Results 3,401-3,420 of 24,555 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: The council's representatives have spoken about an issue with regard to training drivers and young people. Is the cost of obtaining a licence prohibitive? Has the council spoken to the Minister, Deputy Harris, or the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, who are in charge of the Department responsible for higher education and apprenticeships?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: In respect of the funding piece, what would the cost to the State be? I apologise because I know Mr. Conway may have mentioned it already. How serious is the issue of pay and conditions with regard to retention and recruitment of drivers?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes. If the council's wish list were enacted by the Government, what would the import of that cost be to the State?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes. I again apologise, because I had another meeting in parallel with this, but the issue of the excise reduction on petrol and diesel was referred to on page 2 of the council's presentation. Will Mr. Conway elaborate on that? Other members may have asked him because he said he was keen to discuss it further with them. I am not sure whether he did so but, if he did not I ask that he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I have a ridiculously stupid question. Are we light years away from operation of electric buses or a sustainable model in Mr. Conway's industry? I ask out of curiosity.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I know Dublin Bus has it but I am talking about the coach-hire industry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Mr. David O'Brien of Cork Coach Hire who has been in constant contact with me for his advocacy on behalf of the industry. I also thank the representatives for being here today and for what they are doing. I apologise for being in and out. The evidence we have had today is important and the representatives provide a considerable service both to the State and many sporting and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: The Chair cannot even say St. Munchin's College.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: That is a very good point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Why is that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I welcome Mr. Brady and Ms Hughes to the meeting. The proposal to lower speed limits by 10 km/h, if I read TII's document right, would result in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 0.7%. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: From that, then, TII states that a reduction in the speed limits on national roads and motorways would have a limited impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: The piece I cannot understand - I apologise for missing it - is that the potential for road deaths and accidents would increase. Will the witnesses explain that further?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I apologise. How many additional deaths per year could that scenario result in?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: If we were to implement reduced speed limits as per the report, there would be an economic impact. Did I see somewhere that the impact would be a loss of €3.8 billion?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Yes. I thought I saw it in the report. I could be wrong.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: As for the Macroom bypass, has TII reached a conclusion with the contractor in the form of an agreement to open the project early?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I am concerned. If the Macroom bypass is to open early in the context of a vanity project by a certain date - I will be careful in what I say, a Chathaoirligh - and if there is no agreement with the contractor, what is the impact of that on TII? Second, what is the impact of it from a safety point of view in the context of the assessment, in particular around the entire development of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I will not put the witnesses on the spot or create a row in the context of the additional budgetary costs. I ask and propose, however, that we invite in the relevant section of TII as soon as possible to discuss the issues in this regard. In the report there is a section on speed cameras and consultation involving Garda checkpoints or speed checks. Is that within TII's remit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: May I ask two further questions? Let me put everything in context. I am a strong supporter of the road safety strategy and having speed checks on roads. Members will have heard me make reference to two points at a number of meetings. I do not understand the rationale for why there is a speed van as you head eastbound into the Jack Lynch tunnel in Cork. The second issue is in coming out of...