Results 1-20 of 1,406 for and speaker:James O'Connor

Covid-19 (Transport and Travel): Statements (10 Feb 2021)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, for being here for this debate. First, I want to acknowledge the continued work and effort they have both shown in the Department. I have been working with some of their officials on a continual basis and they have been excellent to deal with during these incredibly difficult and challenging times. They...

Covid-19 (Mental Health): Statements (4 Feb 2021)

James O'Connor: ...of mental health. Covid-19 has posed fundamental challenges for people's mental health, as many individuals have experienced heightened stress, anxiety, fear or panic. We have come through a dark and dreary winter and we must be proactive to help people through these difficult times. The Covid-19 pandemic and its restrictions have been challenging for people in our society. People are...

National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Statements (2 Jun 2021)

James O'Connor: I very much welcome the news that came from the Government yesterday regarding the significant investment to restart and rebuild the economy. In particular, I welcome the €185.4 million that will be invested in rail infrastructure, primarily in my constituency, Cork East. As the Minister will be aware, I worked closely on this with him and his Department and also with the Department...

Public Accounts Committee: Financial Statements 2022: Inland Fisheries Ireland (25 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: When the former Minister of State, Senator Kyne, had responsibility for this area, he said that IFI was chosen as the recipient of two funding measures that would engage and support young and novice anglers in Ireland. He said the funding would see the development of a new novice angling strategy, a scheme to support angling events for novice and young anglers and the appointment of five...

Covid-19 (Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homelessness): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State for taking the time to discuss access to drug and alcohol treatment services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 poses a major threat for people with drug and alcohol addiction and, in response, drug and alcohol services have adapted with new ways of working to continue to support people affected by substance misuse during the pandemic. Their work should be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

James O'Connor: Turning away from the NCT and the operator, the RSA's remit over driver tests and permit application times is causing deep-felt frustration across the country. The waiting time for driver tests is causing a great deal of damage to 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds who need to get their first learner's permits and licences so that they can get on the road for reasons of employment. We are in the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (22 May 2024)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State for being here this morning. I wish to raise the issue of speech and language services that is affecting the east Cork area. We have wonderful healthcare professionals working across the healthcare service in County Cork and Cork city and in other services in west Waterford which are used by people in my constituency. However, we have problems around...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (11 Nov 2020)

James O'Connor: The United Kingdom will be outside the EU Single Market and the customs union in a little over seven weeks' time. While the outcome of the negotiations between the parties is ongoing, it is critical to recognise that all businesses, regardless of their size, will be impacted by the outcome of the negotiations. As a result, it is vital to be prepared to face the challenging and complex...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Agriculture Schemes (4 Oct 2023)

James O'Connor: ...by many of my colleagues. My constituency office has been getting several queries on the matter. TAMS has been very successful in providing to farmers additional capital resources from the State and European funding to enable them to carry out key construction and improvement works on farms. The range of projects included is vast. Timing, however, is critical in a farming calendar, as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Accommodation (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister for the information. It is very helpful and beneficial that we know what is going on. I have worked hand-in-hand with the Minister since she became a member of Cabinet with responsibility in this area. However, we acknowledge that in east Cork, and particularly across Cork county, there is rapid population growth. For example, the Fermoy area now has a deficit of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (19 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister for Education for being present in the Chamber and the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue matter. I was extraordinarily honoured to welcome the Minister to the Cork East constituency. I wish to convey my gratitude and thanks to her and to her officials and advisers who travelled to the constituency for a very successful visit. We had an engagement with...

Brexit and Business: Statements (7 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: I have spoken many times in this House about the need for Ireland's Brexit strategy approach to not merely focus on maintaining the status quorelationship between Ireland and the UK. Ireland should start to look at other markets and diversify its horizons. Part of so doing is ensuring we have connectivity on and off this island. This is currently at risk and our economy will suffer if we...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Flood Risk Management (24 Oct 2023)

James O'Connor: I join my constituency colleague, Deputy Stanton, and my neighbour, Deputy O’Sullivan, in their words on the devastation in east Cork and the Minister of State’s area of west Waterford. It caused hundreds of millions worth of damage. We have a hospital and a Garda station destroyed. Hundreds of homes are flooded. Midleton Main Street is devastated. In Mogeely, Killeagh, my...

Rural and Community Development: Statements (18 Nov 2020)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister for giving us an opportunity to speak about the important issues facing rural and community development. As somebody who was born and raised in a community in a rural area in east Cork in Killeagh in the Youghal area as a child, I am very passionate about ensuring we make our rural communities more sustainable. We need to focus on rural development in rapidly changing...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (27 Jun 2020)

James O'Connor: I am honoured to second the proposal that Dáil Éireann nominate Deputy Micheál Martin to the President for appointment to the office of Taoiseach. During his political career, Micheál has time and again shown himself to be a determined and brave representative of the people. He has shown great strength and resilience and has already built a record of serving the people...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Admissions (19 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I acknowledge the contribution that has been made. I certainly will go through it and feed that back to the schools with which we are engaging and are in discussions. I appreciate the time and effort the Minister is putting in into this. It cannot be understated how much of a challenge this is for the Civil Service. We face considerable criticism but this a very unique and new challenge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cyber Security Centre Review: Discussion (22 Sep 2021)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State and the officials who are here to discuss this very important topic. It would be remiss of me and any other public representative not to say, first and foremost, that we are grateful for the extremely hard work that was done by some of the officials in response to the attack on the State that happened in regard to the HSE software and IT systems recently. I am...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

James O'Connor: From the outset, I apologise to the Minister, the clerk and my Oireachtas colleagues, because I just caught up at another meeting. I want to start off by agreeing with the points made by Deputy Kenny and the Minister around what happened last Thursday in Dublin, which was appalling. As part of the violence on O’Connell Street and other areas of the city, public transport...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Flood Risk Management (24 Oct 2023)

James O'Connor: I support Deputy Stanton. We have worked in tandem on having a one-stop shop service to help households and businesses that have been flooded. We need the Department of Social Protection to work with the local authorities and other State agencies, which will be needed to get houses back up and running. I thank the emergency services, volunteers and community around east Cork. What they...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Traffic Management (30 Jul 2020)

James O'Connor: I wish a good morning to the Acting Chairman, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the other Deputies who are present. It is worth reading into the record that it is now 2.20 a.m. I thank the Minister for being in the Chamber to speak about an extremely important issue to the constituents of Cork East, whom I am elected here to represent and to me as their local Deputy and a former...