Results 3,701-3,720 of 6,823 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

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

Darren O'Rourke: Those are not new, are they?

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

Darren O'Rourke: They are not new for Christmas, however.

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

Darren O'Rourke: Are people aware of them? Are they well used? Could they be used better?

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

Darren O'Rourke: The shortage of taxis is really becoming a prominent issue and we are not yet really into the busiest time, which will probably be this weekend.

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

Darren O'Rourke: We can come back to it later but it would be appropriate to examine the nature of the taxi service and industry. Measures were taken during the year, including changes in tariffs and extending the ten-year rule. It is important to keep the system under review to see how those incentives are working and responding.

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

Darren O'Rourke: Does the NTA monitor that? Does it know how many taxi drivers are out on Saturday night?

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

Darren O'Rourke: What about the busy or high-demand times?

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

Darren O'Rourke: Is that surveys and so on?

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

Darren O'Rourke: The final issue is the planned expansion of public bus services next year. We hear the recruitment challenges are being addressed to a significant degree. Where does it leave the NTA's plans for the expansion of BusConnects? The opening statement referred to reducing some service frequency in response to the driver shortage and the delay of introduction of phases of the BusConnects network...

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

Darren O'Rourke: The NTA's opening statement identified a new pattern with a stronger rebound in public transport use. I presume that is linked to the lower fares, and I told the Minister previously that is useful evidence for the affordability of public transport and its use, but also increased congestion. Is that the result of an increased population and more people on the move anyway? They seem a bit...

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

Darren O'Rourke: I suppose reducing the fares is a giant experiment. The NTA is tracking all of that and it will inform future policy and expansion and where it goes. I presume the case the NTA makes to the Government relates to our climate obligations, the modal shift and the number of people in different age brackets that we want to get into public and active travel.

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

Darren O'Rourke: However, the NTA would like to see them maintained at the current level. The commitment is only until the end of next year.

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

Darren O'Rourke: When the NTA came before the committee previously, Ms Graham spoke about potentially going with a proposal to the Government in this regard before the end of the year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I apologise that I missed the start of the meeting. I was caught in the Chamber. There is a chance I will go over old ground but I would appreciate if the witnesses would touch on their earlier comments and expand on them. My first question relates to their sense of Dublin Airport's readiness for Christmas. What is Aer Lingus's expected traffic for Christmas 2022 relative to Christmas...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: That is short haul. I suppose the numbers for long haul are smaller.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The DAA says it is are working on the basis of comparable figures with 2019 in its engagement with Aer Lingus and other airlines. Aer Lingus is probably as familiar as we are with its plans for Christmas. Is Aer Lingus content and satisfied that things are in hand and will run smoothly?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. O'Neill for that. From the opening statement, I note the piece on sustainability, some agreements Aer Lingus has on the west coast of the US and some planned operations in the North. Will the witnesses give a sense of that environment, the incentives, why the company has to go to the west coast of the United States to secure contracts like that and what it might take to improve...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: On the type of engagement, what gives rise to that type of study and that partnership in other jurisdictions from a commercial innovation perspective? Is Aer Lingus driving it? Are other jurisdictions driving it? Is the Government driving it or the department in the North? That is the kind of thing I am interested in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The Dublin Airport capital programme is important to Aer Lingus in respect of its hub operation. Is it satisfied with the capital programme and, more important, with the schedule of delivery? I guess from the perspective of the DAA, there is a particular funding model and assessment of risk. Is there a need for review of that or is Aer Lingus content with the pace and plan of development...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: What does Mr. Moriarty think that is related to? If we were to talk to the DAA before this committee, would it point towards constraints it has to live within in terms of regulation or in terms of some of the planning system, as he pointed to. That is fair enough, but there is this issue of authority's funding and how it assesses risk.