Results 5,361-5,380 of 6,887 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Cybersecurity Strategy: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: May I-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I thank Mr. Walsh and Ms Graham for appearing before us. I think Mr. Walsh spoke about the sanctity of the planning process. This is not the first time there has been interaction regarding the significant difficulties in the planning process. Obviously, we have the Attorney General's review at this point in time. What is the roadmap for the witnesses in respect of that? Have they made a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Therefore, TII is engaged with the Taoiseach's office and in fairness, is making submissions. I accept that. Could we see that at some stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is fair enough. I hope there has been plenty of interaction. If we can get an update on that, I would appreciate it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We are discussing the national development plan. The Minister has previously attended this committee. When people asked about "X", "Y" and "Z" project before the national development plan was published - not that anyone would ever think in a very localised fashion in this committee - he told us that there will be a significant number of projects and spoke about what was almost a system of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: The business end is the second half of the planning process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: The second half is also meant to be the business end in the context of carbon budgets and reductions for every sector. That creates difficulties and gives rise to further questions about what will be delivered, but what has been said has been said. I will move on very quickly to the strategic rail review. Again, there is a reiteration of the promise of electrification of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: No. I meant in the context of the NDP. Is that a question for Ms Graham?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I accept that. In fairness, the promise is for 2027. Can I rely on that as a possible date? Is there is any possibility of it being moved forward? The electrification of new stock is absolutely necessary due to carbon emissions, etc. It also makes it a more viable service between Dublin and Belfast and it is vital to my bailiwick.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I accept that. I am taking the 2027 date straight from the NDP and promises made in it previously. I will raise something Ms Graham said the other day when she spoke about hubs, BusConnects, etc. Somebody asked about Cavan and referred to the fact that more services would be put on to facilitate Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT. That level of planning for the likes of DkIT, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Ms Graham gave a comprehensive answer to the Chair regarding ticketing and so forth. I will revisit the idea of changed circumstances, post pandemic, as regards weekly ticketing and all that. I know there has been some element of over and back in respect of this issue, which Ms Graham and other stakeholders have been involved in. Where are we on a saver-type ticket that might operate on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Does Ms Graham have a rough timeline for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is fair enough.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I accept all the caveats and all the rest of it. I accept this issue partly relates to the shared island unit, but is there anybody present who has any level of responsibility for or engagement in respect of the Narrow Water bridge project?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Does TII have any involvement with it? I imagine that it will be a road across the Border and the project is being dealt with through the shared island unit. There have been promises for delivery in 2023, but does TII have any engagement on it, at this point?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I accept that. In fairness, it seems to be moving in the right direction. Like everything, there is an element of doubting Thomas and seeing is believing. That is just what we want to see. Ardee bypass was mentioned. As time drifts on, there is sometimes an element of the difficulty of changed circumstances. We probably need to look more at an element of flexibility in respect of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I want to ask about determining new routes and ensuring there is sufficient capacity and enough runs to make it viable for a person to use the service. The example that always comes to mind is how Bus Éireann lost out years ago with the Dundalk to Dublin service. It did not put on enough direct routes. When the M1 was properly upgraded and was a single run, Matthews Coaches basically...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I accept that. I am just using it particular example.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is fair enough. Over the years, the Luas has been a real success story. We would all like to have an underground or a metro. In the short term it is a case of ensuring we put on a sufficient number of services in the city and where it matters, if we are talking about connectivity with the airport and everything. Sometimes people can believe it is too difficult. People say they would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: The hub connectivity and all that.