Results 3,041-3,060 of 26,014 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: The Limerick northern distributor road would have brought a complete public transport link. I welcome the fact that there is to be an upgrade of the Mackey Roundabout and Athlunkard Bridge; however, having regard to public transport completeness, was Deputy Eamon Ryan, even as Minister, entitled to make a unilateral decision contrary to the professional view of the professionals in the NTA?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: That is a separate issue.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Is the Minister entitled-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: The northern distributor road would have allowed the Minister to link public transport between TUS, formerly Limerick Institute of Technology, and the University of Limerick. Even as Minister for Transport, was Deputy Eamon Ryan entitled to make a unilateral decision contrary to the professional advice of the NTA?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: I do not remember seeing that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister referred to DAA. Is he satisfied that the plans of DAA for the Christmas period, from 15 December until 10 January, are adequate in terms of its capacity to deal with security arrangements? It seems that a tent remains erected outside terminal 1. That gives rise to concerns that DAA is expecting possible overflows and long queues during the Christmas period. DAA is spending...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister would want to show evidence for that. I have never seen it. All I know is that the NTA basically said it wanted to see the route, as did the people of Limerick. The Minister made a unilateral decision with which I fundamentally disagree. It is unparalleled for a Minister to have made such a direction to the NTA.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Does the Coonagh–Knockalisheen road not have a bus lane? It does. We will agree to differ on this matter. I have a view on it as a public representative for Limerick. Will the annual road allocations of TII, normally made towards the end of December, go ahead this year? There was over €600 million last year.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Will there be an announcement on the roads budget before Christmas?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Is the Minister saying he might not make the announcement on the roads budget until the new year, or 2023?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: That means local authorities throughout Ireland, which normally get their allocation before Christmas, may not get it this year.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: I ask that the Minister make the allocation before Christmas. That has been the tradition for as long as I can remember, so the local authorities can get on with their work. If this drags on into the new year, it can cause a huge degree of uncertainty at ground level. I ask the Minister to bear that in mind.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: No one is.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Even with climate change, roads will still be a feature. We cannot get rid of every car from the roads overnight. That is not going to happen.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: I ask for common sense in this regard.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Rather than doing something at a dead point now, the Minister would be better off bringing people with him. I ask him to announce the roads budget before Christmas to give certainty the length and breadth of Ireland. I call Deputy Ó Murchú.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Finally, on the emissions trading system, ETS, tax, Ryanair representatives appeared before the committee. Is that system being used to promote sustainable fuels in that area in the aviation sector?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Is it something that the Minister has considered? Am I correct that it is €140 million?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)
Kieran O'Donnell: Is it something that the Minister would consider on the basis of promoting the use of sustainable fuels? At this stage, most people agree on the main points. We all may differ on how to get there but everyone agrees we must move towards carbon-free fuels. Is it an area that the Minister would consider putting money into?