Results 2,341-2,360 of 3,333 for speaker:James O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Of course, Chairman. First and foremost, I welcome the representatives of the DAA before the committee today. What happened over the course of the weekend is profoundly regrettable and has done remarkable damage to the organisation and to the State. It is important that this committee would ask a number of key questions regarding the operational failures at Dublin Airport over the weekend....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: What supports were provided by the Government for the retention of staff and to keep the DAA going as an organisation? Mr. Philips outlined in his opening statement that the DAA was losing approximately €1 million each day. What was the DAA in receipt of when it came to those types of financial supports?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Obviously the DAA was in receipt of the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS. Why was it not used to retain security staff?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: No, that is not the question I asked. I am sorry, but I have really limited time. Why was the EWSS the DAA got, like so many other businesses, not used to retain critical staff, in particular the staff members in question, who take a significant amount of time to get trained for their positions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Did Mr. Philips communicate those points to the Minister for Transport and the Minister of State with responsibility for aviation? Did he tell them what potentially could happen, which effectively has happened? My understanding is that approximately 50,000 people travelled through the airport at the weekend, in particular on Sunday, but we could go up to as much as 100,000 people per day in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: I asked Mr. Philips a specific question. He will appreciate that we have limited time. Were those particular points communicated to the Department of Transport, the Minister and the relevant officials in the Department about what potentially could happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: It is important for everybody's professional reputation that this particular point is expanded upon. I am genuinely trying to give all the witnesses the benefit of the doubt. I am being fair. Was that communicated? I will take that as a "Yes".

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Let us talk about the projections for a moment. That is interesting. We were told in this committee repeatedly that it would be approximately 2025 before we returned to 2019 levels. Based on today's figures, how quickly does Mr. Philips feel the airport will get back to going north of 30 million passengers a year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: So we are going to arrive at that position two years early.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: Is the infrastructure, in particular in terminal 1 in Dublin Airport, capable of handling those numbers again, or is it all down to staffing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: This is my final question to Mr. Philips, as my time is very limited. He knows what is coming down the tracks. We are going to reach a position in a few weeks' time that will be remarkably difficult for Dublin Airport to handle. Would he not look at relocating routes as a temporary measure to the key regional airports, that is, to Cork, which his organisation manages, and to Shannon, to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays at Dublin Airport: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

James O'Connor: At this point in time, the DAA cannot handle the amount of traffic that is coming through the airports. That is hugely concerning. That is food for thought, Chairman. We need to try to come up with a plan in that regard.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Digital Hubs (31 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 6. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to open further remote working hubs in County Cork, particularly in the Youghal area. [27657/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Digital Hubs (31 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I apologise, Acting Chairman, for being absent. I was on a call and did not notice the time going by. I welcome the Minister and congratulate her on the wonderful work she has been doing in her Department. She has been a pleasure to work with on the issue I am raising, as my colleague, Deputy Stanton, will agree. My question relates to remote working infrastructure. This is hugely...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Digital Hubs (31 May 2022)

James O'Connor: They are very welcome to do so. I already acknowledged Deputy Stanton's work on this issue. I compliment the fantastic work that is being done by the Department. I refer specifically to a project in Youghal. This very exciting development, which relates to Youghal Library, is being co-funded by the Department and Cork County Council. This would not be possible if not for the funding...

Transport, Accelerating Sustainable Mobility: Statements (31 May 2022)

James O'Connor: Given the extraordinary scenes that took place in our airports over the weekend, it would have been important to have the Minister for Transport or the Minister of State at the Department present for this debate but, unfortunately, that is not the case. I wanted to put that on record, as my party's spokesperson on transport. It is looking quite certain that next year, we will experience...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (31 May 2022)

James O'Connor: 54. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans for the next round of the Community Activities Fund [27824/22]

Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, for being here. At the outset, I acknowledge that we arrived at this situation for very clear reasons. There is a sharp increase in the number of people who want to renew their passports. In addition, there have been some international circumstances that have driven demand for Irish passports. It is important that solutions are brought forward...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health (Resumed)
Health Service Executive: Financial Statements 2020 (26 May 2022)

James O'Connor: I welcome everyone to the meeting. I join others' comments in acknowledging the very hard work that was done by many people within the Department of Health and the HSE and those on the front line of our health service during the pandemic. It has been extraordinarily difficult. My first question is to the Secretary General. On the managerial structures and work undertaken within the...