Results 241-260 of 3,510 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: 1. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the estimated cost of providing private security onboard public transport since 2018; if his Department plans to introduce increased security measures on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53038/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: Will the Minister outline the estimated cost of providing private security on public transport since 2018? Does his Department plan to introduce increased security measures on public transport and will he make a statement on the matter in the context of what happened last week?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Minister. While some efforts have been made, such as operation twin track, which was the most recent iteration of what An Garda Síochána has been doing to deal with anti-social behaviour on public transport, we cannot have a piecemeal solution. Criminal and anti-social behaviour on public transport is widespread and we need to recognise that. The figures released to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: We do not differ on that. I am not talking about an alternative to An Garda Síochána. I am talking about a division of An Garda Síochána, which would act as a public transport policing service. If that were in place, not only would it be in place on the transport systems as they move, but it would also be at the pinch points, which are often at the stops, junctions, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: An issue I raised previously is that of offshore wind and the delays in that regard. It is seen as being the golden ticket if we can get it right and get it done. Where are we at in that regard? How much more frustration will there be? The various companies have told us they feel frustrated in trying to get this moving along.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: The Minister mentioned that one of the biggest challenges we have is the upgrading of the grid. Is that because we are putting so much emphasis on large-scale renewables as opposed to other options? Solar is an option. Many people are trying to get in on that and are using it in their homes. Smaller businesses are using it as well. Do we need to have as many grid upgrades if we push more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: Will the grid capacity delay the delivery of the big wind turbines?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan Review: Discussion (Resumed) (30 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Minister for his opening remarks. As regards data centres, I am slightly concerned that the Minister stated he wants to get them to the stage that they are net zero. Achieving that will be a major difficulty. How does the Minister propose to ensure it will happen? Data centres are major consumers of power. It would be wonderful to get them to net zero if that can be done....

Policing, Protests and Public Order: Statements (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: When I was in this Chamber last Thursday, I saw on my phone that a violent incident was occurring in Dublin city centre. Within a half an hour, it was clear that a stabbing had occurred and that young children had been injured. At that stage I thought to myself, if it turns out to be a person from abroad who has carried out this attack, the far right will go on the rampage. If I could see...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: I nominate Deputy Steven Matthews.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. We have these Estimates every year and there is little we can do other than talk about where the money is going. We have no power to change things. Sometimes people looking in think we do but we do not. I would like to get a little more information regarding the reallocation of funds, particularly the public transport funding. I am someone...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: The other issue I want to talk to the Minister about is rural transport. While the Local Link service has been very successful in many areas and done a lot of great work and connected many people in rural Ireland, there are still gaps in it and there are still difficulties sometimes where it is oversubscribed and the bus is full when it gets to certain stops. There are also issues I see...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: Will funding be made available for that?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: The issues in regard to road safety are paramount. That really needs to be where the focus has to happen, particularly in the context of the tragedies on the roads in the last 12 to 18 months. The difficulty is that the safest roads in the country are usually our motorways. It is more on primary and smaller country roads where most of the accidents happen or where there are difficulties....

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: I want to come back in on one issue. The Minister mentioned bypasses and particularly some of our road networks that need work in that regard. I am conscious that the Minister was in County Sligo a number of months ago. We were disappointed on that day when he told us there would not be funding for the N17. I would like an update on that. The Minister mentioned that there would be...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: Are there issues, which is something we hear, in that when a project goes to the Department, one section has to be done before work can start on the next section and before it can go to the next stage? There is this delaying situation whereby Transport Infrastructure Ireland feels it is not getting the kind of flow that used to be there to get these projects moving faster resulting in delay...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: The issue I am trying to draw attention to is that when a decision is made to invest in a particular piece of infrastructure or particular road or bypass that will move ahead, instead of moving with the pace one would expect, it happens stage by stage. There is frustration there.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: Yes.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Service 2023
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (28 Nov 2023)

Martin Kenny: Is there no solution to that?