Results 1-20 of 1,080,851 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire OR speaker:Steven Matthews OR speaker:Darren O'Rourke OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív04 OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae OR speaker:Pat Buckley OR speaker:Brendan Griffin OR speaker:Gerald Nash OR speaker:Aengus Ó Snodaigh OR speaker:Aengus Ó Snodaigh22)

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for being here today. I have a question on the public transport subhead, the reallocation of funding and the additional capital. I think that the Minister of State said there was a shift of €29 million from capital to current expenditure. It certainly is the case that there are increased numbers on public transport. I think it is a shared policy...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I can look at the cancellations: the 7.30 a.m. 103 service from Dublin to Ratoath; the 8.40 a.m. from Ratoath to Dublin; the 8.25 a.m. 109 from Dunshaughlin to Dublin; and the 7.42 a.m. NX from Dublin to Navan. Those were all cancellations this morning, which is, unfortunately, par for the course. Every one of those buses is full. There are 80 or 60 people. When those buses are cancelled,...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: Am I okay for another question?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I might get the Minister of State to run through a couple of points briefly. He might come back to me on the 20% fare reduction in respect of private operators. There is a shared objective for public transport. There are ambitious plans in respect of Connecting Ireland and the rural bus transport network. I encourage the speedy roll-out of that. There are challenges relating to drivers,...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: On the 20% for private operators in terms of public transport, has that been or will it be considered?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister of State has name-checked his party colleagues in the mid-east very well but I am glad he acknowledges the hardest work is being done by myself and my colleague Councillor Maria White on the issues of public transport.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I am learning here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Brian Leddin: The purpose of this morning's meeting is to have a discussion in advance of COP29. Before the recess the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, attended at this committee to give his outlook ahead of this very important conference of the parties in Azerbaijan. On behalf of the committee I welcome Ms Siobhan Curran, head of policy and advocacy, Trócaire; and Mr. Ross Fitzpatrick, policy and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank Mr. Fitzpatrick for his opening statement. I will go to members now to ask questions. Would Deputy Murphy like to go first?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Brian Leddin: Sorry, Senator, but I want to give Deputy O'Rourke a chance to comment. The Senator has had a lot of time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Brian Leddin: Okay. I will go back to Senator Higgins as we will have time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: The divestment Bill was mentioned, along with the many opportunities for perverse incentives, workarounds or money to go to exactly the wrong place. It is a huge area and there are a range of strands. I presume the objective needs to be to move as quickly as possible in order to close off those avenues and hold companies to account to ensure the flows of money are properly accounted for and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Brian Leddin: I would say to Senator Higgins that the framing of the fast-tracking of fracking or liquefied natural gas infrastructure is strongly disputed. The Senator's view is her own. It is unfair to ask the witness to confirm her subjective view.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Brian Leddin: The Senator would agree it is not fast-tracking.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Brian Leddin: As no other members are indicating, we have reached the end of the session. I thank the witnesses for their time. It has been a very informative session. I thank colleagues for their questions and their consistent interest in the annual COPs. This is the last meeting of this committee but, no doubt, the future iteration of the Joint Committee on the Environment and Climate Action will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank Ms Curran for her opening statement. I now call Mr. Fitzpatrick.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. I refer to the potential role of tax harmonisation and policy. There is a UN framework convention on taxation. Do the witnesses think that is an important aspect of policy, in terms of trying to tackle tax havens and avoidance and ensure there is fairness and equity? Can we use taxation policy as a way to take climate action while ensuring sustainability and equality?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: COP29: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Darren O'Rourke: In the context of the upcoming COP, what indicators, language or text coming out of that regarding movement in the right direction are being considered? I presume the witnesses are encouraging the Irish delegation to use its influence at a European level to push in that direction. Are there particular asks from the witnesses regarding what they want to see at the back end of the COP?