Results 27,041-27,060 of 33,175 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Other Questions: Greenways Funding (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In answer to the Deputy's first question, I expect the preparatory work on the Kildare and Meath portions of the greenway will begin in the first half of next year. I expect those new portions of the greenway to be open by the summer of 2017, which will then allow us to have made much more progress on the first half of the greenway. I am not in a position to say if further funding will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Traffic Offences (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: If I could just conclude, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I wish to put this information on the public record because the Deputy did make an important point - that if a perception arises regarding the ability of people to deal with road traffic offences in court, that is a big matter of concern to me and to the Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Traffic Offences (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The message is very clear that our courts are independent, but the overwhelming majority of people who appear in court for drink driving offences are successfully prosecuted.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for the provision of public transport infrastructure and public transport services in the greater Dublin Area, and a range of initiatives are being undertaken as regards service provision and investment. Under the recent capital plan there will be investment of €3.6 billion in public transport in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I might come back to that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the first question on the length of time it will take to commence the metro project, much of the reason for that is the amount of time that will be required for the planning process, including tendering and construction, for a project of such scale. By way of analogy, I refer to what is happening in the construction of the Luas cross city, which is a very big project for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The increase in the PSO is €28.5 million, which is a significant increase on where we were last year. There is no way the figures could be portrayed as either a cut or even a stabilisation of funding compared to last year. Last year the Government stabilised the funding; we did not cut it further. This year we have increased it. Since 2008, there had been a reduction of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Harbour Authorities (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I absolutely agree on the need for dialogue. I have been involved in similar matters in my constituency, as well as in my ministerial role. The need for consultation and involvement in any significant infrastructure project is evident to me. The Deputy referred to an amendment he will table on the Harbours Bill 2015 on the need for a local authority to consult actively and to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Traffic Offences (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to comment on the interpretation of the figures in question. It is of fundamental importance to how people view the implementation of our law, particularly for dangerous driving. ​Recent reports referred to by the Deputy suggested that only 40% of people charged with drink-driving offences are being convicted. This figure is based on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Traffic Offences (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: There are matters of concern to me in the implementation of the legislation on the matter in question. That is why we are examining matters such as the new database that would integrate information between a driver licence and the details of a car. That is also why we want to make available the third payment option for next year. On the point about statistics, the Courts Service did...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Traffic Offences (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: This information is available to me. I have spoken about the issue of the number of individuals charged with road traffic offences but who do not produce their driver licence when they are in the court. The statistics on that have enabled us to prioritise it as a matter of concern and that is why we are following it up with the various steps I already outlined on the third payment option...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Car Test (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: One of the causes of this is the decision I made over a year ago to include the NCT in the fixed charge system. I did this following advice I received and based on my own judgment that the quality and safety of cars and their roadworthiness continued to be a factor in our roads not being as safe as we would like. The statistics in regard to what has happened since that change was made...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Harbour Authorities (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​I thank the Deputy for his question. The  Harbours Bill 2015 was published on 1 July and Oireachtas debates on the Bill have commenced with Committee Stage scheduled for this morning, 11 November, which I will be taking. The Bill will provide the legislative basis for one of the national ports policy's key recommendations, namely, that governance of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Harbour Authorities (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy has put three points to me. First, I do not propose to comment on a matter that is currently before An Bord Pleanála. Second, I already made clear to the Deputy in my response to his initial question that the due diligence process and the work under way will form an important part of the input into the decision that I will make as Minister. I want that to be a decision that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Conference Sector Promotion (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: A structured approach is in place in respect of winning and supporting these events. This is the very structure that has delivered the kind of success I outlined to the Deputy a moment ago. A total of 188 international events will take place in Dublin over the next four years. The National Convention Centre is exceptionally busy, as are other venues throughout the country, with the kind of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Car Test (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Road Safety Authority, RSA, has statutory responsibility for the delivery of the NCT. The contract the RSA has in place with Applus+ to carry out the NCT requires that specific standards in a number of areas be met, including customer waiting times, customer satisfaction and test integrity. I understand this contract sets out specific penalties for not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Car Test (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In respect of some of the items that can cause a car to fail the NCT, I would respectfully say to the Deputy that a bulb that is not working, which can in turn cause an indicator or light not to work, is not a minor item. It might feel like one now but as we can see with the nights getting longer and the days getting wetter, having indicators and lamps that work is a very important part of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Conference Sector Promotion (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​It is disappointing that the Web Summit has decided to move to Lisbon for the next three years, particularly as it has been such a great success in Dublin and grew so impressively over that time. I am open to engaging with the organisers of the Web Summit with a view to the summit staying in Dublin in the future and they have indicated this is something they wish to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Conference Sector Promotion (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I would never take the Deputy's comments personally and he is making fair and important points. I agree with the Deputy the loss of the event to Dublin is a significant business loss and I always have acknowledged that. Alongside this, however, I will make two points to the Deputy, the first being that one might consider the degree of support the Government and State agencies have provided...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Funding (11 Nov 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Under the National Cycle Network funding programme 2014-2016 Meath County Council submitted a proposal to my Department for the development of the Boyne Valley to Lakelands County Greenway. While it was recognised that the proposal had considerable merit it was not possible to provide funding at that time given the number of applications received far exceeded...