Results 28,901-28,920 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Other Questions: Transport Infrastructure (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy can well understand, I am not going to pre-judge a process that is weighing up all these different factors. I understand he has participated in it and has made his views known. The reason we have the National Transport Authority doing this work is so that it can evaluate all the different options and make a recommendation to me. BRT could play a role in the future. I do...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Network (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: On access to the airport, a matter Deputy Alan Farrell has also raised, we have put in place a process to examine the options that might substantially improve access between Dublin city centre, the airport and Swords. As I told Deputy Timmy Dooley earlier, I aim to have that process completed by the middle of the year to ensure we will be clear on what projects will be involved which will...

Other Questions: Transport Infrastructure (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Transport Authority, NTA, has commissioned the Fingal-north Dublin transport study to examine all existing proposals, namely, heavy rail, metro, Luas extensions, as well as other options for a rail-based transport solution to meet the needs of the Swords-Dublin Airport to city centre corridor in the long term. Phase one of the study was launched on 8...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Network (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I will try to respond to each of the points made by the Deputy. In regard to the north east, I spent all day yesterday, including yesterday evening, in Donegal where I heard first-hand many of the points made today by the Deputy. For example, the county manager made the point that there is more than 6,000 km of road network and between 4,000 and 5,000 bridges in County Donegal. The vast...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I absolutely appreciate the Deputy’s point, that there is a need for public transport projects in parts of our country to alleviate congestion challenges just as in many other parts of the country there is an acute need for infrastructure and investment in our local road network to respond to the needs in many counties. For me to gain support within Government for projects to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Network (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am committed to supporting a well-funded public transport system into the future, recognising the vital role it plays in our economy and society generally. I ensured that PSO funding for bus and rail services was maintained at current levels in the last budget, the first time this has happened since 2008. At the end of 2014 I brought forward a Supplementary Estimate which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Transport Authority, NTA, has responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the greater Dublin area, GDA. Under this remit, the NTA has commissioned the Fingal-north Dublin transport study to examine all existing proposals as well as other possible options for a transport solution to meet the needs of the Swords-Dublin Airport-city...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: By the middle of 2015 I aim to have achieved clarity on the projects that should be progressed and why. It is more difficult to answer the second part of the Deputy's question about when work will begin and when the projects will be open to serve the travelling public because the recommendation I take to the Government will determine which projects will be built and how long it will take to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is at least possible that the Deputy might be misinformed on this as well.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am glad to hear that she has such certainty. I am struck by such certainty on this matter. I have my own information that I have put on the record of the House and I have answered each of the questions the Deputy has put to me. When I have answered them, she has then-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I have given the Deputy the answer on that. My information on the process that is taking place is that SIPTU has provided a statement to the expert panel.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In the communication that my Secretary General and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation made to the expert panel, we requested that engagement take place between the expert panel and senior officials within SIPTU to facilitate engagement. This is the information that I have. I understand that the process of engagment is under way. If the Deputy has information to the contrary,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I must again make it clear that the IASS and its funding are primarily matters for the trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority.  Following SIPTU’s recommendation last November to its members in the DAA and the Shannon Airport Authority to reject the IASS trustees proposal, the Secretaries General of my Department and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The concerns workers had expressed and the fact that many of these concerns had been instrumental in the ballots which had taken place in the DAA and the Shannon Airport Authority formed the background to the decision taken by the two Secretaries General to ask the expert panel to engage in a process of clarification. For the Deputy's own information, the particular matters they were asked to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I have always been acutely aware that national connectivity has a vital regional dimension. I have visited Shannon and Cork airports and met representatives of the two airports on matters of concern and interest. I understand that access to our country is fundamental to the way our economy has grown. Maintaining and increasing access in the future is vital not only from the point of view...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The first step in allowing the Government to determine its decision is for us to gain the right level of information and understanding about what IAG is proposing. We are in the process of doing so and preliminary contact has been made. I expect further contact to take place soon, which will allow us to understand the exact nature of what is being proposed. When I am in a position to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: If the Deputy feels so strongly about these points, I am given to wonder why he agreed to the privatisation of 75% of Aer Lingus in the first place.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: If he feels so strongly about all the points he has made, I am struck by how he squares that up with what his party did with the company when in government.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy made points about the strategic value of our stake in the Aer Lingus company to the country. We have always been crystal clear that the disposal of such a stake would be dependent on the right terms and conditions being secured and also what the gain for the taxpayer would be in terms of the share within the company. We have remained absolutely consistent to that point of view...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I touched on some parts of the Deputy's question when I was responding to Deputy Dooley. His question contains particular reference to the Heathrow slots. I will devote my time to responding to that issue. At the time of the flotation of Aer Lingus in 2006, a procedure for any proposed disposal of the Heathrow slots was built into the company’s articles of association. That...