Results 1,161-1,180 of 2,988 for speaker:James O'Connor

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: Yes, very briefly, and it is a conclusion. On foot of what that Taoiseach has said this afternoon and what the Chairperson of the media committee, Deputy Niamh Smyth, said yesterday, it is important now, given all this information and the lack of information the witnesses are able to provide in answer to the questions, that Ryan Tubridy be invited to appear before this committee as well as...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: This is absolutely outrageous. The chief financial officer of RTÉ cannot tell us what he is paid. Are we supposed to buy that?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: I thank the Cathaoirleach. This meeting has taken a very dark turn from what we started out with today and what we saw yesterday. This is because a number of things have been said in the room. There have been denials and a change in vocabulary and tone. Something that really struck home to me was related to the barter fund. To have the former chair of RTÉ describe it as a "slush...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: I will have to stop Ms Doherty because my time is very limited. She has been very generous in that answer. My next question is for Mr. Shortt. I am sorry to put him on the spot but we know the significance of his presence here on behalf of his organisation and the team he represents on the board. Was there widespread knowledge in the broadcasting team and were the lesser public figures...

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: Yes, and please keep the answer as short as possible as my time is quite limited.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: How did Mr. Shortt feel about it?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: Were ordinary staff in RTÉ as familiar as we here have now become with the amount of perks there were with this job? We have heard about Champions League final tickets and IRFU ten-year tickets. There seems to be a Las Vegas-style culture and a Celtic tiger culture that has persisted in RTÉ. Is that something the staff are familiar with?

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: I ask the chair of the board, from what she has heard and seen so far and from what she knows, whether she has any fear that any of this amounts to criminality or fraud.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: There does not seem to be much that is standard about this particular barter account.

Public Accounts Committee: Appropriation and Expenditure of Public Moneys by RTÉ: Discussion (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: It seems to be incredibly complex. Considering the amount of public money involved in the transactions with this barter account, we are going to need to see an awful lot more detail. I fully support the point made by Deputy Kelly. We need everything on this, from top to bottom. This is not going to go away. As a matter of fact, because of today's meeting the situation is going to get...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: 19. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he expects proposed changes to employment permit law to take effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31651/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: 98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 16 May 2023, if she will provide an update on the number of applications made for the school transport scheme within County Cork; if there is an increase in applications in the Cork east constituency; if her Department has plans for new school transport routes; and if she will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: I want to ask about the DEIS scheme, which is a very important scheme that has huge benefits for many disadvantaged communities. Because of the budget surplus, we have an opportunity to increase the level of support available to communities that missed out on DEIS in the last round, particularly in areas that have taken on a huge number of Ukrainian refugees, like Youghal in east Cork,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Toll Increases and Ongoing Projects: Discussion with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (28 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: I welcome the witnesses to the committee. I will start with the positives. It is great to see the progress on the Ballyvourney-Macroom bypass. The second phase of that seems to be rocketing ahead. In addition, I understand the Dunkettle interchange is doing quite well. When are those projects expected to be completed and what are the approximate opening dates?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Toll Increases and Ongoing Projects: Discussion with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (28 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: By how much? It is a significant window.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Toll Increases and Ongoing Projects: Discussion with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (28 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: Excellent. That is good news. What about the Dunkettle project?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Toll Increases and Ongoing Projects: Discussion with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (28 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: Sorry, what about the Ballyvourney-Macroom bypass?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Toll Increases and Ongoing Projects: Discussion with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (28 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: That is good. I want to discuss the ongoing capital roads projects and follow up on what Deputy Lowry touched on regarding the roads budget. The Department uses section 24 as an instrument to pause things potentially. How often has the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, used that instrument?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Toll Increases and Ongoing Projects: Discussion with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (28 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: I want to get to the bottom of this. That was used as an instrument of delay on the Mallow relief road to postpone the project on the grounds of funding uncertainty.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Toll Increases and Ongoing Projects: Discussion with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (28 Jun 2023)

James O'Connor: Would Mr. Walsh consider that to be manipulating section 24 from an environmentalist's point of view and trying to stall those projects?