Results 29,281-29,300 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Transport Authority (NTA), has statutory responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the development of QBCs. I understand from the NTA that in 2005/2006, proposals were advanced for various changes to the bus and traffic lane configuration in the vicinity of the Collins Avenue / Swords...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: An Fhoireann Rannach (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Ba mhaith liom  a chur in iúl don Teachta Dála nach raibh an t-iniúchadh seo curtha ar siúl fós. Tá an Roinn ag súil go mbeidh an t-iniúchadh curtha ar bun chomh luath agus is féidir sa bhliain nua.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Penalty Points System (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Measures brought into effect earlier this year under the Road Traffic Act 2014, mean that, when a foreign licence holder incurs penalty points, a record can be created and the points applied to it.    The mechanism is the same as for other penalty points offences.  A licence record is created on the National Vehicle and Driving File, held by my Department, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Private Bus Operators (16 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The issues raised are matters 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 response within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (11 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The commissioning of artistic features on road projects under the 'Per Cent for Art' scheme is a matter for the local authority concerned in conjunction with the National Roads Authority. The overall responsibility for the Per Cent for Art scheme rests with the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (11 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I understand that the Road Safety Authority responded directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter in June last and I will forward the Deputy's current Question to the RSA for an update of the situation and direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Severe Weather Events Expenditure (11 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: There were a number of severe weather events from late 2013 into 2014.   After the December/January damage the Government acknowledged that the budgets of Local Authorities and relevant Departments/Offices did not provide for the estimated direct financial costs for clean-up and infrastructure repair and restoration works, and agreed that additional funding would be...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Safety (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Senator for her response. My challenge in dealing with issues like this is that as Minister my role, as the Senator well knows, is to determine the funding that is available and allocate that to local authorities. With the knowledge they have of their localities, which is not available to me, they would spend that money in the best way possible for their areas and be able to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Safety (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Senator Higgins for raising this matter. I am pleased to take this debate in the Seanad this evening and to take the opportunity again to respond to the Senator's request. I wish to re-emphasise the position regarding the funding of regional and local roads. I understand the Senator's motion refers to a non-continuous footpath and, separately, to a railway bridge, both of which are...

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I will go on to answer the questions posed by Senator Darragh O'Brien, but he made a number of political charges. The Act that put in place the legislative status of deferred members was introduced by Senator Darragh O'Brien's party in government. In all the meetings I have had with deferred members, they say to me that Fianna Fáil caused this.

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: They look at the 2009 Act and say it was the root cause of this difficulty from a legislative perspective.

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I wanted to respond to the political charges Senator O'Brien made to me on those two areas. With regard to what I have done, I was privileged to have been appointed to this role and I was faced with a choice about taking a decision that would have created serious and unknown consequences for the members of the scheme. Let me say what they are. I will repeat that this is based on the...

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I will begin by making one point very clear. If I had not signed the enactment order here, had gone against the wishes of the trustees and the recommendation of an expert panel and had taken a fund upon which 15,000 people rely that has a deficit of between €700 million and €750 million into absolutely unknown territory with potentially huge risks to them, Senators Power and...

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2009.

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: As I stated on 18 November when I last made a statement to the House on this matter, resolution of the IASS funding difficulties is primarily a matter for the trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority. The difficulties in this scheme have increased to the extent that the deficit is now in the range of from €700 million to...

Topical Issue Debate: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy asked me a direct question about a trustee which I cannot answer. The Deputy asked about the responsibility of the different individuals who have been involved in this. The implementation and management of the pension fund in the first place is the responsibility of the trustees and I have to recognise that. The Deputy asked me what had happened. Nearly four years of work has...

Topical Issue Debate: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I know other colleagues have sought to have it selected. In responding to the points I will begin by stating I am deeply aware of the impact of the proposed changes on many people. I have met them and read a huge amount of correspondence from them. I have heard at first hand the personal consequences of this crisis for them and their prospects...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: While the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport provides funding for capital investment in tourism, the allocation of these funds are a matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland. My Department has no direct role in supporting individual tourism attractions. Fáilte Ireland administers the Tourism Capital Investment Programme (TCIP) but funds are fully committed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service, including the location of front offices, is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct response. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (10 Dec 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Changes to the penalty points regime which came into effect on Monday last, 8December, were legislated for under the Road Traffic Act 2014.   These changes relate to a range of measures, including the National Car Test (NCT) system.    It has, for some years, been an offence to use a vehicle on public roads without a valid NCT certificate. Prior to the...