Results 4,201-4,220 of 6,852 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I am talking about two issues. On the review process that the Minister of State is engaged in, I am referring to the notion that at some stage we will be coming up with a battle plan for An Post from the point of view of State services that it may be able to employ on the basis of a transactional payment. Beyond that, there is the work that An Post is doing. It should be facilitated as far...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: How quickly could we see that happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: That would be very welcome for people who could access it. Alongside that, the financial package can ensure that the post office network remains viable. I appreciate that the Minister of State has come before the committee to discuss the post office network, but usually I request some element of leeway. I will digress now to another element of her portfolio that has received significant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We must ensure that we do not have a repeat of the events of last Sunday again. If the system works, it will address the reputational damage that has been done. It is fair to say that the DAA representatives told us that they have a plan in place. They told us that if the authority has all resources that can possibly be put at its disposal, it will get through it. However, the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Has the DAA put in any request for assistance to the Government? We had much conversation around the use of the Army. Sometimes these things can make good press releases and do not necessarily deal with the reality of the issue. From the Minister of State's response, am I correct that the DAA has the facility to use outside resources?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: This is make or break. We obviously had the issue of the 37 employees, including 20 people who did not show up for multiple different reasons. I accept the staff are under pressure. There were also the 17 where the DAA made a mistake in rostering. There may be an issue with its systems. There was a cyberattack at some stage resulting in more of a manual process than it would like. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Pay and conditions are a definite-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: There was a general discussion about the Army and State services. However, what is required are trained people who are certified and other people could be taken in from the private sector or elsewhere to help in the short term.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Exactly. I agree with the Minister of State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Future of the An Post Network: Discussion (Resumed) (1 Jun 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I accept that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (31 May 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I am also interested in the timeline for the national implementation office and, in particular, when regeneration officers will be appointed at local authority level. We have spoken previously about necessary works at the Creative Spark Downtown Hub in Dundalk, the remote working hub that is up and running now and is a real success in what was a vacant site. We have a lot more to do and it...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (31 May 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 18. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an update on the Broadband Connection Points Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27825/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: An Teanga Gaeilge (31 May 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 120. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport cén gníomh atá déanta ag a Roinn maidir leis an dátheangachas ar sheirbhísí de chuid Bhus Bhaile Átha Cliath agus de chuid soláthraithe iompair eile chun a chinntiú go bhfuil cothromas ann idir Gaeilge agus Béarla ar a gcuid seirbhísí; agus an ndéanfaidh sé...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (31 May 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 294. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current number of outstanding passport applications for children under thirteen years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27409/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (31 May 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 295. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the current number of passport applications that remain outstanding for children aged 13 years and under in the State as of 23 May 2022; the plans there are to clear any backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27414/22]

Passport Services: Statements (26 May 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We have been in the position before of there being a problem with the issuing of passports. We were told on that occasion that the number of staff in the Passport Office would be increased, if not doubled. I accept that this work is being done at the moment, which is absolutely necessary. However, we need a very quick audit of how many staff will be needed to deliver the service we require...

Irish Apprenticeship System: Statements (26 May 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: It goes without saying that students, and apprentices in particular, are impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. Before the recent hike in home heating oil and electricity, there was the issue of rents, which are a huge cost that are a bane to students and their families. As many have mentioned, we are still dealing with a backlog in apprenticeships. It is unfair that somebody could sign up...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Disability Services (26 May 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Deputy Boyd Barrett has spoken about the fact we need early interventions. I raised a Topical Issue matter on this and spoke about Louth and Dundalk and the lack of occupational therapists, OTs, and speech and language therapists in the area. There are people who have been assessed and who are being told they will not get services for a year or two years. Obviously, that is not on. I am...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Health Services Staff (26 May 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We have spoken previously about this issue in home care. We all welcomed the work of the workforce advisory group. It has to look at the issues of visas and tax breaks. Pay rates have to be on the table, as well as expenses. There are anomalies among the various CHOs. However, we need a timeline. Beyond that, there is the wider issue of workforce planning to ensure we will have enough...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Cards (26 May 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 78. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the dental treatment services scheme including the ongoing review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26552/22]