Results 23,021-23,040 of 26,163 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister would want to show evidence for that. I have never seen it. All I know is that the NTA basically said it wanted to see the route, as did the people of Limerick. The Minister made a unilateral decision with which I fundamentally disagree. It is unparalleled for a Minister to have made such a direction to the NTA.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does the Coonagh–Knockalisheen road not have a bus lane? It does. We will agree to differ on this matter. I have a view on it as a public representative for Limerick. Will the annual road allocations of TII, normally made towards the end of December, go ahead this year? There was over €600 million last year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Will there be an announcement on the roads budget before Christmas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is the Minister saying he might not make the announcement on the roads budget until the new year, or 2023?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: That means local authorities throughout Ireland, which normally get their allocation before Christmas, may not get it this year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I ask that the Minister make the allocation before Christmas. That has been the tradition for as long as I can remember, so the local authorities can get on with their work. If this drags on into the new year, it can cause a huge degree of uncertainty at ground level. I ask the Minister to bear that in mind.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: No one is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Even with climate change, roads will still be a feature. We cannot get rid of every car from the roads overnight. That is not going to happen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I ask for common sense in this regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Rather than doing something at a dead point now, the Minister would be better off bringing people with him. I ask him to announce the roads budget before Christmas to give certainty the length and breadth of Ireland. I call Deputy Ó Murchú.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Finally, on the emissions trading system, ETS, tax, Ryanair representatives appeared before the committee. Is that system being used to promote sustainable fuels in that area in the aviation sector?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is it something that the Minister has considered? Am I correct that it is €140 million?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is it something that the Minister would consider on the basis of promoting the use of sustainable fuels? At this stage, most people agree on the main points. We all may differ on how to get there but everyone agrees we must move towards carbon-free fuels. Is it an area that the Minister would consider putting money into?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is it something the Minister is open to?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Minister. I am conscious of time for both himself and the Minister of State. We will continue our deliberations. It is something the Minister and the Minister of State will be interested in. We look forward to the review of the State airports programme and then feeding into the national airports strategy. I thank the Minister and Minister of State and their officials for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Deputy Higgins will be substituting for Deputy Carey and Senator Seery Kearney will substitute for Senator Buttimer. The purpose of today's meeting is for the joint committee to resume our discussion of the provision of bus services in Dublin. We are joined once again by representatives from the National Transport Authority, NTA, Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland. I do not know which is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I call on Mr. Hann to make his opening statement on behalf of Dublin Bus.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. Hann. We will now hear from Mr. Edwards on behalf of Go-Ahead Ireland. I must highlight that we may have to suspend the meeting for a short period if a vote is called in the Dáil. I would ask the witnesses to bear patience with us if that happens.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: First on the rota to speak is Deputy Cathal Crowe who is substituting for his colleague, Senator Gerry Horkan. The Deputy has ten minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Why?