toll charges despite commuters facing crippling price hikes in fuel, reports Christina Finn.
Some in Govt circles say they are open to looking at reducing toll charges, but fear that such a proposal would not get past the Greens.
One Fine Gael TD says he is in favour of a toll reduction, saying it would help motorists that are under pressure.
No 'magic money tree' to help with fuel costs, says minister as pump prices jump above €2 a litre
Telling people to tighten their belts shows Govt is 'out of touch' on cost of living, says SF
# Covid-19
'Old age matters': TD calls for public inquiry into nursing home deaths during Covid
Many people who died in nursing homes were not properly looked after, TD Fergus O’Dowd told the Dáil.
All time
# Drogheda
Educate Together raises concerns with department amid parents' dismay over plans to move school
Labour TD Ged Nash told the Daíl this week that the planned move was a “ridiculous, wrong-headed decision [that] needs to be overturned”.
# GIVE THEM A LEAS
Independent TD Catherine Connolly elected Leas-Cheann Comhairle in shock defeat for Government
Connolly defeated Government-backed Fergus O’Dowd 77 votes to 74.
# New Job
Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd nominated for the Leas Ceann Comhairle job
The Louth TD said he is delighted to be nominated.
# it's on
'No big surprise if the Dáil doesn't return next week': Campaigning well under way as FG target FF housing policy
Fine Gael general election candidates have been given a document targeting Fianna Fáil’s housing policy.
# crisis
Uefa bailout FAI's only remaining hope, says Chair of Oireachtas Sport Committee
The football body are in a mess, and they can’t rely on the State to bail them out.
# full disclosure
'This smacks of the old FAI' - Former chief executive calls for transparency in Delaney deal
Fran Rooney says questions need to be answered in relation to John Delaney’s departure over the weekend.
# John Delaney
Details of payout to John Delaney must be disclosed by FAI, says Oireachtas Sports Committee chairman
Delaney’s resignation was announced by the FAI at 11.15pm on Saturday night.
# swing-gate
Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd says Maria Bailey should not stand for the party in the next election
The Louth TD said people were concerned about Bailey’s abandoned case against the Dean Hotel.
# Fall-out
Chair of Oireachtas Committee calls for entire FAI board to resign
Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd believes a ‘full forensic audit’ of the association’s finances is necessary.
# Cherry Orchard
Pensioner being restricted from visiting his wife in her care home is 'shameful', says FG TD
The HSE is yet to contact the family featured in the programme, says Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd.
# ticket problems
Pat Hickey's lawyers asked Oireachtas committee to not discuss Rio Olympics
Minister for Sport Shane Ross has said Irish athletes were treated ‘shambolically’ in terms of ticket allocation.
# Double Down
Poll: Would a double property tax for vacant houses help ease the housing crisis?
A report in today’s Sunday Business Post suggests that a Fine Gael motion on such a tax is unlikely to be challenged by Fianna Fáil.
# Brothers up in arms
A Fine Gael TD is being challenged by his own brother
Michael O’Dowd is running for Renua against his brother, former minister Fergus O’Dowd.
# internal affairs
Did Fine Gael shaft women in Louth last night?
The party insisted today it was “strongly committed” to increasing the number of female TDs in the next Dáil.
# U-turn
This Fine Gael TD WILL contest the next election after all
His change of heart is thought to have come on foot of conversations with senior party figures including the Taoiseach Enda Kenny earlier this week.
# He's out
Why is this Fine Gael TD NOT running for re-election?
Peter Fitzpatrick has told party members in Louth he will not be seeking their nomination.
# Abuse
Fine Gael hopeful told to 'get the queers to vote for you'
Councillor Sharon Tolan received the anonymous message yesterday morning.
The people behind the new 'east coast' tourism drive left Louth off their map
A Louth TD was unhappy at the county being left off the map for ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’.
# concerns
Former minister who set up Irish Water says 'forces' at work to privatise company
Fergus O’Dowd is calling for a referendum to be held next year.
# Stay or Go?
The sacked minister who helped set up Irish Water thinks John Tierney should go
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said he wants to ensure that water charges are ‘affordable’.
# Allowances
Here's what Irish Water say they'll do with your PPS number
Want to keep your 30,000 litre allowance? Irish Water will need to keep your PPS number indefinitely.
# Water Charges
Irish Water: 'It's simply not a bonus culture'
Performance-related awards are not bonuses, an Irish Water spokesperson has said.
# who said no?
Fergus O'Dowd just got Paxman-ed on Morning Ireland
The former junior minister launched a fierce attack on the Government in a newspaper this morning, saying Irish Water had become an “unmitigated disaster”.
# Dáil talk
State of the Nation: Sacked minister's blistering parting shot over "failed" Irish Water
Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Irish politics right now…
# Funding Cuts
'Left high and dry': TDs call for Deaf advocacy service to be re-opened
Some 5,000 people have been affected by the closure of the Irish Deaf Society’s National Advocacy Service.
# pro light
People warned that tall trees may cause 'distress' to neighbours
Terence Flanagan said that planning laws needed to be updated to include tree height.
# Election 2014
Ballot papers in May's elections will be 'unfair and misleading'
Legislation means Independent TDs must list themselves as ‘non-party’ or else leave a blank space.
# Friday sitting
Minister nominated for 'brass neck of the year' as TDs row about Seanad reform
Fianna Fáil’s proposal to overhaul the upper house will be opposed by the government.
# Penalty Points
Minister: Garda whistleblowers should have their reputations reinstated
Fergus O’Dowd said he stood over his comments that “the whistleblowers did a fantastic job”.
# Prison
Mandatory treatment for sex offenders "not a realistic option"
Minister O’Dowd confirmed this evening that participation in these programmes must be voluntary.
# More Water
"This government is shrouding itself in secrecy," - Fianna Fáil hit out at Irish Water controversy
The Oireachtas heard a lot more about Irish Water today, with the Dáil and Public Accounts Committee both sitting into the evening.
# Irish Water
"You can't create Irish Water out of thin air" - O'Dowd
Fergus O’Dowd said that the €50 million spend at Irish Water will be scrutinised, but was forced to defend the agency’s exemption from Freedom of Information requests.
# Ming's challenge
Watch: Ming Flanagan challenges Minister to drink glass of 'glorified piss' (water)
The independent TD could be in trouble with Dáil authorities after an outburst in the chamber this morning.
# Dáil Reform
Absent TDs and unanswered questions leave Micheál Martin criticising Dáil reforms
Changes to the question time have been criticised but the government chief whip has defended the new format following near-farcical scenes in the chamber on Thursday.
# Bondholders
Government criticised for poor turnout at ‘burn the bondholders’ debate
Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd was the highest profile Government representative present as they were asked to request a debt writedown by Independent TDs
# Garryhinch
New restrictions prompt calls for water project in Laois to be fast-tracked
The Garryhinch Water Project has been long mooted as an alternative and sustainable water supply for the Greater Dublin area.
# local government
Council of Europe report criticises power of local government in Ireland
The European Council report says that Ireland has improved, but needs to devolve more power to local authorities.
# Catherine Murphy
"James Reilly is a reforming minister" says ministerial colleague
Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd defends James Reilly’s handling of Health – and despite reports of €1 billion of total cuts, says some areas are improving.