Results 3,641-3,660 of 6,987 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: 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.

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

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Yes.