Results 101-120 of 3,644 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Progressing Special Education Provision: Statements (9 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: For most people, having a child with a disability is a major cause of stress. The struggle they go through to try to find a class for them, education facilities and all of that adds to the stress. The experience for these people is that they have to fight all the way for what they need. That should not be the case in a wealthy and well-designed democratic system. We should have an...

Affordable Housing: Motion [Private Members] (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: When we are all out at people's doors these days canvassing, as I am sure the Minister is as well, we meet an awful lot of people. That is where we get our information. That is when we find out what is really happening across the length and breadth of the country. I was in south Sligo at the weekend. I met a woman who moved home from abroad in the past couple of years. She lived in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Joint Committee (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: I nominate Deputy Cathal Crowe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: I thank the witnesses for their opening statements. I have a few points. Going back to what Deputy O'Rourke mentioned regarding the 20% fare reduction, I accept there has been a certain element of unfairness concerning commercial operators. I note it was mentioned that it was made party policy at the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis. Unfortunately, we have a Fine Gael Taoiseach and it has not become...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: Is it a similar situation with Go-Ahead?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: Is the problem with drivers or with buses? Which is the biggest element?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: Right, okay. It is similar that drivers would be the main issue. I think we need to go to the vote in the Dáil now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: The other aspect that I hear many people are frustrated by, and this is a Bus Éireann issue, is the necessity to book a seat. I refer, in particular, to airport services. A man from Ballyshannon rang me recently. He brought two people to the bus who were going to the airport to catch a flight. They did not know they had to book seats. They did not understand it. The bus arrived and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: When a bus is nearly booked up, say 75% full or more, does Bus Éireann decide at that stage that it has to put additional services in place to follow the bus or does that just not happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: Yes, I appreciate that. The next time there is an advertising campaign to encourage people to use the bus, a major part of it must involve telling people to book a seat if they want to use a bus or they may be disappointed. That message needs to be front and centre.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: Yes, of course. We are not going to get into the best value fares with Bus Éireann's competitors in front of its representatives. Regarding the point mentioned by Mr. Kent, it is disappointing that the Government did not do any assessment of the potential impact on competition of changing the fares and introducing a 20% reduction for some but not for all. That was one of the things...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: Fair enough. The other issue I wish to raise is accessibility. It is a bugbear of people throughout the country, particularly wheelchair users, who have to book in advance, and even then they often cannot do so. It is a problem probably for everyone in the sector, including commercial providers. Moreover, in the case of the bus stops that have been put in, in many cases the cycle lanes go...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: On that and the disability issue, I understand a change is being made to the colour of the signage and bus stops throughout the country. For people who are visually impaired, there used to be a yellow sign, because they need great contrast, but now they are all a very bland, teal colour and there is no contrast. For a group of providers that deal with the disability services, I cannot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: There is often a lot of consultation but no consensus is built, and that is the problem. That seems to be the issue in a lot of these cases.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: Okay. We will come back to that one. I think Mr. Martin wanted to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Challenges Facing the Bus and Coach Industry: Discussion (8 May 2024)

Martin Kenny: One of the issues raised about the commercial operators was about the need for proper public transport management around events. The fact that there is no parking around Croke Park for coaches was mentioned. People have to walk a very long way to get to the stadium. Whose responsibility is that? Is it the responsibility of Dublin City Council? When an event is taking place who is...