Results 2,501-2,520 of 2,967 for speaker:James O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Challenges to Ireland's Competitiveness: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: I feel that is something that is a serious risk to the agrifood sector, which is accountable for about 6% of GNI* which is significant. It is something I would like to see the NCPC do work on. I know its board has representatives from the agrifood sector. It is a significant issue. If the council could see the Government solve or make progress on any issue in the next 12 months, what is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Challenges to Ireland's Competitiveness: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: I have noticed that the NCPC has some integration with several Departments, which is interesting in terms of the work it does. Does Mr. Gilvarry feel the co-operation between those Departments to tackle the issues of competitiveness are being done in the most efficient manner? Joined-up thinking is a phrase often used in politics and political jargon but are we maximising our ability to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Challenges to Ireland's Competitiveness: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: Is that 12 months enough time?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Challenges to Ireland's Competitiveness: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: I promise I will be brief. The reason I am putting that question is that with the Covid-19 pandemic and everything else going on with the world economy, the next 12 months will be crucial as we go into a new financial year. That is why I was pushing that particular matter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Challenges to Ireland's Competitiveness: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: Excellent. To follow up on that point, there is the important overall point, and it was mentioned earlier regarding our competitiveness, that there is extreme strain at present on the energy grid. It is something I have received feedback on from employers. What is quite interesting is that if people are working at home there is a change in the demand being placed on the grid versus people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Challenges to Ireland's Competitiveness: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: I have a few questions about the report. What is stated on page 60 is very interesting. It relates to the feedback that has come from employers on the effects of remote working and how it has and has not worked. I wish to delve into that a little. The report states that 44% of managers said it is more difficult to manage their teams remotely compared to those on site, 47% said there was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Challenges to Ireland's Competitiveness: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: That is fascinating. I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: I thank Mr. Walsh and his colleagues in TII for coming before the committee, and also Ms Graham and her colleagues from the NTA for being with us. I have had a lot of well-documented involvement with the national development plan process in recent weeks, as I have had some concerns in that regard. First and foremost, I wish to raise the N73 road in north Cork. It is a very significant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: Is the annual allocation for improvement being used in full this year? Does Mr. Walsh have the funds available to him?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: On page 16 of the document, under national secondary road investment, €1.5 million was allocated at the beginning of this year to commence a €7 million upgrade on the road project. From my conversations with Cork County Council, what happened subsequently, around August-September, is that funding issues arose. What I want to establish is why the €1.5 million is no...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: I must interrupt Mr. Walsh because I am against the clock. He referred to something I wish to pursue with him. He said there is certainty now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: Does that mean this project will advance? Does Mr. Walsh now have the requirement that he needs to spend the €1.5 million that has been allocated and subsequently draw down an additional allocation in the new financial year starting on 1 January 2022?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: What perplexes me is that TII has a budget, it has identified the projects and the people of north Cork thought they were getting €1.5 million spent on upgrades to the N73, which seems to them to have been paused. Everything looked to be on track. Cork County Council had done all the required work that had been requested through TII in terms of preparing the project to go to tender....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: I apologise for being politely blunt to Mr. Walsh, but the time is very limited. In that case, I urge him to please allocate enough money in 2022 for that to be done.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: There is a lot of sensitivity concerning the next question I am going to ask Mr. Walsh, but I must ask it. Has Mr. Walsh been contacted by the Department of Transport on the items I raised in the meetings I had with the Taoiseach, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Transport? Following what happened after my intervention on the national development plan,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: Okay. I thank Mr. Walsh. I will relinquish my remaining time and use it in the next round.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: I thank our guests for the answers they have given so far. I want to ask something quite interesting. It is a matter of importance to all of us whether it is for public transport projects or road projects and Ms Graham and Mr. Walsh, or any of the members of the teams who are accompanying them, may wish to comment. I would like to get their feedback. In 2013, a new set of rules was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: Would Mr. Walsh know off the top of his head how long the process took during the most recent two or three projects with which he was involved?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: We could say, in a hypothetical situation, that if the Castlemartyr and Killeagh scheme was to be put forward by the Government, it could get through the process in approximately six months if all was going to plan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Revised National Development Plan: Discussion (3 Nov 2021)

James O'Connor: I will not disagree.