Results 241-260 of 28,135 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Regardless of the Deputy’s own views, and she has taken a position on the ring road, one could discuss the delays and why it has taken so long. People have had their say and there are judicial reviews. That is the planning process. The Deputy mentioned the Department’s own study and the reality that, even if that road was built, it would be under pressure but Galway - the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I explained in my initial answer that the light rail feasibility study, as the Deputy knows, had been published. What I am trying to say is how all of that knits together. The road is an important part of it. A simple question that I could ask in countering what the Deputy said, and respecting the position she is taking, is whether the traffic situation in Galway would be better with an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: To be fair, the contract was only awarded in August 2024, so that is how long we have been waiting. It is now the end of September 2025. I met the chief executive who came to my offices in Leeson Lane. I put to him the very point the Deputy put about the national train control centre. There are many reasons for that overrun, but it will deliver a state-of-the-art centre. Having said...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The NTA has a lot under its remit. I have confidence it will deliver it. I have met the programme manager and have asked many of the questions the Deputy just put. That is my job and I should do so. It is a significant investment on the part of the Exchequer. It will make a big difference to commuters. I mentioned earlier in responses to colleagues in the House the significant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 119 together. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na gceisteanna tábhachtacha. Aontaím léi faoi chathair na Gaillimhe. The National Transport Authority is currently developing the Galway metropolitan area transport strategy in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council. It will replace the existing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question, which follows on very much from the question asked by his party's spokesperson. The Deputy will be aware that transport was one of the four prioritised areas for investment under this NDP review and we secured a core allocation of €22.3 billion across the next five years, with a further €2 billion allocated from the Infrastructure, Climate...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. He is advocating strongly for his own area and I believe he would agree that while a lot of progress has been made in the past five or ten years on infrastructural investment and infrastructure full stop, as our population - thankfully - continues to grow and as our economy thankfully is still in full employment because of the hard work of our people and the economic and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Development Plan (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: To ensure balanced regional development, the national planning framework will guide that and the NDP itself. As for the commitments we have made in the programme for Government, the two parties and the Independents came together to ensure and commit to a balanced regional development and we will ensure that it happens. This morning, I met the incoming new chief executive of Iarnród...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Boland. Like the Deputy, I am eager to see next generation ticketing rolled out on the Irish public transport system. This will be across the whole Twenty-six Counties, across our whole transport system, that is, rail, bus and Luas. I look forward to seeing its introduction as part of BusConnects Dublin before ultimately being delivered across the entire public transport...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Last year we saw the highest number of public transport passenger journeys that we had ever seen. There were about 330 million passenger journeys. The good news is that in the month of August we were up about 10.5% on the comparable month last year. We want to maintain a sustainable and affordable public transport system. I advise the Deputy not to believe everything he reads in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I never turned my back on Donegal.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an cheist seo a ardú, ach níl sé ceart faoi ar chor ar bith. He is not correct at all in his assertion. We have the largest ever national development plan, with €105 billion of investment between now and the end of the decade, and €245 billion-plus in total. Those are the facts. Now it is about delivery and we are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Development (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Capital has been secured through the NDP. It is a fully funded multi-annual plan. In the coming weeks, each Department, including my own, will publish departmental NDP plans setting out specific projects. I could stand here for the next two hours listing the projects that are under way but I will give only a couple of examples. Phase 1 of the Cork area commuter rail programme is scheduled...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question on this important matter. As I have previously outlined to the House, the Chicago Convention of 1944 is the main international treaty governing the operation of international civil aviation. Article 35 of this convention provides that no civil aircraft may carry munitions of war in the sovereign territory of a state without that state’s permission....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I take the Deputy's question and statement in the manner in which it has been raised. The allegations, though, that any arms or weapons are going from Ireland to Israel are just wholly incorrect. Irish law is clear. On the examination of the draft report, we have sought legal advice. There is extensive documentation. I do not want to hide any of that but I need to allow it to be assessed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland has led in Europe in that regard. There are others who wish to state otherwise - not the Deputy but others - purely for political points. This situation is far too serious for that.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Where complaints and allegations are made about the illegal transfer of either munitions, parts of munitions or dual goods, items that could be used for military use, that is taken very seriously. We have a process that is long-standing in Irish law. Our legislation is very clear in that regard, with domestic orders going all the way back to 1973 and reaffirmed in 1989. I take the...

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Second Stage (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for their contributions here this evening. They were all constructive. Deputy Whitmore raised specific issues and made suggestions, as did Deputies Ahern, Cronin and others. Charges were made about certain things but I will leave them for a more general debate. I welcome the broad support for the Bill. I assure Deputies that as we move to Committee Stage we will...

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025: Referral to Select Committee (30 Sep 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy pursuant to Standing Orders 103(2)(b) and 188(1).