Results 2,021-2,040 of 2,450 for speaker:Kevin O'Keeffe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: Could Mr. Gaston provide a timeframe?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: Here is an example of the greater Dublin area being looked after while about people in the west and south are forgotten. Why did the NTA not start the scheme in Cork city, Limerick and Waterford?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: Does the NTA not put a proviso in contracts with private operators that their fleets must have wheelchair lifts to accommodate passengers? Some of the private operators do not have them. One operator has no bus with wheelchair access, whereas Bus Éireann has wheelchair accessibility in place. How can we allow that kind of unfair competition?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: In awarding contracts to private operators, could we not make it mandatory that they would accept the free travel pass? Some private operators do not allow the use of the free travel pass.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: I accept that commercial decisions are a matter for the private operators. The Bus Éireann service, in terms of its provision of service to isolated areas and participation in the free travel scheme, is as much a social service as a transport service. There must be fair competition on all routes. It is unfair that the main operator between Cork and Dublin Airport could decide not to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: Did Bus Éireann meet with Ms Graham before issuing its letter to employees indicating it would discontinue some Expressway routes? Does she feel she had an impact on the discussions between workers and management in Bus Éireann by issuing a letter to this committee on 28 January stating that the NTA was in a position to fill the void should the Expressway be pulled from some routes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: No, it came through this committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: It pre-empted the outcome of the discussion to some extent. Is it possible that some Expressway routes could convert to PSO routes, if Bus Éireann or the Department could make the case for that? There is no similarity. The route from Annacotty to Kildare and the Red Cow is covered by a private operator but Annacotty to Nenagh to Templemore is covered by Bus Éireann.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: How many protection officers does the Department employ to monitor fares and carry out inspections?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: Does the Department have access to the figures?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: I am at a loss to know why the NTA does not have the figures for the capacity increase because at a previous meeting on the commercial routes, we were informed, and I did not keep all the figures, that while passenger usage increased on the Cork-Dublin corridor by 61%, capacity went up by 111%. Is that justifiable? What plans does the NTA have to introduce double decker commuter buses to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: What size are the buses?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Situation in Bus Éireann: Discussion (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: It is at the expense of an operator that is not paid properly for carrying half of its customers.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: 95. To ask the Minister for Finance the tax incentives and reliefs that will be available to owners of properties in rural towns and villages further to the launch of the action plan for rural development. [8875/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Charges (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: 177. To ask the Minister for Health if he will have a specific charge waived in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [8880/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Appointments Status (22 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: 183. To ask the Minister for Health if he will assist in having a person (details supplied) admitted to hospital for an urgent surgical procedure. [8892/17]

Public Services and Procurement (Social Value) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (21 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: The Ceann Comhairle is costing me more seconds. I thank my colleagues, Deputies Darragh O'Brien and Frank O'Rourke, for bringing forward this Private Members' Bill. I feel compelled to speak because one of the biggest issues I faced, like I am sure all other Deputies, during the 2016 general election campaign, as we canvassed in the towns and villages in our respective constituencies,...

Topical Issue Debate: Greyhound Industry (21 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: With all due respect, I hope the Minister of State is not going down the same road as the Minister, Deputy Ross. The Minister of State is the major shareholder of Bord na gCon and has a big say. The industry is in a crisis. The prize money has sharply reduced in recent years. If the prize money goes down, attendances go down and that is where we have a problem. The board needs to be held...

Topical Issue Debate: Greyhound Industry (21 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: On Monday, 13 February 2017, on the eve of St. Valentine's Day, a most disastrous, cowardly and devious act was carried out against the greyhound industry in this country, especially in the greater Dublin area. Bulldozers have since been sent into Harold's Cross greyhound stadium to make it unraceable. Directors at Harold's Cross were not informed. Owners, trainers and breeders were at a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Grants (21 Feb 2017)

Kevin O'Keeffe: 225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being imposed on students that apply for a higher education grant through SUSI, whereby they are only granted an adjacent rate of grant due to the fact that the distance calculations used use road routes which are the shortest in distance but the most inaccessible (details supplied); and if he...