Results 1,721-1,740 of 2,988 for speaker:James O'Connor

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

James O'Connor: With all due respect, it is piecemeal. When we, as backbenchers, go to the Minister or his Department to ask where our road project is, we are told there is no money. How in God's name can the Minister stand over that when we are running a €17 billion surplus?

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

James O'Connor: That is not enough.

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

James O'Connor: It is just not enough. The Dunkettle project alone will cost over €200 million. Can I say something else about road projects? People do not like to talk about successes in Irish public policy but road construction has been one of the real leaders when it comes to delivering projects on time and under budget. It happened on the Baile Bhairne to Macroom project and on the Dunkettle...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 21. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline the number from the Defence Forces who are currently on peacekeeping missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22893/23]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 45. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline his Department’s plans for the Defence Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22894/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she can provide an update on new school builds for 2023 and new school builds in the Cork East constituency; if she can provide an update on a specific school build (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22891/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (16 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she can provide the number of applications made for the school transport scheme within Cork county; if there is an increase in applications in the Cork East constituency, if her Department will increase the number of buses required to fulfil the number of applications; if her Department will consider raising the ceiling age of 70 years for...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Rental Sector (16 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 391. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to amend Part V rules to allow a tenant in situ to purchase their local authority property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22414/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Events (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 31. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will outline when the Public Consultation on Designation of Major Sporting Events will be completed; does she anticipate much additional sporting events to be added to the list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23659/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Policy (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 71. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department would engage with a local committee (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23658/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Provision (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 133. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how he is promoting innovation in social home delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23656/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 107. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government how many buyers have now been approved under the first home scheme; how many of these approved applications are from Cork county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23657/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (18 May 2023)

James O'Connor: 258. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will outline the funding programmes in relation to the Shared Island Unit that are under consideration to support the teaching of the Irish language in Northern Ireland. [13206/23]

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Local Government Fund Account 2021
2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 6: Central Government Funding of Local Authorities (1 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: I welcome all of the officials. It is important that we get a sense of what is going on. My first question relates to Mr. Doyle's pay increase. I am aware that this question was asked by one of my colleagues earlier, but I want to ask Mr. Doyle if he sought that pay increase or did somebody come to him offering it.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Local Government Fund Account 2021
2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 6: Central Government Funding of Local Authorities (1 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: What does Mr. Doyle currently get paid?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Local Government Fund Account 2021
2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 6: Central Government Funding of Local Authorities (1 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: What is that?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Local Government Fund Account 2021
2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 6: Central Government Funding of Local Authorities (1 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: Does Mr. Doyle think it is appropriate to seek a pay increase on that figure?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Local Government Fund Account 2021
2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 6: Central Government Funding of Local Authorities (1 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: That is approximately two and half times what a Deputy gets paid. It is a significant wage. I just want to get to the bottom of how that conversation started. This is the second Department in respect of which this issue has emerged. We, as elected representatives, need to get a sense of what on earth is going on. I will ask the question again. Did Mr. Doyle seek that pay increase?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Local Government Fund Account 2021
2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 6: Central Government Funding of Local Authorities (1 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: So somebody came to Mr. Doyle to raise that-----

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation Accounts 2021
Vote 34 - Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Local Government Fund Account 2021
2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 6: Central Government Funding of Local Authorities (1 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: I just need to make the point that if somebody enters the public service or public life, it is a career where we have enormous influence, where we get to work on issues that matter to people and where we can effect change. I do have a problem, however, when people working in the system are on salaries of such scale, particularly in light of the housing crisis. This is the reason I want to...