Results 1-20 of 2,464 for speaker:James O'Connor

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: I welcome all of the witnesses this morning. It is no secret that this is a complex area of work being done by the Government. It is controversial and public frustration is growing almost monthly. It is clear from polling that the public is extraordinarily concerned about what is going on with this Department, in particular around integration. It is important that we put questions to the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: I want to focus on budgeting to combat disinformation, in particular. Is that something Mr. McCarthy considered in 2022? Did the Department discuss the fact that, no matter where you go internationally, migration is an incredibly divisive topic? It needs to be managed carefully and it attracts everything from foreign interference to strong resistance. There is an onus on the agencies and...

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: When it came to the identification of locations nationwide, whereby hotels and disused premises were purchased by the Department for accommodation for Ukrainians, how did the Department establish the basis for payment under the contracts? Was it determined that payment would be per head, per family or per room? What were the figures? Could Mr. McCarthy walk us through them, please?

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: There were a number of hotels. I know the Department did not purchase them but that is not how the model worked. I am speaking about the IPAS centre operators. Properties in my constituency that had been sold in the preceding decade for under €1 million were sold for over €4 million or €5 million for the purpose in question. The business model for the operators is so...

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: How much is it?

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: Given the scale of the situation, a confidential basis is no longer acceptable to the public. The lack of honesty in providing the information to the public is part of the problem. I come from a constituency in which huge centres are operating. The lack of information – the chasm that has been established – is not helping. I am aware that each person here has his or her own...

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: Just answer the question.

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: Why?

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: Is there a differentiator? This is a question that has been raised with me multiple times by people in my constituency. At some centres, we have seen a reduction in demand for Ukrainian accommodation and a replacement in some areas of the country whereby IPAS migrants are coming in through different processes and being offered accommodation by the State. Is there a difference between the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: Mr. McCarthy has clarified one aspect of the disinformation circulating. Could he explain to me why, at a number of centres around the country, so much relocation of people is ongoing? I will give him an example although I do not want to be too specific. Within a certain town, the case of a number of people who had settled into the community with their children and who had begun working...

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: Mr. McCarthy said something interesting. Does he feel there is a catalyst in that because there may be a financial benefit for owners of centres with huge numbers of Ukrainian families to replace them, quite frankly, with families coming in through the asylum process or other relocation methods?

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: Is the Department analysing the communities that were most impacted by such decisions?

Public Accounts Committee: 2022 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (18 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: Some 65% to 70% of hotel bed capacity in Youghal was wiped out. The financial impact on that town has been detrimental. I see it on Main Street. I know I am using a parochial example. We are not alone but we are one of the worst impacted in the country. The Department’s modus operandi for the next number of months should be around the reduction in tensions within communities....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: First and foremost, from one baby of the House to another, I congratulate the Taoiseach on his appointment. I wish him well. He is the youngest Taoiseach the country has ever had and the issue I raise is one our generations share as a major issue, namely, housing and getting more housing built. The Government has done huge work under Housing for All which has been successful as regards...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (16 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: 99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the school transport scheme; the number of applications currently in the system from Cork county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16472/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Vacant Properties (11 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: 88. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider further funding to tackle dereliction and conversion of units for housing in Youghal urban centre considering it now has the highest vacancy rate for commercial premises in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15761/24]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: 79. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will outline the ongoing schemes his Department are currently considering to provide additional housing supply to a location (details supplied); the current construction of housing schemes in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15760/24]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Business Supports (10 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: 27. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has plans for a range of supports to help the hospitality industry, including VAT reductions, to help businesses in difficulties and incentivise customers to support local outlets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15243/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Apr 2024)

James O'Connor: 412. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13756/24]