Results 1,021-1,040 of 1,113,705 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:Dara Calleary OR speaker:Matt Shanahan OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan OR speaker:James Browne OR speaker:Thomas Gould OR speaker:Catherine Martin OR speaker:Ossian Smyth OR speaker:Seán Sherlock OR speaker:Niall Collins OR speaker:Alan Farrell OR speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire OR speaker:Pearse Doherty OR speaker:Marian Harkin OR speaker:Kieran O'Donnell OR speaker:Frank Feighan OR speaker:Mark Ward OR speaker:Mairead Farrell OR speaker:Michael Moynihan OR speaker:Marc Ó Cathasaigh OR speaker:Hildegarde Naughton OR speaker:Catherine Connolly)

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: The purpose of today's meeting is to receive an update from Iarnród Éireann on timetables that were rolled in late August of this year. On behalf of the committee I am very pleased to welcome Mr. Jim Meade, chief executive and Mr. Barry Kenny, corporate communications manager. I am required to remind witnesses of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank Mr. Meade very much. Before I bring in our first speaker, Senator Dooley, I want to say that it was appreciated how promptly Irish Rail responded to the request to come before the committee. Indeed, I believe the company heard about this invitation before it received it. It is appreciated that the company came in and made itself available. I am sure I am not alone in the view that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: The Senator has time to spare. On the consultation, I do not mean this flippantly but what possessed Irish Rail to introduce a new timetable on 26 August in advance of the academic year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: Mr. Meade talked about the learning experience gathered from this process in recent weeks. There are a number of key questions to be asked about infrastructure but I will focus on the passenger perspective for the first part of my questioning. There is or perceived to be an infrastructural deficit at some rail stations, for instance, as regards shelter when large numbers of passengers get...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: I am sorry to interrupt but I want to ask about platform safety, particularly in heavily congested stations. Has Iarnród Éireann given any consideration to platform-based doors?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: I with to make two points on Mr. Meade's response, one of which is on communication. It was alleged by a number of people who communicated with me that on-board communication about delays, etc., was patchy at best. I appreciate that was not universally the case and that statement does not capture all trains or drivers but gaps were reported to me. I have had over communications from more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank Mr. Meade. I call Deputy Smith.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: I will allow Deputy Matthews back in but I just want to ask, given the funding allocated for those surveys, when does Mr. Meade expect to see a product from that work?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: There are several important matters to have the witnesses back before the committee to discuss in the new year, should we still be here. I am sorry for interrupting Mr. Meade.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the witnesses. It is a very interesting engagement. Mr. Meade said Irish Rail made a mistake with the timetable changes after 26 August and he hopes there will not be the same disruption again for passengers. Unfortunately, these things happen. He has held up his hands and said Irish Rail will try to do a bit better. I live in Sligo, in the north west. I will be a bit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: Thank you very much, Deputy. I will now move on to non-members. Senator Currie is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank Senator Currie.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: The Senator can make a one-way point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: I thank Mr. Meade and Deputy O'Rourke. We will do another quick loop. Deputy Matthews and I wish to speak. I had a couple of little questions, albeit not quite a quick-fire round. One of the suggestions or conversations that I have had with commuters on board and on platforms over the past few weeks, is whether we should expect more trains stopped at stations with diesel - sorry I call...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: Speaking of train sizes, it was mentioned to me by quite a few people from Malahide that some of the formerly, I presume it was eight-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: Some of the eight carriage trains have been showing, and it might be more, but they are showing up shorter than usual. Is there some issue there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: For ongoing discussion purposes, what is the average speed of the DART versus what Irish Rail envisage the average speed of the new battery electric train?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: The average speed might be more appropriate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: It would be informative because a lot of people, ourselves included, are trying to comprehend mapping, timetabling and extra capacity. As I mentioned, on your website and as we speak, I think I still have it open, in some three-hour peak times, Irish Rail will go from 11 to 24 services. I presume on the existing DART line, it will go from 20 to 30 services in a three-hour window. If I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Timetables: Iarnród Éireann (9 Oct 2024)

Alan Farrell: Mr. Meade talked about "four north" which is a good name and easy to remember. Mr. Meade mentioned this is something he expects to be in a position to publish or finalise in the new year. First, regardless of where Deputy Matthews and I happen to be at the time, it would be very much appreciated if we could have an engagement with Irish Rail on that. That would be the start of a very big...