Results 3,161-3,180 of 6,508 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU-level Policy Response to Current Energy Security Issues: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Dr. Deane has engaged in a fair bit of commentary, accepting that our supply chain through Britain makes us slightly different from other parts of the European Union. Geopolitically, it is fair to say that things are not going particularly well for Vladimir Putin. One of the only games in play that is working for him is the fact that we are facing economic carnage. We have severe worries...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU-level Policy Response to Current Energy Security Issues: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Can someone give me an answer, if possible, on the question on geothermal energy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU-level Policy Response to Current Energy Security Issues: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I would agree but without being half as eloquent.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is a perfect question. I was going to ask it. I am impressed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I thank the Chair for allowing me to come in to facilitate what will be a magnificent speech of one minute and 45 seconds in pre-EU Council statements.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: The people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is most definitely it. I missed something Mr. Conway said after Senator Buttimer spoke about electric vehicles and how they are a faraway solution at present. What did Mr. Conway say was the more possible solution?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: My first question was to be about hydrogen. If we can get our act together on wind power, we are looking at green hydrogen as a means of storage and all of those other facilities. We have seen that there have been moves with regard to hydrogen bus fleets. What is the set-up? How much will it cost? What is the roadmap needed - no pun intended?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We will be able to swap one fuel system in and out

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I mean in the sense of as opposed to what is needed for electric vehicles. We all know of the difficulty with cars and I can only imagine what would be needed to feed a coach. The council's big asks are funding, streamlining and anything that can be done to facilitate those who are willing to work in the industry. I forget the particular phrase used.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That is it. That is the business end of this. I will go through a couple of things. We all accept the 20% fare reduction is vital, or not having it can have a major impact. Mr. Crowley spoke about Matthews Coaches, etc. The 50% has been introduced. Will the council representatives go through how that works for coach operators because I am not sure? People probably have a notion of it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: What does the operator get?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: How does that work for operators? We are talking about sustainability. It was sold with the general sense that because an operator can offer the 50% it should be able to take more people in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Is it working like that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: The operators are reasonably happy with how it works at this point in time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That was a huge difficulty, especially for people who were looking at offering a service to students, etc.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Put your lights out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: There is that other unintended consequence that has been fixed through the use of Leap cards for students aged between 16 years and-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: All right. That still leaves out young people of that age who are-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Coach Sector: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Yes, and apprentices, etc. The numbers might not be huge but it is still a section. I have been over and back with the Minister about it. It is probably something we need to look at as a committee. It is a section of people who are, again, falling between stools and a section of clients and operators could be losing.