Results 5,681-5,700 of 7,597 for speaker:Ruairí Ó Murchú

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. We all thought there might have been change when Liz Truss came into the role. I had an opportunity in Strasbourg to talk to Maroš Šefčovič about this. In fairness, I did not intend ever to talk about what he said but it is all in the public domain. I refer to the suggestion of more cordial relations. The fact is Liz Truss has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Time is very important and I accept we have that window. I welcome the clarity and the reiteration this is not for renegotiation. That is the difficulty. It is to be hoped Liz Truss is there as a dealmaker and other factors will not impact on that. I accept that sometimes with these questions we are asking the Minister to look into a crystal ball, which I assume he does not have. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 9. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the work in relation to the Northern Ireland protocol. [57216/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: 73. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on his engagements in relation to the Irish protocol. [58663/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: All across the House accept Brexit is a disaster. The Irish protocol was a necessary mitigation. Every apparent one step forward is two steps back. We are dealing with cul-de-sac unionism and any threats it makes. The Minister has already spoken about the unhelpful commentary from Boris Johnson, even if some of that may be diversionary. We have heard from Maroš...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I thank the NBI team. I suppose we must start with the stuff that is in the public domain. I accept that the answer is that nothing has changed in relation to the contract. I do not want to spend a great deal of time on that issue. I ask for one of the witnesses to give me a quick synopsis on the structure. Obviously, there is a fear that there is a huge amount of debt equity rather...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Due to voting rights.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I will finish this up because there is talk of David McCourt seeking a different sort of financing structure. Obviously, there has been communication with the Department on that. I ask for a quick synopsis on that, where it stands at the minute and whether another financier or investor has been found.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: A long-term partner. I assume NBI is looking for someone in the telecommunications field, rather than the likes of Oak Hill Advisors?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Okay. They have not been found yet.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: But the process is ongoing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: Due to the limited time, we will move straight on.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I think there will be a need for a fair amount of interaction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: What is killing NBI, for the want of a better term at this point in time, is that initially, some 115,000 premises passed deadline for the end of January. Obviously, that was revised to 60,000. Now, the figure relating to premises passed is 34,417. Will Mr. Kendrick explain the difficulties that there are? We have consistently and constantly spoken about possible accelerations. What can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I accept that the scope is a lot wider now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: I suppose that is 60,000 premises passed being reached at the end of March. Perhaps Mr. Malone will outline the detail.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: We all accept that. Even if that did not happen, however, NBI would not have hit 60,000, so obviously there are difficulties and we need them laid out to consider what we need to do to facilitate National Broadband Ireland to deliver. The people out there probably do not care about the questions I asked about around the financial structure. They just want broadband delivered.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Broadband Plan Update: National Broadband Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Ruairí Ó Murchú: On the basis on those rapid response teams, this would tell me there has been a difficulty with the Eir Make Ready process and in delivering to National Broadband Ireland. What else is needed to make sure there is an acceleration? I would like some detail on the acceleration. We have spoken previously on this. The idea was that seven years would become five years, and given the Covid...