Results 28,681-28,700 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Provision (19 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In the case of commercial bus routes, commercial bus services are licensed in accordance with the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009 and in line with the NTA's published Guidelines for the Licensing of Public Bus Passenger Services.  The Guidelines are published on the NTA website.  The Guidelines were prepared in accordance with the detailed provisions set...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (19 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The regulation of the small public service vehicle sector including the issue of rural hackney licences is a matter for the National Transport Authority under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (19 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The promotion and development of cruise tourism are primarily matters for the boards and management of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland as well as individual ports themselves. That said I know that the cruise ship tourism sector is growing worldwide and international demand for the product remains strong. Irish ports continue to capitalise on the global rise in cruise tourism and a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Project Funding (19 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The issues raised by the Deputy are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Tourism Ireland Limited is the agency with responsibility for promoting the island of Ireland as a holiday destination overseas while Fáilte Ireland is the National Tourism Development Authority. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the tourism agencies for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (19 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Responsibility for the management of the IASS pension fund rests with the Trustees of the Scheme. Pension schemes are closely regulated under Irish and European law and the Pensions Authority is the national statutory regulatory authority in Ireland. It is a matter for the Pensions Authority to consider if an investigation is required and I am not aware of any such consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (19 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The legislative basis for speed limits in this jurisdiction is in the Road Traffic Act 2004.  This Act sets out a number of default speed limits for certain classes of roads, and permits local authorities to apply special speed limits in particular circumstances. The default speed limit for built-up areas is 50 km/h. However, local authorities have the option of applying a 30...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the members of the committee for the opportunity to speak to them on this important topic. It is the first time I have had the opportunity to address this committee. I hope that my contribution will be of help to the members in the work they are doing. Dr Horgan’s petition touches on many important matters such as Ireland's traditional policy of neutrality and our views...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: That is not a problem, a Chathaoirligh. My Department seeks the views of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on foreign policy issues and the Department of Justice and Equality on security issues. The Irish Aviation Authority is consulted on aviation safety issues but only on applications involving munitions that are also categorised as dangerous goods. If any of these bodies...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Senator for his questions. He is correct that while I do not have a formal role for foreign policy in regard to neutrality, I am a member of the Cabinet and have collective responsibility regarding that matter. The two defining characteristics for me in regard to our neutrality are, first, our non-participation in military alliances. Second, I would interpret it as being the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The answer to that question is "Yes". If somebody is travelling on board the plane whose job is to protect the plane, they can carry a weapon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is specified in the order. I will come back to the Deputy on the availability of statistics on that point because most of the information I have here is on exemptions. It is defined in the order that somebody can carry a weapon if it is for the defence of the aeroplane.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: My focus and the only role I play is in regard to civil aircraft. I am not wishing to dodge the question. I take the Senator's point that the civil aircraft we are referring to do carry military personnel. My main role in that area relates to safety concerns for the personnel and then for our country. However, we are getting into an area where we have a divergence of views in that I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is because we have raised that matter directly with the US Government. It has given us an assurance that it is not happening. If any such evidence exists of it happening, it is a criminal matter and the Garda Síochána should be supplied with the evidence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I will come back to the Senator on the issue of cargo aircraft because I do not want to give an answer here that may mislead him in any way. The reason for us turning down an exemption would be based either on advice we would get from another Department regarding foreign policy on the matter or a judgment that munitions or weapons are being carried in a way that is not consistent with our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I have already said that we raised this with the US Government and it has given us an assurance that it is not happening. The illegal detention of any person is, clearly, illegal. It should not be happening and the Irish State would not be complicit in that in any way. The Government has raised this matter with the US Government and it has given assurances to us that this is not the case....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy. As for his first question on whether, because there are fewer civil aircraft now coming through the airport, it would be easier to deploy an operation, the logical answer to that question is that because fewer aircraft were going through any kind of a check or mechanism, it would be covering a smaller number of aircraft than was the case in the past. As for my own role...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In respect of rendition, I am not aware. There has been much expression of strong views on the matter. However, it is more of a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality or the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to comment on and to tell members whether such evidence has been offered to them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: That is a good and pointed analogy to put to me. However, there is a difference between the relationships between a household and families and that between two countries. We have raised this issue at diplomatic and political level with the US Government, which is the source of nearly all of the personnel to whom the Chairman refers. The American authorities have assured the Government...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: (Resumed) Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (18 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: These are questions I am sure the Chairman will put to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. My role here pertains to the regulation of civil aircraft and the primary and indeed only role I have is as to whether those aircraft and the people on them are safe when they come into Irish airspace and when they land on Irish property. The Government has clear mechanisms in place in that...