Results 121-140 of 3,471 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (1 Feb 2024)

Martin Kenny: The roads policing unit the Minister of State is talking about has had its numbers cut consecutively every year for the past ten years. Bringing in new laws to reduce speed is welcome and appropriate on many roads. There is no problem with that; nobody is saying otherwise. Nobody is disagreeing with the Minister of State there. The problem is that on most roads there are no gardaí to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (1 Feb 2024)

Martin Kenny: 16. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport how many driving testers are currently employed by the Road Safety Authority; if he will provide a breakdown of the contract type (permanent or temporary); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4574/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (1 Feb 2024)

Martin Kenny: 34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of plans to increase toll charges again in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4575/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (1 Feb 2024)

Martin Kenny: 173. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he can outline what measures he has put in place for local authorities to support road gritting plans in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54235/23]

Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: I welcome this Bill. Research and innovation constitute one of the key aspects of developing a prosperous economy and future. The new agency bringing together two existing agencies and, hopefully, funding them properly and ensuring they have the correct focus is vital. Many people across the country in third-level education are finding it very difficult, particularly those in PhD...

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: The reality for an awful lot of communities throughout the country is that the first time they hear an asylum centre will open is very soon before it happens. There is no preparation from the point of view of providing services. That is the big issue I come across everywhere I go. People are concerned. All three Ministers mentioned in their contributions how much work is going into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Oversight of EirGrid: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: Senator Dooley is the nearest.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Oversight of EirGrid: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: I thank our witnesses for their presentation. I have a number of questions with regard to the capital programme and the investment EirGrid is looking at. We all accept we are looking at a growth pattern over the next decade or more. How we shape up for that and the work that needs to be done around that are the key questions. Dr. Ryan talked about the ability to deliver the network and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Oversight of EirGrid: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: I thank Mr. Mahon very much for that reply. Mr. Mahon mentioned the ambition both around solar and wind and that the planning permissions for solar seem to get through more easily and seem to work out more quickly, etc. Does that mean there is potential to do more in that area if there is less resistance and more capacity there? How does the network shape up in respect of that, to be able...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Oversight of EirGrid: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: Is there any difficulty with regard to storage? Battery storage facilities have been proposed in different areas and have met some resistance. What proposals is EirGrid looking at in that area?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regulatory Bodies (25 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: 92. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment what plans his Department has to support ComReg as their responsibilities in the communications sector grows. [3556/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regulatory Bodies (25 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: What plans does the Department have to support ComReg in its responsibility in the communications sector as this continues to grow? We know that regulation of the digital economy is very important and this sector is continuing to grow at pace. The responsibility around the telecoms sector with broadband rollout and ensuring that there is no monopoly present - all of these issues need to be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regulatory Bodies (25 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: We all recognise the vital role that ComReg plays in this. As the digital world continues to grow and expand, we need to recognise that its capability also needs to be expanded to match what needs to happen. Many of the general public are quite fearful and under the impression that our regulatory authorities are not up to match the level of criminal activity that we see going on - people...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regulatory Bodies (25 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: The cyber security aspect of it is something we need to really focus on. As with the HSE in Ireland, when we look at other jurisdictions we see some of these hackers and criminal organisations target water distribution systems and electricity systems. We have had blackouts recently; my own electricity only came back yesterday so we understand what it is like when we have vital services like...

Committee on Public Petitions: Campaign for a Walking and Cycling Greenway on the Closed Railway from Sligo to Athenry: Discussion (25 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: I thank the witnesses for their submission and the detailed account. We all recognise that rail lines around the country have been used, in many cases, in a positive way for greenways. Indeed, placing them along canals and other level pathways is the secret to it. That is what rail lines offer. I disagree that the rail line will never happen. I believe a railway can and will happen. I...

Committee on Public Petitions: Campaign for a Walking and Cycling Greenway on the Closed Railway from Sligo to Athenry: Discussion (25 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: People have a view of that. That is fine. I am sure people talked to Monsignor Horan when he started to build the airport and told him he would never succeed. You can laugh if you like, but at the end of the day we have to have ambition to improve our country and improving our rail network across the entire island is part of that. This may well be part of it. I am not saying it will be,...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: Many of my colleagues have discussed the security conclusions of the European Council meeting and indeed the issue with regard to Gaza and what is happening there. The complete inaction of Europe in respect of that is deplorable. I also want to focus on another major issue we have around the world, climate change. We have seen the impact of it in recent weeks, particularly the storms we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Capital Projects and Operations: Iarnród Éireann (24 Jan 2024)

Martin Kenny: I thank Mr. Meade for his contribution and the work he and all the staff across the whole network do. Starting locally, on 10 December Iarnród Éireann announced increases to services across the country. Unfortunately, living in the north west, we did not seem to get any such increases. The Sligo-Dublin line did not get any additional services or investment. I would like an...