Results 2,901-2,920 of 2,967 for speaker:James O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: That issue is arising with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: My next question is for Mr. Philips and Ms Considine. In terms of capital infrastructure projects ongoing at the airports or which had been planned in the next number of years, do the witnesses have any intentions to ask the Government for support with such projects, taking advantage of the quiet period with low levels of air traffic?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: With the review of the national development plan coming up in the next number of months, it is critical for the authorities of the airports represented here today to make their presentations to the Government on that. It is important that should happen. Does Ms Considine have something to say on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: It is deeply worrying to hear that. There is a major requirement for the Department of Transport to act on that immediately in parallel with the Departments with responsibility for expenditure and capital investment. I am sure other representatives will follow up on that. I will make a final point to Ms Considine and Mr. Philips. Transatlantic travel is important to the DAA and to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. We heard earlier from the airlines and we are hearing now from those working in the airports and the aviation sector on the ground. Something we heard a lot about today is demand, to which Ms Considine also referred. An issue of great concern to me, and I hope to the witnesses as well, is the toxic aspect that has developed around aviation in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (27 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: I thank the witnesses for the information they provided to the committee. In my engagement with stakeholders in aviation, other than the witnesses, they express a degree of concern about the infrastructure that will have to be built in the event that we decide to implement some form of testing system in our airports. Has the IAA had any engagement with the Department or Minister with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (27 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: Am I correct that the IAA has no input into infrastructure being constructed at airports for any reason?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (27 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: I will turn to the air traffic management section. Obviously, there is very little passenger traffic, as was outlined in the presentation. That is highly worrying. I understand that some airports require major upgrade works. In Cork, for example, there has been much talk about a new runway being installed. Does the IAA see any opportunity over the next number of months to deal with such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (27 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: My next question relates to the drop in passenger traffic. I am concerned that the statistics provided by the witnesses show a larger drop in Ireland in airline and passenger traffic through our airports compared with some of our European neighbours. Everybody is aware that travel at present must only be for essential reasons and that holiday and other non-essential travel should not occur....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (27 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: Would Mr. Brandon boil that down to the domestic situation in Ireland compared with, perhaps, Germany where there are higher levels of travel within the European Union?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (27 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: I appreciate that. My next question is for the representative from the European Commission, Mr. Cornelis. Our connections with North America and transatlantic traffic are very important for the aviation sector in Ireland and for Shannon, Dublin and Cork. I am concerned about the current guidelines set down by the government in the United States. Obviously, the US is going through a...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister of State for her engagement on the issues facing the aviation sector. I gave an extensive commentary at the most recent sitting of the committee on what was required to try to assist our airports and it is fantastic to see that the Government stepped in and provided that support. I know it is appreciated and it will be an ongoing situation to try to help the aviation...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: My thanks to the Minister of State for the feedback. I will offer some simple suggestions to her in terms of giving people a greater impression on reliability of public transport services. This is a big problem in rural towns and villages, especially in my constituency. Live feedback signs would help. I would really like to see an opportunity for Bus Éireann to put in place live...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 31 – Transport (Revised) (21 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: I have one more point. A highly important part of the programme for Government is coming up shortly. I am sure part of the 2020 budget was included in it. I refer to the national development plan. Throughout the course of Deputy Hildegarde Naughton's ministerial career in this portfolio, I am sure it will probably be the largest policy document that will be impacted by the current...

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...

Pre-European Council Meeting on 15 and 16 October: Statements (7 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: I am thankful for the opportunity to speak during statements on the pre-Council meetings on 15 and 16 October 2020. Three key issues are to be discussed, namely EU–UK relations, climate change and external relations with Africa. I will take the opportunity to talk about the current status of the EU–UK relationship and various scenarios that will arise after January 2021. ...

Covid-19 (Arts): Statements (6 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: I thank the Minister for the opportunity to contribute on the arts and the impact Covid-19 has had on the sector. I welcome the arts recovery task force that has been established to provide a detailed report on the issues facing arts in Ireland and wish it well in its goal of adopting a solution-focused approach. I welcome that it will seek input from across the arts community recognising...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Neuro-Rehabilitation Services (1 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, on her appointment. She and I go back a number of years and I know she is an exceptionally hard worker for the constituency of Waterford. I am deeply grateful that she has been appointed as a Minister of State. As my colleague, Deputy O'Sullivan, has stated, a review of the patient services in the...

Winter Plan 2020: Statements (1 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: The HSE winter plan will see an additional €600 million invested in the health service. I want to recognise that our healthcare workers have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic and that investment will support them as they care for their patients, both those who have Covid-19 and those who have other healthcare requirements. I welcome the Home First approach that emphasises...

Roadmap for Living with Covid-19: Statements (1 Oct 2020)

James O'Connor: Covid-19 restrictions were initially put in place as it was feared that the unknown nature of the virus would overload our healthcare capacity which would, in turn, cause a downward spiral in healthcare provision and increase the level of deaths. These measures were initially introduced with a short timeframe of several weeks in mind. The virus remains in our society today, but more is now...