Results 61-80 of 6,908 for speaker:Eamon Ryan in 'Dáil debates'

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It is not just an economy we need, it is a society. That comes with spending on the arts and sport, as well as on education and health. I want to welcome the three new Ministers named today. To Deputy Peter Burke in enterprise, if you talk to your predecessor, Deputy Coveney, and to your Secretary General, they will say it is clear, certain and true that the future economy has to be...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Similarly, I would argue with regard to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, that any honest assessment of the outcomes for delivery to improve the health qualities of our people would again show a record of improvement that we need to continue with a laser focus because that is what is important for our people. Similarly, as the Taoiseach said, we, as a people, are starting to turn and show real...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: There are immediate tasks in warming up the Irish people in delivering a solar revolution, delivering retrofitting and delivering public transport. The Deputies can laugh at that but it actually improves and transforms the quality of people's lives, which it is our job to deliver. We have immediate projects. Rather than having an election, I believe we should spend our time delivering a...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: That is a question, Michael. That would be up to the people. The people have a choice there. This is a big, historic, important European election where, on the one hand, we have people putting themselves forward saying “Europe is full”, “Climate action can wait”, “I would not touch those vaccines” or “We do not need to restore...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We all know about those incredibly difficult decisions. Anyone here who has been a councillor knows it is one of the hardest places to be because sometimes you have to take a hard vote. The public gallery is behind you and you have to raise your hand for something that you believe is right but is not what everyone wants to see. Our constitutional imperative should be focusing on those...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I think he is very well-placed. Just as background, as a teenager, he established the AAA autism group in Wicklow. Believe it or not, this is not that unusual. Right across the country, there are civic actions like that where people are co-ordinating and organising to improve the quality of the lives of their people. In autism alone, we have Snowflakes Autism Support in Swords, which...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I start by thanking Deputy Varadkar for the work he has done, particularly in the past four years but also over his time in this Dáil. As leader of his party and as Taoiseach, he leaves the county in a position whereby the economy has never been stronger. History will judge Leo's timing in how he managed Brexit with the British Government, knowing when was the time for a deal and what...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Network (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Going into some details, additional projects have been progressed in Cavan and Monaghan this year. Eight schemes have been provided for under the climate change adaptation and resilient works programme. There have been 21 bridges dealt with under the bridge rehabilitation programme. There are 16 schemes under the safety improvement works programme. We provided an allocation in February....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy Ward. I am aware that capacity pinch points are being experienced on certain bus routes across the public transport network, including on the C spine route from Lucan. I fully acknowledge that these issues can be incredibly frustrating for public transport users, in particular if they are left waiting at bus stops for prolonged periods due to full buses operating on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As I said, we are looking at plans for it this year in response to what has been a phenomenal increase in demand. That is good news. It would be very frustrating if buses passed by people because they were full. We will respond to that. As the Deputy is aware, there are two elements to BusConnects. The first is the introduction of new routes and spines and the second is new corridors....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Funding is one of the constraints. Another is the fact that we need to expand the number of drivers and mechanics, as I said earlier. We have to make the public transport alternative work and that is why the Government is prioritising spending on public transport. It is not just about spending; it is also about political decisions. I was very glad that the city council is now...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Like the Deputy, I visited Summerhill bus station recently and I agree on the progress being made in the provision of services. Similarly, I got the message that a shortage of mechanics, as well as drivers, is a real issue. We do have to resolve that, and we can and will. To go into the detail of some of the figures, so people have an understanding of this antisocial behaviour, I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree. To give background, the NTA did establish a working group on antisocial behaviour, which meets monthly. It works with the operators and looks at the trends among public transport operators to share best practice. I mentioned those various operators. My Department and key public transport stakeholders also presented to the Department of Justice's antisocial behaviour forum that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Network (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads. As outlined in the 2024 regional and local roads programme, which I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Network (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with Deputy Smith on both contentions. I mentioned in an earlier response that climate change is hitting home now. We see the rain levels and the intensity of rainfall. It is not just the amount of rain but the bursts and we see the impact on the road network where we have flooding events and so on. That is an issue. Similarly, there has been an issue with very high cost...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It is a long way from Dundalk to Midleton. We are committed to providing the funding. We do not have a substantiated funding request as yet but as soon as we do, we will be able to fund Cork County Council. We do not fund in advance of the cost estimates and claims coming in but we will provide the funding that is necessary. It takes time but there are precedents here. The Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Road Safety Authority, RSA, and my Department have no plans to change the rules in relation to driver licensing for tractors. The current licence category, W, will continue to be the licence category that covers work vehicles and land tractors. Agricultural vehicles are any power-driven vehicles running on wheels or tracks, having at least two axles, the principal function of which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy's latter comments on safety. To return to what we were discussing earlier, safety should be our first consideration in all of these issues. To clarify, part of the problem here was that the RSA made an adjustment to the text regarding W licences on its website last year which garnered attention in recent days. It was an attempt to clarify an interpretation around...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We will not know the final details of the directive until a new European Parliament is elected. My understanding from talking to officials in the Department is that we do not expect it within this mandate of the Commission; it will be the next one. It would be slightly premature for us to try to second guess what a new Parliament and a new trilogue process will deliver in the directive. In...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Like Deputy Hourigan, I take the safety and security of transport workers and passengers very seriously. It is an unfortunate truth that public transport is not immune to instances of antisocial behaviour and those who work within our public transport network are among those most directly impacted. To address this, the NTA, An Garda Síochána and the operators work closely to...