Results 881-900 of 5,900 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The Road Traffic and Roads Act (2023) was passed last June. The Act contains significant provisions related to allowing access to the NVDF by motor insurers and intermediaries to verify the Driver Number and gain access to endorsement and disqualification data. Section 14(c) when commenced will expand access to allow not only insurers but also intermediaries acting on their behalf to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: It is important to distinguish between registration of a vehicle, from subsequent processing activity in its vehicle lifecycle. Initial registration of all new and imported vehicles is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners, so any data quality issues around the name and address details registered for such vehicle owners, and verification of same, is a matter for that office. Section 4 of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Legislative Programme (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: It has long been agreed that the Road Traffic Acts, which date back to 1961 and have been amended on multiple occasions, are overdue for consolidation. For this reason, we committed to addressing this issue as part of the Programme for Government. On coming into Government, we prioritised the need for urgent road traffic legislation in a number of areas, such as electric scooters, and we...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Accidents (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has a statutory remit to report on fatal, serious and minor injury collisions on public roads. As such, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The agreement on the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications between Ireland and the United Kingdom is set out in the Road Traffic Act 2016. Under section 40(10) of the Act, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the competent authority of the State and the central authority of the State for the purposes of the agreement. Information regarding the operation of the agreement is be...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The requirement for a disqualified driver to surrender their licence is set out in the Road Traffic Act 2002 and the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (SI 537 of 2006). Failure to comply with the requirement to surrender a licence is an offence. Enforcement of road traffic legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána. Since 2014, Gardaí have had the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The Road Traffic and Roads Act (2023) was passed last June. The Act contains significant provisions related to the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) which is operated by the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). A number of sections of the Act have already been commenced. In order for IMID to be populated with verified driver numbers by insurers and intermediaries acting on their...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Insurance Coverage (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I am informed by the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland that information in relation to vehicles uploaded to the National Fleet Database has been provided to An Garda Síochána on a daily basis since 4 June 2024. This is in addition to the details for more than 3 million other vehicles provided daily from the Irish Motor Insurance Database. Checking and verifying the information...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Industry (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The details requested by the Deputy are provided in the table below. The data reflect the number of vehicles registered on the Department's National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database each year from 2020 to 2023 and as of the 30th of June 2024. Year of Registration on NVDF County Fuel Type ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: Someone resident in Ireland must have an Irish or EU driving licence to drive here. In accordance with the EU Driving Licence Directive, the foreign driving licence must be surrendered to the Road Safety Authority. The most common reason for delays in the licence exchange process is from verification of the driving licence from the other driving licence authority. At times a response is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: Driver licensing is handled by the National Driver Licence Service, the provision of which I have delegated to the Road Safety Authority under the relevant legislation. My Department does not have access to and may not intervene in individual applications. I have therefore referred this question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Legislative Programme (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I am aware of the recent article referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy may also wish to note that the same publication subsequently published an update on progress made by my Department in the area of consolidation of the Roads Traffic Acts. There is general agreement that the Road Traffic Acts, which date back to 1961 and have been amended on multiple occasions, are in need of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law and standards for driver testing are set at EU level. This ensures that those licensed to drive on our roads meet the required standards of safety. Ireland may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange with non-EU jurisdictions. These agreements can be made only when the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction are...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: People understood at the local elections.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I thank Deputy Durkan for the question. As he as said, there have been significant developments in this matter overnight and in the last couple of days which I very much welcome. My Department has been monitoring this industrial relations dispute for several weeks and I have been closely engaged since being appointed to this role this day last week. It is important to state that neither I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I thank Deputy Durkan. I would expect no less than a watching brief from my constituency colleague and will take on board the points that will be wisely made by him. I agree with his comments that this is critical, which is why I particularly welcome the intervention of the Labour Court, not just to hear the parties on request but to act on its own volition under the aforementioned section...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The Deputy is quite right that we have enjoyed relative industrial peace in this country in recent times and that is to be welcomed. It is a sign, largely, of a successful economy but also of empowered workers and unions and good relations between employers and employees. Thankfully, that has been the case, by and large, in recent times, notwithstanding the current dispute. The Taoiseach...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I look forward to working with the Deputy in this brief. His is Sinn Féin's spokesperson on transport and I know from the justice committee, where we worked together well, that he will be diligent in that regard. I look forward to continuing that relationship now that we are both in new roles. I extend my sympathies to the families of those who sadly lost their lives over last...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I hear what the Deputy is saying. He stated that local authorities could not get funding from the Government. I want to hear about that if it is the case. I am surprised to hear it, as there has been a significant allocation. Some €658 million was allocated in the past year, 90% of which was directed towards maintenance and renewal work. That allocation was a €32 million...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I listened with interest to and take on board the Deputy's comments. I am not sure it is entirely fair to suggest that local authorities are saying they cannot get works done. A staggered approach is taken and it is not just a case of being given the money and tar to fix a road. Rather, what is the collision data, what are the risks and what is the opinion of the local engineer, who is...