Results 1,461-1,480 of 2,964 for speaker:James O'Connor

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Health Service Executive - Financial Statements 2021 (Resumed) (2 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: I do not want to go over ground that has been covered by other committee members. I have concerns about the rate of progress in addressing the GP crisis in Ireland. Unfortunately, in many areas of the country, particularly in more rural communities in my constituency - and I will resist the urge to name towns and geographical areas - there is a chronic shortage of GPs. I would like to...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Health Service Executive - Financial Statements 2021 (Resumed) (2 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: I will ask about the retention of medical graduates in Ireland. A recent episode of "RTÉ Investigates" examined the serious issue that we are haemorrhaging well-trained and qualified healthcare professionals to places such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. I have raised this matter at the committee in that past. Wages and conditions are enormous factors. At some stage, this issue...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 38 - Health
Health Service Executive - Financial Statements 2021 (Resumed) (2 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: The question must be asked about how many doctors the HSE estimates it will take to fulfil needs in GP care. Are there estimates of how many additional GPs need to be hired? Even looking at the basics such as out-of-hours GP services, the likes of SouthDoc and other emergency out-of-hours services are at breaking point in respect of the services they are able to offer. I could give my own...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (2 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: 16. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his Department’s plans in relation to further investment to update and procure new aircraft for the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5102/23]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (2 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: 37. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his Department’s position on the challenges of retaining qualified maritime engineers and service personnel in the Naval Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5103/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (2 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: 153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools that have access to home school liaison services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5105/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: I appreciate that despite originally declining to comment, Applus has made time to do so now in relation to the issues with NCT testing. I want to express a great deal of disappointment and anger about how we have reached this position. I do not know where to start, with the Road Safety Authority or with Applus. The headline of an article by Philip Ryan on the front page of theIrish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: I will cut across Mr. Synnott there because I have some information. Many people who work within the NCT system have contacted me over the past couple of weeks. Some of them do not have positive things to say about the company. I will give one example. The company cancelled a Christmas party one year and offered the staff €10 for a Christmas lunch.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: A tenner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: One would not go into a filling station and buy a wrap and a bottle of Coke for that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: The company went all the way to the Philippines to find staff.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: Mr. Synnott does not think the company has an issue looking after its current employees.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: Treating employees is obviously incredibly important. Reference was made to the great resignation, which has impacted many parts of the commercial world and the State. Many people realised the importance of treating employees with respect and dignity, and looking after them. On the advertised roles, I see Applus is advertising for roles in a salary range from €35,000 up to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: Did somebody from the RSA go to Manila with Applus or did Applus staff go on their own?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: Who paid for that? Was it Applus?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: I will now turn to the RSA and the customer charter decision. Much of the controversy brought to the attention of the committee by road safety campaigners was around the decision to reintroduce the customer charter. I understand there is much dispute about what it necessarily means. We do know, however, that a decision was taken in October 2022 that the charter be reintroduced, which meant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: Why was this stipulation reintroduced to the customer charter when we could foresee the backlog? On the front page of the Irish Independent, it was reported there were 375,000 vehicles on the road without a test. Who thought that was a bright idea? Whose decision was it? Why was the stipulation reintroduced in October when we knew we would be dealing with an enormous backlog?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Delays Affecting Car Tests and Driver Tests: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

James O'Connor: Mr. Waide is the chief executive of the Road Safety Authority. Based on the response I just heard, this amounts to very serious mismanagement and it suggests Applus and the RSA underestimated the degree of backlog that would develop. In ten centres, a member of the public who needs to apply for a test may have to wait until the autumn before he or she will be seen for an NCT. I am due for...