Results 3,001-3,020 of 6,541 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is okay. Am I right that we will be back to a 12-day wait for NCT appointments by the end of quarter 2 of 2023?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I understand that. The situation is like that of a guy asking for directions in Kerry and being told he should not be starting from there. However, we are where we are. It is not long since representatives of the RSA were before the committee. The Minister of State is not aware that the situation has got any worse. From her point of view, everything is being done in respect of...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We might also ask if it got lost in the Department.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We will look for clarity on that matter. We hope to have that clarity next week. This is happening at a particular time and there is acceptance across the board that at this point we need a solution that does not involve heaping more pressure on people and businesses that cannot afford it. Maybe we need to look at the means and communications by which that happens between TII, the...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Okay, so that will be looked at. Obviously, there will also need to be the interaction with TII and whoever else needs to be----

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is definitely a positive. What is the time line at this stage on the all-island rail review?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: As with all of these interactions, I will ask about increasing the volume of train journeys being operated between Dublin and Belfast. Plans are in place in relation to delivering the Enterprise. Obviously, I would prefer that they would happen faster, but I accept that it is under way. The committee also had the National Transport Authority and Ms Anne Graham in before us. I cannot say...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: In fairness, there seems to be some technical issue but I believe an element of imagination is probably needed. Perhaps the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, or the Minister, Deputy Ryan could involve themselves in the conversation. It could not do any harm. What is long-term plan for those reductions? We are speaking about the 50% and there was an issue at one stage about students,...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: The Minister of State has to deal with issues concerning regional airports. We could all talk about regional imbalance and even what happened in Dublin last year. The committee invited a number of commentators in here, including Mr. Willie Walsh. He spoke in a general sense but was very straight about solutions that would work for Shannon. I say that because sometimes we, in here, have...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Yes.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We must have a real conversation-----

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: ----to assure people we are not talking about doing something that, even if we got agreement, displaced an existing service.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I agree with that useful suggestion. Fuel types is a wider issue for air travel but that debate is for another day. Obviously the aviation sector needs to cease using fossil fuels.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: This country cannot operate without planes.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: There are planning issues and that is the reason there is an ongoing review by the Attorney General. There have been issues with An Bord Pleanála. We, as public representatives, sometimes must deal with issues that communities are worried about. Let me give as an example of the N53 at Rassan, which is townland located north of Dundalk, County Louth. An oral hearing was meant to take...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (23 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: All those projects will happen and, on the basis of my bringing them up here, faster and better, yes?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 137. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will detail the Government's response to recent developments in respect of the Northern Ireland protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57918/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We are all working on the basis that Britain needs a deal and that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak be offered a deal, regardless of what he means about not looking for a Swiss-style relationship with the European Union. We could rise and fall on the basis of comments from British politicians over the past number of years. We all want to see matters being streamlined and the protocol issue...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: World Cup (22 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I welcome that. I get many football fans might see this as an opportunity to see Brazil play. I assume not too many will wish to see England play but who knows? It is obviously vital fans would monitor advice and it is good to see consular assistance will be in place. However, I will go through the questions again and ask about the view of the Minister and the Government. There is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: World Cup (22 Nov 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I agree with the Minister. The one good thing that can come from this World Cup is that the spotlight is on Qatar, the human rights abuses there and whether we will have any movement on it. However, I wish to see a greater level of courage from some of the football associations and some of the footballers in particular. There was considerable talk beforehand about what they would do to...