Results 1,921-1,940 of 3,222 for speaker:James O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: I thank Ms Graham. I want to finish up with one very important question for Dublin Bus. Is Ms Keane concerned about the current method of security provision on bus services in the context of antisocial behaviour? Does she feel this could be improved upon by way of Garda operations? My Fianna Fáil colleagues are very much stressing the requirement for a Garda division to police public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: Just to clarify, it is whether Dublin Bus has concerns at the moment. It has a private security team that is providing a lot of the security services on public transport in Ireland. Does Ms Keane think that is sufficient? Is Dublin Bus concerned?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: Where they occur, the issue lies with the power of arrest. That is the concern which many people have.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: There are a number of issues with PSO routes. It would not be appropriate for me to discuss them in detail today. I will, however, correspond with the NTA in respect of them, particularly those outside the greater Dublin area. My next question is for both delegations. I am someone who lives down the country yet travels to Dublin to do my work and job, which is a story that is very...

Energy Security: Statements (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: They would probably talk more sense than some of us Members.

Energy Security: Statements (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I have competition for the position of baby of the House this evening. I welcome Deputy Whitmore's family and their friend to the House. It is fantastic to see young people having an interest in politics. I welcome the Minister back to the House. Obviously, he was undertaking important Government business elsewhere. We are here to discuss the extremely serious issue of Ireland's...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I welcome the officials before the Committee of Public Accounts. I want to open with expenditure for foster care in Ireland. In this current budget, we saw a failure from the Department's side to negotiate an additional allocation of funding. I want to get an overall profile of how much has been spent on the foster care allowance and the individual breakdown, essentially just to develop an...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: How many people does that support? I just want to get a sense of the information.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: In terms of the payment support that goes to foster parents in this country, I understand the issue is that this has not been changed since the mid-2000s.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Yes. It is a concern that has not been addressed when we are looking at the situation around inflation,

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I am curious about this. It is one of those few payments that really has been untouched over such a long space of time. Is there a rationale behind that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: We hear that loud and clear. I thank Mr. Gloster for the information; it is very helpful. The next issue I wish to raise is much more serious. The State is under enormous pressure around dealing with the war in Ukraine and also around the current ongoing situation with inbound migration. It is something that is extremely difficult for the Government to manage. Of course, it falls under...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: We are obviously having an in-depth look at 2021 in addition to the ongoing circumstances at the moment. In 2021, prior to the war in Ukraine, was there a projected increase in this area from the Department? Was it expecting a huge increase in the amount of inbound migration when it came to people who would be accessing the direct provision system in Ireland?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: There has been considerable discussion about targets or putting caps and limits in place. I am not expressing a view but I am trying to get a better insight for the public in this area. Is the Department reaching a tipping point when it comes to what it will be able to handle? I hear, off the record, from people who are working with local authorities that they are at breaking point when it...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: We would want to be very careful because I have very limited time. I am sure he can see the clock behind me winding down. I asked a very clear question. Does Mr. McCarthy have concerns about the rate the numbers are growing? I know we have international obligations. I do not think any of us in elected office, to be fair to us, is trying to step away from those obligations but...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Mr. McCarthy is not answering my question. He is either concerned or he is not. I would prefer to get an answer from him.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Okay. This is going-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I do not think-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I am very sorry-----