Results 29,221-29,240 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (17 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 263, inclusive, together. The issues of health and safety, roadside vehicle checks and premises checks are a matter for the Road Safety Authority. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the appointment of Transport Officers, and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Strategy (17 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 includes a commitment to "review policy on licensing of road transport operators to assess if own account operators should be included." A review of own account operator licensing is currently being carried out in my Department.  The policy will be finalised in 2015, following a stakeholder consultation.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (17 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: My officials have concluded a review of the conditions relating to the requirement of professional competence provided for in Regulation (EC) 1071/2009. I propose to make new regulations shortly that will enable me to authorise a body to provide transport managers with continuous training to update their knowledge.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (17 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The introduction of the UK HGV road user levy was an unwelcome development for Irish hauliers, particularly for those operating in areas around the border with Northern Ireland. My Department lobbied extensively against the application of the levy in Northern Ireland, but the UK Minister for Transport refused to grant any significant exemption beyond certain small sections of NI roads that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (17 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The HGV Road User Levy introduced on 1 April 2014 in the United Kingdom and including Northern Ireland is a matter under the remit of the central U.K. Government in Westminster. The U.K. Minister For Transport has exempted approximately 7 km of roads that repeatedly criss-cross the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, as follows: - A section of the A3 intersecting with the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: EU Regulations (17 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Article 29 of Regulation (EC) 1073/2009 amended Article 8 of Regulation (EC) 561/2006 and its application to certain forms of passenger transport with effect from 4 June 2010. As a result, a coach driver on an international coach tour trip can avail of driving time regulations known as the “12 Day Rule”. Certain conditions apply, however, which are intended to protect the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: International Agreements (17 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department operates within the national policy framework regarding gender equality, including in relation to preventing and combating violence against women.  It also takes part in the Inter-Departmental Committee, chaired by the Department of Justice and Equality, charged with monitoring the implementation of the National Women’s Strategy,whichincludes two objectives...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Consultancy Contracts Data (17 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue raised is a  matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority (17 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue raised is a  matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts Data (17 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Responsibility for the tender process and subsequent roll-out, extension, maintenance and commercial elements of the Dublin and Regional City Bikes Scheme is an operational matter for the National Transport Authority, working closely with the relevant local authority. Noting the above, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NTA for direct reply. However, I would...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Driver Licences (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I have listened very much to what Senator Moloney has said. I take her point that 6% of road accidents involve those with L plates are in the learner driver category. To really understand that figure further, we would have to look at the share of learner drivers as a percentage of the total driving population and to compare that with the figure of 6% of learner drivers who are involved in...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Driver Licences (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Senator Moloney for raising this issue, which we have discussed already. I am pleased to respond to the topical issue she has raised. As she will be aware, the driver licensing system is one of the most important foundations of safety on roads. Driving is not a right. It is a privilege which must be earned by learning and proving a capacity to control a mechanically propelled...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank all Senators for their contributions and for the way this Bill was dealt with. I need to bring in this legislation promptly to deal with the issues we described earlier, and Senators have been exceptionally considerate of that. The issues that were raised about the amendment were raised on the grounds of prudence rather than on the grounds of opposition. Senators O'Neill and...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Senators Power and Byrne for tabling the matter. I wish to clarify a point made about the nature of this offence and that it was a new one. This has always been an offence. Prior to the change earlier in the year it was five penalty points and direct to court but that has now been changed so that people have the option of a fixed notice payment and three penalty points. The whole...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The challenge I have is this regard is that by definition the constitutional rights of people are very broad. If I were to introduce anything to specify what aspect of their rights we are looking to protect, it would leave me open to the accusation that I am weakening other aspects by not specifying them. The very nature of the amendment I am introducing is to make explicit that the rights...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I want to make clear again I am absolutely certain the Bill has been drafted to be constitutional. As I stated when I introduced the amendment, it flows from a recent appeal on a number of penalty points, and the person absolutely had the right to make the appeal. In this amendment I seek to make very explicit the rights the person has and the independence of the courts. I assure the...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: This amendment is to amend section 3 in page 4, between lines 23 and 24. Its purpose is to insert a new subsection in section 3 to clarify that this section is not intended to infringe the constitutional rights of any individual. This is to make provision in regard to the judicial review proceedings which were granted by the High Court yesterday, 15 December, in which the applicant has...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Senators, on whose comments I have two points. First, in presenting this Bill for Senators' consideration, I am absolutely confident that it is constitutional and meets all the requirements and constraints that the Constitution confers on it. Second, the amendment is making explicit that nothing in the Bill shall in any way seek to interfere with a matter that is currently...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: In regard to the point raised by Senator Thomas Byrne on commencement notices, it is certainly something I and my Department have learned in regard to the status of such notices. On the point put to me regarding the legislation being rushed, I am seeking to have it passed in an afternoon and evening. I appreciate the fact that I am allowed to bring it into the House at this stage. I am...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. Senator O'Donovan and others raised the status of the regime requiring a driver to have a valid NCT certificate. It was an offence before the Road Traffic Act 2014 and before this Bill. The 2014 Act changed the penalty point regime on the need to have a valid NCT certificate. A driver now has the option of not going to court, paying a...