Results 28,841-28,860 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Developments in Cross-Border Transport Infrastructure: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank members for their questions. I want to emphasise that I accept that to address the development needs of the region, we must improve the road infrastructure in the area. My challenge is that I need to meet those needs in the context of a fixed budget. The budget will always be fixed in the future. However, as we see economic recovery, I am aiming to ensure that not only will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Developments in Cross-Border Transport Infrastructure: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I pointed out in my earlier contribution that I am not assigning responsibility for what happened to anybody. I said that. Lest there be an inference that I am in a position of assigning blame or responsibility for what happened, I draw everybody's attention to what I said. I have the height of respect not only for members here but for Louth County Council, the officials of which I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Developments in Cross-Border Transport Infrastructure: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: That is a question for other people to answer. I was very clear in answering the question that the Chairman put to me. I am not today seeking to assign responsibility or blame for what happened to any individual or party. As a Minister who is accountable to the Dáil for how money within my Department is spent and who deals with issues such as this all the time, I stand over my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Developments in Cross-Border Transport Infrastructure: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I accept that. I know from what the Chairman said that it has the support of the full committee. I cannot deliver €1.5 million or €2 million at this meeting but I am clear on the request.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Developments in Cross-Border Transport Infrastructure: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: If the question is addressed to me, I cannot give an answer. I am sure we engaged with the council on the project when the original decision was made in 2013. That is when the tender process was completed. Across that period is when the cost would have changed. I can revert to the committee about the discussions we have had with Louth County Council.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Developments in Cross-Border Transport Infrastructure: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to be very clear that I am not coming in here assigning responsibility to particular parties.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Developments in Cross-Border Transport Infrastructure: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: To respond to Senator D'Arcy's point about my not answering the question, I did not do so as I am not in a position to answer the query with hard facts and information. I will not make comments that I cannot stand over. I will revert to the committee within the next two weeks with our own observations on what happened in the process.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities Provision (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The proposed Great Eastern Greenway is an ambitious plan by Louth County Council (LCC) to construct a 44km cycleway stretching from Dundalk, Co Louth to Newry, Co Down.  A Steering Group was established in late 2014, comprising representatives of LCC and the Newry and Mourne District Councils, to discuss the delivery of the 7.4km link to Newry City to which the Deputy is referring. I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Improvement Scheme (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Local Improvement Scheme remains in place and it has not been abolished.  The purpose of this Scheme is to provide funding for roads and laneways that Councils have not taken in charge.  However, the maintenance and improvement of these is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. At present, local authorities may use up to 15% of their initial Discretionary...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Regulations (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Under regulation 36 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 182 of 1997), it is illegal to park on a grass margin. A grass margin is defined in the regulations as 'that portion of a public road situated on either side of a footway and which is provided for the growing of grass, trees or shrubbery of any kind.' Enforcement of road traffic regulations in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) under the Road Safety Authority (RSA), normally requires attendance in person at an NDLS centre on one occasion for image capture when renewing a licence.  This is part of the SAFE 2 (Standard Authentication Framework Environment) identity verification standard.   However, given the difficulty in cases where people ordinarily...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance Funding (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Details of the 2014 regional and local road grant allocations and payments to county councils are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library.  Details of the 2015 regional and local road grant allocations to each county council are being provided to the Dáil library. With regard to national roads, details of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In accordance with Action 92 of the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020, it is my intention to extend the fixed charge notice system to road traffic offences by cyclists.  This will offer a significant improvement to the mechanisms available to An Garda Síochána to enforce road traffic law in cases involving cyclists, and I believe it will improve safety for all road users, cyclists...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities Funding (5 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: All funding available to my Department for the development of cycleways/greenways is fully committed up to the end of 2016.  However it is possible, given the success of the projects already delivered, that funding may become available from other sources over the coming years. Westmeath County Council (WCC) were fortunate in securing substantial funding for two...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (5 Feb 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 N2) is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting...

Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Issues (4 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: On our choice of adviser, we are being advised on this issue by private sector companies, the names of which are on the public record. The interdepartmental group includes representatives of the various Departments affected by this issue, including the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and is chaired by an official from my Department. I am confident that we have...

Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Issues (4 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank my constituency colleague, Deputy Costello, and Deputy McGrath for raising this important matter. I have responded to many questions on this, here on the floor of the Dáil, in the Seanad and in the transport committee, and I look forward to continuing to do so while this matter is under consideration. I will first respond to the core question Deputy Costello put to me regarding...

Topical Issue Debate: Ferry Services (4 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter after Stena Line announced a consolidation of its services from Holyhead to Dublin Port. I am more than aware that the news will come as a major disappointment to everyone in Dún Laoghaire Harbour and the wider Dún Laoghaire community. I recognise the Deputy's comments and share her disappointment. I worked in Stena Line in Dún...

Topical Issue Debate: Ferry Services (4 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I recognise the changes Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has made and acknowledge many of the difficulties the company has faced. It has not been easy work. The company has put considerable effort into dealing with its financial status. In view of this, while it was known that there was this possibility, for it to actually materialise is a great disappointment for everyone involved in...