Results 15,641-15,660 of 26,148 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Joint Committee (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Apologies have been received from Deputies Matthews, Lowry and O'Rourke. Deputy Verona Murphy is substituting for Deputy Lowry and Deputy Mythen is substituting for Deputy O'Rourke. I welcome also Senator Gerry Craughwell to the committee. He is very welcome on his first day. Perhaps our virtual witnesses could turn off their microphones because we are getting echoes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: The purpose of our first session is to discuss the impact of Brexit on haulage, freight, ports and ferry companies. On behalf of the committee, I particularly welcome Mr. Eugene Drennan, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, who is with us here, as is Mr. David McArdle, treasurer of the association. Mr. Kieran O'Callaghan, CEO, Mr. Damien Regan, operations director, Mr. Brian...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: We had initial correspondence from them yesterday to the effect that were not going to appear. I made direct calls to both Irish Ferries and Stena Line myself, as Chair, something I would not normally do, but I felt so strongly on this particular matter that I felt we had to put it on the record that we wanted all the ferry companies represented. DFDS, through Mr. Aidan Coffey, and Brittany...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is a matter the committee can explore. I thank Mr. Drennan. He will appreciate that we are tight for time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is another point we will explore in depth during the proceedings. I thank Mr. Drennan. I call Mr. O'Callaghan from Cargo Logistics to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. O'Callaghan. We will now hear from Mr. Coffey from DFDS. I am aware that he has no official statement. Given the timing, that is quite understandable. Could he give us an overview of the service he is bringing to Rosslare?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Mr. Drennan will have to report back.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: We will start with Mr. Coffey.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: What report?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: We will listen to the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: In that context, Mr. O'Callaghan, why Liège in terms of connectivity, particularly in the cargo system? It is predominantly coming through Heathrow to date, I presume.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: What does Liège offer for connectivity?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will return to Deputy Verona Murphy's point. You do not see this as a cost issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: However, it is not the only issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Perhaps you will come back to us with more in-depth proposals, Mr. O'Callaghan, on this area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Deputy might provide us with her correspondence and we will follow up in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: We will follow up on that with the Department. Stena Line has said it will come in in the new year. Irish Ferries did not give that commitment but I expect that it will.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Has the Deputy written to the Department already on this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: If there is a general aspect to legislation around that area, we as a committee certainly can write to the Department pointing out that fact without in any way passing comment on whether anything is happening in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Brexit on Haulage, Freight, the Ports and Ferry Companies: Discussion (16 Dec 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: The ferry companies are not here today. On the general trend of what is in the legislation, what the Deputy proposes is perfectly acceptable. We are just over two weeks away from 1 January. We are 15 days away, to be precise. We are in countdown. First, with the Irish Road Haulage Association, I want to get down to nitty-gritty. They might name the ports that they use. Am I correct...