Results 1,701-1,720 of 2,988 for speaker:James O'Connor

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: I am sorry, I am not. I am just-----

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: I am at a critical point in my questioning and I need to clarify what I was saying, because it is a strong statement I made. That is the perception of what the public and the media see with what is going on here today. It is mystifying why the governing authority cannot be given the full report. It suggests, and I am open to correction if I am wrong, that it would put a legal onus on the...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: Is there a rationale for that legal advice?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: I appreciate that.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: We might just leave it there because time is limited. To get back to my original point to Professor Mey, this will continue to snowball until someone in the university takes a decision to deal with it. It is not going away. We are not going away. So why will Professor Mey not just give the governing authority the report?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: I genuinely do not think she has.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: Ultimately, whose decision is it? Is it the president's?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: No.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: Who makes the decision?

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: She does. You could not make it up. If it was not so serious it would be laughable. That is the point. I genuinely cannot accept that, and nobody here should.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: It reminds me of that scene from "The Simpsons" and the mystery box. That is the problem.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: I am seeing this from a PR point of view, and for the reputation of the university. UL is a fine university and a fantastic centre of education. However, from a governance perspective, the harm and damage the university is doing by following this course of action is doing incredible reputational damage to UL, and to the good people in there too.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: Maybe that will be the outcome. It will have to go to court. The Chair cannot interrupt me here because my point is lost. It is a very important point.

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2021: University of Limerick (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: I understand sub judice. Is that the general direction of travel on this issue? I do not know. I have not seen it, and nor has anyone here. The point I am making is that if that is where it is going to go, that is where it is going to go. Sitting on it, which is the point we are all making, means that it will roll on and on. Now, my time is up unfortunately. Somebody else might take...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Sectoral Emissions Ceiling: Minister for Transport (17 May 2023)

James O'Connor: It is good to have the Minister with us for this discussion. I want to make a number of points. We have been in government since July 2020. Since the Minister has held his portfolio, and this is not a reflection on him but on the system we all have to deal with, not a single kilometre of new rail line has been laid in the country. This is a reflection of the chaotic planning system we...

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: Next is Deputy Durkan.

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: No. Under the running order, we had a Sinn Féin slot, a Rural Independent Group slot for ten minutes and then another Government slot, with Deputy Durkan being the next speaker. It will then be Deputy Pringle.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Sectoral Emissions Ceiling: Minister for Transport (17 May 2023)

James O'Connor: With the indulgence of the Cathaoirleach, I just want to make a suggestion concerning planning. I do not like throwing stones without giving solutions. There is a big habit here in the Oireachtas of doing this. Regarding An Bord Pleanála, and Ms Oonagh Buckley said she was open to this as well, when the board is being reformed, we must separate out the system where there is a key...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Sectoral Emissions Ceiling: Minister for Transport (17 May 2023)

James O'Connor: As I said, we have been in government for as long as we have been now and we must go back to the electorate to tell them we have delivered. At the moment, though, it is hard to see where the progress is. Congestion is getting worse. We are not delivering at the pace we need to rail and other public infrastructure. This was my two cent on the issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Sectoral Emissions Ceiling: Minister for Transport (17 May 2023)

James O'Connor: That is simply not true because there is a project in Mallow, the relief road, which is ready to go tomorrow and the Department will not allocate the funding. I ask the Minister to please refrain from making claims that he cannot stand over. As in Mallow, the same situation applies in Castlemartyr and the road I was promised there. I have been waiting for about four months for someone in...