Results 581-600 of 3,653 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: I would accept that in normal circumstances but we are not in normal circumstances. We need to look at reality. I acknowledge that Mr. Synnott said he is not aware of the delays to which I referred but the committee members are aware of it. Our constituents have told us that and I do not think they are ringing up to tell us lies. They have issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: Our constituents feel a great unfairness that they have to wait. They are being told they cannot get a test for a number of months and once they do, it is only a short number of months later that they have to go back for a second test. In the circumstances we are in now, perhaps a process could be put in place. If, due to no fault of the person who owns the car, he or she has had to wait...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: If that is the case, how can it be that if a person has a car accident and the car has not undergone the NCT, the insurance company will take issue that the car is out of NCT, whereas if there is an NCT on the car, it does not take the same issue?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: Absolutely, yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: It puts a date on it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: For their own sake as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: If all the emphasis is on car owners to ensure vehicles are safe at all times, and it is in their interest and everybody else's, why have an NCT at all? It does not make sense to me to have a test to say the vehicle is roadworthy today and the NCTS will give a piece of paper saying it will be another 12 months until it needs to be tested, while if a person has an accident, the insurance...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: Absolutely, and I concur with Mr. Walsh on that. I have no issue there and I have no issue with recommending that everyone should have their car tested. I just have the issue that if the car is tested in November and is a couple of months late getting tested through no fault of the driver, the driver only has a short period of time before they have to get the car tested again. I just have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: In regard to the manning or the staffing of the sites, I know some headway was made in recruiting more staff. Are there still issues? Does Mr. Walsh still find it difficult? Was it up to 186 staff he said he needs to have?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: In regard to commercial vehicle testing side of it, it has such an impact. In the past week, I had a case in my constituency of a child with disabilities who needed to have a special taxi to take them to school. After a lot of going, they were sanctioned to get that. However, the person who was awarded the contract cannot find a driver. It is the same all over the country and all of us...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: I will come in briefly because I have a vote and another meeting to attend. Some questions were answered in regard to staff and the permanent contracts they are on. The staff from the Philippines are on permanent contracts, I take it, although they only have two-year permits.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: I take it that it is a stamp 4-type work permit that is renewed annually.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: Are there aspects of the testing done in the NCT centres that do not need that level of expertise? I am not suggesting that it should be done by people who are not-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: I am sorry, I was not here. That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: I am not suggesting it is the best approach. I was just asking whether it is something that is being done at present, but it is not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: I cannot remember now what I was to say about the other issue. I had a point regarding the numbers of people waiting for tests and all of that. The number that then do not show up is always an issue for both driver tests and NCTs. I know the stuff about cashless payment and payment in advance was partly a response to try to deal with that issue. Have there been any other efforts to come...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Testing: Discussion (20 Sep 2023)

Martin Kenny: For learner driving and the driver test, there is perhaps not as bad a problem but there is a problem there too where people do not turn up.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Communities (13 Jul 2023)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Minister. I appreciate these matters have to be given due consideration, but the position for island dwellers is that their opportunities for making a livelihood are limited because they live on an island in the sea and do not have many of the opportunities people living in any other part of the country have. They have a tradition of using small boats and they have an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Communities (13 Jul 2023)

Martin Kenny: I understand that, but the Bill was introduced in 2017 and it is now 2023. I think the Minister will appreciate that, while he can say many positive things have happened, many negative ones have happened as well. Our islands are dying, as all the reports that have emerged over the decades have shown. The populations have decreased and decreased and opportunities for people to make a...