Results 3,901-3,920 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister for that clarification. I call Deputy Rabbitte.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: Yes, of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: I invite Deputy Mitchell to put her questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: I do not think the British authorities have had those conversations themselves, never mind with us.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: I thank the Minister and her officials. Regardless of which path the UK takes, it is the citizens of this State to whom this committee and the Department are answerable. They will feel the effects for many years to come and it is important to say that. I also re-state something the Minister said a few moments ago which is critical and supported by all Members of the Dáil and Seanad....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (19 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: On behalf of the joint committee, I thank the Minister and her officials for their presentation. We will adjourn until 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday next, 27 February, when we will meet the chair designate of Tusla, Mr. Pat Rabbitte, to discuss his appointment and the strategic priorities for his term in office.

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: I only missed the bit in the time it took me to come here from my office. I thank Mr. Bolger and Mr. Kickham for coming. I have found much of the discussion very interesting. I worked in the industry well over 15 years ago, but it is still fascinating. I have one question, the answer to which perhaps even Mr Bolger might share. Which "G" will provide an alternative to fixed-line...

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: It is, however, a provider of the service.

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: The jury is out.

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: We do not yet know, which is perfectly understandable. One of my key questions is about how Imagine fits into the national broadband plan. My interpretation of what Mr. Bolger said in his opening statement is that the national broadband plan envisages 100% fixed-line fibre broadband connections to all homes and businesses in Ireland. That is what I picked up from what he said, but I do...

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: That was a statement, rather than a question. For my own peace of mind, the service provided by Imagine is really welcome.

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: I am pretty sure it will be less.

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: I do not think it is possible to connect 100% of premises to the network, whether private dwellings or otherwise. I just do not believe it is viable. It is not viable anywhere, as the witness correctly said. It is not viable elsewhere and it is not viable in the future. Imagine Communications Group is a commercial operator and the best of luck to it. It is a service provider in terms of...

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: I may well avail of the service or that of another wireless service provider in that part of Mayo. From my perspective, the big issue is wireless service providers, particularly when the service is being provided on a large scale, which I presume Imagine Communications Group intends to do. How many customers does the company envisage being able to reach with this €300 million investment?

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: They have a line.

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: That is really positive.

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: How does the company deal with penetration to areas that might be hilly, forested or have other natural or man-made obstructions? In the mapping of the 540,000 Mr. Kickham mentioned, has the witness identified homes in that 540,000 or in that geographical band that will not be able to get service from the existing transponder sites? How does he propose to reach those homes?

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: Has that exercise been done?

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: I am not casting any aspersions on what the company is doing - it is a commercial operator as Mr. Bolger said from the start and it provides a good service and so forth - but would Mr. Bolger accept the statement that by providing a service to potentially 1 million customers or 540,000 people in predominantly rural Ireland where the State is going to go with the national broadband plan and...

Public Accounts Committee: Imagine Communications Group (14 Feb 2019)

Alan Farrell: By commercial operators in the first instance. Ultimately, we are providing the lines. Somebody else will have to provide the service. Commercially speaking, if Imagine Telecommunications Group is operating a 5G network and it is giving line speeds of five, ten or 15 Mbps or whatever - I believe Mr. Bolger mentioned up to 50 Mbps-----