Results 1,681-1,700 of 2,988 for speaker:James O'Connor

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: Excellent. So there is a system in place.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: Is the decision made by Dublin Bus?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: Excellent. Is the decision relating to PSO services devolved to the NTA or Bus Éireann?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: It is Bus Éireann.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: Does Bus Éireann have to apply to the NTA for additional funding to provide an additional bus for a PSO route?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: I am sorry to interrupt, but my time is very limited. I have spoken for five minutes and 20 seconds and have only eight minutes in total. We have a chicken-and-egg scenario because somebody must make decisions about where to allocate resources and what is done to provide services. I am not being parochial by mentioning the N7. I only cited it because I am familiar with the route. The N7...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: I thank Ms Graham. I want to finish up with one very important question for Dublin Bus. Is Ms Keane concerned about the current method of security provision on bus services in the context of antisocial behaviour? Does she feel this could be improved upon by way of Garda operations? My Fianna Fáil colleagues are very much stressing the requirement for a Garda division to police public...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: Just to clarify, it is whether Dublin Bus has concerns at the moment. It has a private security team that is providing a lot of the security services on public transport in Ireland. Does Ms Keane think that is sufficient? Is Dublin Bus concerned?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: Where they occur, the issue lies with the power of arrest. That is the concern which many people have.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (8 Nov 2022)

James O'Connor: There are a number of issues with PSO routes. It would not be appropriate for me to discuss them in detail today. I will, however, correspond with the NTA in respect of them, particularly those outside the greater Dublin area. My next question is for both delegations. I am someone who lives down the country yet travels to Dublin to do my work and job, which is a story that is very...

Energy Security: Statements (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: They would probably talk more sense than some of us Members.

Energy Security: Statements (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I have competition for the position of baby of the House this evening. I welcome Deputy Whitmore's family and their friend to the House. It is fantastic to see young people having an interest in politics. I welcome the Minister back to the House. Obviously, he was undertaking important Government business elsewhere. We are here to discuss the extremely serious issue of Ireland's...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I welcome the officials before the Committee of Public Accounts. I want to open with expenditure for foster care in Ireland. In this current budget, we saw a failure from the Department's side to negotiate an additional allocation of funding. I want to get an overall profile of how much has been spent on the foster care allowance and the individual breakdown, essentially just to develop an...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: How many people does that support? I just want to get a sense of the information.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: In terms of the payment support that goes to foster parents in this country, I understand the issue is that this has not been changed since the mid-2000s.

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: Yes. It is a concern that has not been addressed when we are looking at the situation around inflation,

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: I am curious about this. It is one of those few payments that really has been untouched over such a long space of time. Is there a rationale behind that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: We hear that loud and clear. I thank Mr. Gloster for the information; it is very helpful. The next issue I wish to raise is much more serious. The State is under enormous pressure around dealing with the war in Ukraine and also around the current ongoing situation with inbound migration. It is something that is extremely difficult for the Government to manage. Of course, it falls under...

Public Accounts Committee: 2021 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Chapter 13 - Guardian Ad Litem Follow-up Report (27 Oct 2022)

James O'Connor: We are obviously having an in-depth look at 2021 in addition to the ongoing circumstances at the moment. In 2021, prior to the war in Ukraine, was there a projected increase in this area from the Department? Was it expecting a huge increase in the amount of inbound migration when it came to people who would be accessing the direct provision system in Ireland?