Results 901-920 of 2,988 for speaker:James O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

James O'Connor: I welcome the officials who have come before the committee and thank them for their ongoing engagement over the past two years since the general election. The bypass issue was a bit of hot topic for me. To start out on a positive note, it is good to see the progress that has been made on Dunkettle and on the Macroom-Ballyvourney bypass. It is transformative for connectivity in the south...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

James O'Connor: Is it the case that construction-related inflation has caused issues for those projects or is it just the lack of provision in the budget?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

James O'Connor: Here is the killer question. What is the figure the Department will need to carry out those works? For all of us here, they are all of concern. I will be parochial and refer to my constituency. Ms Brogan has referred to one project from Carrigtwohill to Midleton. What can the committee do to assist the Department in getting a full understanding of the finance it will need to carry out...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

James O'Connor: The work undertaken by TII is quite positive. Mr. Peter Walsh and I have had our issues, a lot of them in the public domain, in these Houses in particular. TII has had very few issues with cost overruns. The projects undertaken have come in on budget. From the committee's point of view, today is really a listening exercise to hear from the Department what we can do to help to attract the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

James O'Connor: When it comes to the securing of funds, the Department of Transport presents its plans to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and it has to consider what finances are available.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

James O'Connor: Has the Department a percentile in terms of how many of its projects are secured over the next four and five years? What can it complete? That is a fair question that can be answered. What can the Department undertake in the next four or five years in its existing plan without funding certainty becoming an issue? Ms Brogan has listed the six schemes that are not problematic, but what new...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

James O'Connor: I wish to make a general point, and it is important to say it. I compliment the capital works in aviation that have been done in 2022 and last year. It was astonishing what the Department, working with the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, was able to achieve with the new runway being built in Cork Airport in record time and on budget. It is fantastic to see that. I compliment the staff at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

James O'Connor: I appreciate that.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works (4 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 160. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works has any heritage ships or boats under the maintenance or ownership of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21970/22]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authorities (4 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 190. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if any local authority in Ireland has any heritage ships or boats under the ownership of the State; and if a list of such vessels will be provided. [21971/22]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Agreements (4 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 376. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if any work visas are currently available for Ukrainian migrants travelling to Ireland from other European Union countries. [21849/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regulatory Bodies (5 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 13. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the establishment of the media commission, including recruitment of staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22110/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regulatory Bodies (5 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I wish to ask about the work the Government is undertaking on the establishment of the media commission, including the recruitment of staff. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could give the House some information on this important topic.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regulatory Bodies (5 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State for his informed response. I welcome that the legislation will provide for the establishment of a multi-person media commission. It is important that we realise we are living in an extraordinarily different time in terms of how people consume media and information. It is timely and perhaps a little bit behind time that the State is starting a body of work in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regulatory Bodies (5 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I appreciate the responses the Minister of State has given me today and the reassurance that this work is being undertaken by the Minister and the Department. I thank the Minister of State for his ongoing engagement. He has referred many times to the sports capital grant programme. We all look forward to those appeals being finalised. I look forward to further discussion with him in that...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Events (5 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 32. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the development of a Major International Sports Events Policy for Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22109/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Reform of Public Works Contracts for the Construction of Transport Infrastructure: Discussion (27 Apr 2022)

James O'Connor: I apologise for interrupting Ms Brogan. Will she list those six schemes so we are aware of them? For the full understanding of this, it would be important.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Finance
2020 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2020
Chapter 16 - Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Audited Financial Statements of the Exchequer for 2020 (5 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I confirm I am in the precincts of Leinster House. I thank our witnesses for appearing before the committee. Recognising the importance of the Department of Finance, in particular, to the economy, I acknowledge that extraordinarily difficult work has been done by so many civil servants working on this brief trying to keep businesses and the economy afloat during Covid. Credit is due in...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 7 - Finance
2020 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 1 - Exchequer Financial Outturn for 2020
Chapter 16 - Ireland Apple Escrow Fund
Audited Financial Statements of the Exchequer for 2020 (5 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I suppose Mr. Hogan understands the luxury of time is not necessarily a commodity I have in great supply and I have to cut Mr. Hogan off. We are in a situation where we know that, in 2020, the NTMA and the Department of Finance were involved in the procurement of approximately €26 billion in borrowing. We are now facing into very uncertain economic times with the war in Ukraine which...