Results 7,561-7,580 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: The question of orbital routes was not addressed but it is implicit obviously in the whole plan. That may or may not have an impact on whether routes are changed. Orbitals may be a wiser and a better choice in some respects. I do not know if they will be or not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: Over the next number of years the NTA will undertake a lot of work, including MetroLink and the expansion of the DART and bus transport systems. Does the NTA have enough staff to do such work? There is a huge volume of work ahead for the NTA, which mean it will encounter An Bord Pleanála. How can we ensure that An Bord Pleanála will deal adequately, quickly, fairly and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: The committee will write to the Minister to state that these issues have been raised with the committee and should be addressed. We do not want proposals to be held up because of a shortage of professional staff to deal with them effectively and efficiently. I call Deputy Lahart.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: There is another group waiting to come in. These are important questions and the Deputy is entitled to a full answer but I am not sure the witnesses have the detail of particular routes with them. Before Deputy Lahart continues, Senator Humphreys missed his slot because he had to leave but he is back. I am conscious that I must finish this sooner rather later. I will take Senator...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I accept that. I just want to be fair to everybody and to our witnesses who have been here for almost two hours.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am not trying to curtail the Deputy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will take Senator Humphreys now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thought Deputy Lahart was finished; I apologise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Deputy has asked many technical questions. I would love to know the answers to them but if we get the answers, we will be here all night.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree with the Deputy. That is why we have started here-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish to be helpful to everybody. Everybody has the right to ask questions. With regard to the NTA's answers, I do not have an issue if there are matters that can be replied to in writing - for example, if there are specific technical questions that could properly be parliamentary questions and be answered in a direct way. However, we have urgent business for the second part of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am sorry to interrupt but somebody's telephone is ringing. It appears to belong to Senator Humphreys.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I apologise but I must interrupt again. Somebody's telephone is still ringing. We know it is not Senator Humphreys's. It interferes with the recording equipment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: Everybody's telephone better be switched off. It causes difficulty for our staff, and it is not my telephone. Telephones should be put on airplane mode. They cause a problem for the people working on the broadcasting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: If the committee agrees we will invite them. I do not have a problem with that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: To chastise him, I presume.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: He needs to get a message loudly and clearly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: I appreciate that. Where answers can be given in writing to the member directly, that would be appropriate. If we wrote to the Secretary General to point out that his comments had caused us serious concern and refute his point, would that also be appropriate?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: We could also ask him to outline the basis for his commentary. We will send the text of the letter to members so that they can be satisfied with it before we send it. Next is Deputy Brophy, whom I thank for his patience.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Fergus O'Dowd: Before our guests reply, I wish to state that there is huge interest in this matter, particularly in the constituencies through which the routes will run. Two Deputies who represent the same constituency have pointed out that there are serious concerns because there will be more gardens lost there. I do not expect our guests to reply in respect of many of the issues that have been raised,...