Results 29,061-29,080 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Topical Issue Debate: Airport Landing Slots (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I acknowledge the importance of what the Deputies have raised. I understand the reasons they are making these points and the need to do so. Again, I must emphasise that because Aer Lingus is deemed to be in an offer period, I must take great care with what I say. No formal offer has been made for Aer Lingus. I have been very clear on the point made by all Deputies regarding the...

Topical Issue Debate: Airport Landing Slots (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. I am keenly aware of the importance of this matter not only to the constituencies they represent but also to the wider economy. I must preface my statement this evening by saying that following the announcements of recent approaches to Aer Lingus by IAG, the Irish Takeover Panel has deemed that Aer Lingus is now in an offer period. The...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Regional Airports (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Senator. I am absolutely aware of the importance of regional airports to national economic development and also, more particularly, to regional economic development. I have an appreciation of the role the airport has played not only in tourism in the area but also for the business community. The Senator, in his own contribution, named some of the companies that make great use...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Regional Airports (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Senator Cullinane for raising this difficult issue. I am pleased to be here for the first execution of the new Commencement Debate in the Seanad. If we had dealt with this matter under the previous system on the date the Senator hoped to have such a discussion, I think the debate would have happened at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. I think this is a better way for the Senator and I to handle...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Regional Airports (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has been informed by Waterford Airport that Flybe will be withdrawing its services with effect from the end of March 2015. Flybe is the only commercial operator currently using the airport. It operates services on the Manchester and Birmingham routes. It is understood that the withdrawal of Flybe services is not limited to Waterford Airport,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Issues (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 618 together. Following the announcements on 18 December and more recently on 9 January that IAG had made approaches to Aer Lingus about a possible offer for the company, the Irish Takeover Panel has deemed that Aer Lingus is now in an 'offer period'. The Takeover Panel Rules in relation to communications apply to all parties during an...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 to 596, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, the DAA is the body charged with statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin and Cork Airports.  In these circumstances, responsibility for any new chartered flight plans for Cork Airport, any future redundancies, the competitiveness and viability of that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Data (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The plastic card format of driving licence was introduced in January 2013 in accordance with EU requirements.   The plastic card format offers a number of advantages over the previous paper licence.  It is smaller and therefore easier to carry, it is more durable; and the enhanced security elements makes it is more difficult to forge. The card also...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Assets (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Irish State owns 134,109,026 shares in Aer Lingus.  This currently represents 25.11% of the company's issued shares. The shares are held in the name of the Minister for Finance. This information is publicly available on the Aer Lingus Group's corporate website.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Driver licensing law in Ireland operates within a framework of EU law. On this basis, we have mutual exchange of driving licences with other EU Member States.  In the case of non-EU jurisdictions, we can reach bilateral agreements on mutual exchange of licences. The process of reaching these agreements involves detailed comparison of the two regimes by the licensing authorities on both...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Meetings (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to Dail Questions no 641 and 642 of the 16th of December 2014. The position remains the same. The information requested by the Deputy would require an inordinate amount of time to compile as the number of meetings involved is quite substantial. The Management Board (MB) of the Department is comprised of the Secretary General and currently five Assistant Secretaries....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested is set out in the table on a year by year basis. Year 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Cost € 226,505 € 194,569 € 189,954 € 181,891 € 216,602 € 206,331 € 196,045 € 180,871 The costs year on year are not directly comparable due to a number of changes of personnel through the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Transport (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. Given the cutbacks in the funding available for roads, the Specific and Strategic Grants Schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (20 Jan 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 is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Policy (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: A review of tourism policy began in 2013, to look at all aspects of Irish tourism.  A consultation paper was published and stakeholders were invited to submit their views.  In order to further facilitate the tourism sector, a number of regional seminars with key stakeholders (including one seminar in Athlone) were held from October to December 2013. A...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Policy (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The drafting of the final policy document is at an advanced stage and it is my intention to publish it in the near future.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: International Agreements (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Since 2010, under the terms of an EU Convention, Ireland has operated a bilateral agreement with the UK for the Mutual Recognition of Driver Disqualifications. The UK decided, in 2014, to withdraw from a number of EU Conventions, including the Mutual Recognition of Driver Disqualifications, and, therefore, since 1 December 2014, the terms of the agreement ceased to apply. My Department held...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Penalty Points System (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the so called "third payment option" which is provided for in the Road Traffic Act 2010 and the possibility of an interim solution whereby fixed charge notices would be sent by registered post. Currently, fixed charge notices are sent by post. If the person does not pay within 28 days, a further notice is sent informing them that they may...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Strategy (20 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is my policy to see roadside testing of drivers for drugs, along similar lines to existing tests for alcohol, in place as soon as practicable.   The technology for roadside testing for the presence of drugs is relatively new, and there are various devices on the market. The Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) published an invitation to tender for the provision of roadside...