Results 28,201-28,220 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aviation Policy (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I agree with Deputy Halligan that regional airports play an exceptionally important role in delivering balanced development across the country. The Deputy has in the past raised with me the issue of the lengthening of the runway at Waterford Airport and I followed up on that matter in anticipation of this question here today. My Department has been advised that the airport board is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aviation Policy (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not agree with Deputy Halligan's analysis regarding the risk of catastrophic consequences for either Waterford Airport or the other regional airports. The Deputy asked about the Government's response to the guidelines from the European Commission. As I stated earlier, we agreed with the guidelines that were being put out. I suppose we did that for larger reasons. It places new...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: At this stage, I do not have any significant developments to report on the proposed offer by IAG for Aer Lingus. However, I expect that the Government will be in a position to make a decision on the matter in the coming weeks. The Government's interdepartmental steering group and its advisers have continued their engagement with IAG. This engagement has centred on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As I stated, this is a matter that I have not drawn to conclusion. The Government, through the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, has made clear that the main elements any guarantees would need to deliver, were such guarantees to be agreed by the Cabinet, would be that they would be robust, certain and have clear oversight mechanisms in place. 10 o’clock The strength of those oversight...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 1 from Deputy Dooley in which I had an opportunity to refer to some of the points raised by Deputy Ellis. I will make a number of additional points on the matter. I made it very clear in my intervention yesterday that were any existing employees of Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann to find themselves in a position where they were...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy's points are absolutely wrong. I say that with respect because I know the Deputy's interest and support for both companies. It is not a case that if a private operator were to win a tender it would be able to select routes. That point is incorrect. The National Transport Authority is looking at a parcel of routes which is 10% of existing routes and it will make the decision...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is one thing just to ignore everything I just said a moment ago but it is another thing to ignore everything I said yesterday. The Deputy is asking me to intervene but I remind him of what I did yesterday and what the Government did. We made a very comprehensive intervention to respond to the concerns of employees which I appreciate they would have. I repeat what we said yesterday....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aviation Policy (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​The Government policy on aviation is reflected in Ireland's Regional Airports Programme 2015–2019, which provides for the continuance of three Exchequer support schemes, namely, the OPEX and CAPEX schemes which deal with the operational and capital expenditure needs of airports and the PSO air services scheme. These apply, where appropriate, to the four regional...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe:  As the Deputy is aware, I am greatly concerned that industrial action has been threatened in circumstances where the National Transport Authority is carrying out its statutory responsibility of proceeding with a tendering process that resulted from an assessment of how best to balance direct award and tendered public service obligation bus services in the public interest. Such...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Deputy Dooley is performing more U-turns on this matter than the most agile driver in either Dublin Bus or Bus Éireann. The implementation of the tendering process is a consequence of the 2008 legislation introduced by his Government, which he supported. Bringing in a degree of competitive tension to the marketplace is a consequence of that legislation. It is a policy that I believe...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am struck by the speed at which the Deputy moved on from acknowledging his own role and that of his party in putting together the legislation that forms the origin of what I am dealing with today, to an open discussion regarding who is doing what at Minister of State level within the Government. The Deputy has just acknowledged the role he and his party played because he understood then...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities Funding (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​To date, my Departments's funding initiatives for the delivery of greenways have been open to local authorities only.  Local Authorities have staff in place with the right skills, experience and knowledge to plan and procure cycle projects and can ensure that greenways fit in with the Development and Local Transport plans. They also have, generally, a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The draft Framework "Investing in Our Transport Future: A Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport" was published for public and stakeholder consultation in August last. Having considered the submissions made, my Department has finalised the report and I plan to publish the revised final report soon.   The Framework concludes that the key challenge with regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Development Projects (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​The options and opportunities for the growth and development of the Airport were the subject of a Study Group established by the Taoiseach in January 2013 and chaired by Deputy John O'Mahony. A range of potential future scenarios for the future viability and growth of the Airport were considered as part of the Group’s deliberations. In examining potential future scenarios...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sale of Aer Lingus (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I have given an update on the situation in relation to the Aer Lingus shareholding in my response to Priority Question No. 4. I expect that the Steering Group will report back to me shortly and the matter will be considered by Government, once I have received the final report.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus Services (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No.1 which I answered earlier. The NTA has the statutory responsibility under legislation of assessing and judging how best to balance direct award and tendered PSO bus services. International experience confirms that a range of benefits can accrue from tendering in terms of value for money and service quality.  As to other...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on the national road network is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects (including the N22) is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Subsidies (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 1 which I answered earlier. Both bus companies will be able to submit proposals under the procurement process. Regardless of whether they are successful in the procurement process, they have much to gain from forecast growth in the PSO bus market which will benefit revenue growth and employment in the companies.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sale of Aer Lingus (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​I have given an update on the situation in relation to the Aer Lingus shareholding in my response to Priority PQ 4. As I said the engagement with IAG has centred on the considerations set out in my statement of 24 February, which do not include pension issues.  Matters relating to Aer Lingus' main pension scheme, the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme, are primarily for the...