Results 1,161-1,180 of 6,386 for speaker:James Lawless

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Chair for his prompt and efficient management of the amendments today. I thank all the Deputies present for their participation also. This Bill is about enhancing our maritime safety regime, in particular in respect of the marine accident and investigation landscape. It also helps us achieve our commitment towards carbon neutrality and the target we have set to achieve that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (23 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I am aware of the draft decision published on September 17 by An Bord Pleanála concerning the night time use of the runways at Dublin Airport. The draft decision of the planning regulator provides for a number of conditions in relation to the operation of the runways at Dublin Airport. As the draft decision indicates that An Bord Pleanála is considering adopting noise...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (23 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together. Policy on regional airports has always been focused on optimising conditions for connectivity and balanced regional development. As a result, Exchequer funding under my Department’s Regional Airports Programme is contingent on airports operating scheduled passenger services. It must be recognised that Waterford Airport had...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tax Code (23 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Current motor tax rates from motorcycles vary from €35 to €88 per year depending on the engine capacity. There is no exemption for blood bikes, unless they qualify as a State owned vehicle. Changes to motor tax rates, including any exemptions, are a Budgetary matter for the Minister for Finance.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Airport Authority (23 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As the deputy is aware daa has statutory responsibility for the management, operation, and development of Dublin Airport. I can advise the deputy that officials from my Department and I meet with daa on a regular basis to discuss matters at the airport. In relation to flight paths, daa have advised my Department that following their appearance at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (23 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, this includes all application and scheduling matters and neither I nor my department have the power to intervene in individual cases. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (23 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As the Deputy will be aware the regional airports in Cork and Shannon are State-owned airports. Both have a commercial mandate and are expected to rely on their own resources, without recourse to the Exchequer, which they had done prior to COVID-19. However, since 2020 unprecedented Exchequer funding totalling over €92m was provided to these regional State airports, supporting...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (23 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Licence Service, which handles all driving licence enquiries. Ireland has a licence exchange agreement with New Zealand for the exchange of licence categories A, A1, B, AM and W and currently does not exchange C...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (23 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, this includes all application and scheduling matters. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct full reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten days

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 214 together. I first wish to clarify to the Deputy that there is more than one Public Service Obligation (PSO) air service funded by the Irish Exchequer, but only one which is operated under contract by my Department. As the Deputy is aware, this PSO service between Donegal and Dublin is the only PSO route operating to Dublin Airport. This...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: The Road Traffic Act 2024 makes changes to default speed limits on three classes of road, in line with the Speed Limit Review which my Department published last year. These changes mean that default speed limits for national secondary roads will come down from 100km/h to 80km/h, those for local roads will come down from 80km/h to 60km/h, and those for roads in built-up areas from 50km/h to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I wish to assure the Deputy that I am fully in favour of increasing the capacity of Dublin Airport, the development of which is in line with the National Aviation Policy. This Policy recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport to meeting national social and economic policy goals and includes an objective to develop Dublin Airport as a secondary hub airport. The cap on...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: E-scooters which comply with the relevant regulations and technical specifications have been legal to use on Irish public roads since May this year. Technical and usage requirements for e-scooters may be found at www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/5e95b-e-bikes-e-mopeds-and-e-scooter s/. My Department will consider a review in 2025 of e-scooter use and legislation, with a view to examining technical...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As the Deputy will be aware, increasing capacity at Dublin Airport is in line with the National Aviation Policy (“NAP”) which recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport to meeting national social and economic policy goals. The NAP includes an objective to develop Dublin Airport as a secondary hub airport. It is important to stress that the passenger cap at Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the operation of the National Car Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority 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 (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS), and all applications for a driving licence must be made through the NDLS. Where Ireland has a licence exchange agreement with a non-EEA country, a driving licence from that country can be exchanged in most cases, once the holder is resident in Ireland. Vigilance is needed when processing a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: In general, there is no waiting time to receive an appointment with the NDLS front offices. The current average processing time for the NDLS to exchange a third country licence is approximately 30 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Military Aircraft (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, the carriage of munitions of war by civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory and by Irish-registered civil aircraft, wherever they are operating, is prohibited, unless an exemption from this prohibition is granted by the Minister for Transport. Over a number of weeks, media reports...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that Ireland West Airport received almost €47m in Exchequer funding from my Department over the period 2011 to 2023. Over €44m was allocated under the Regional Airports Programme. This Programme provides support towards safety and security related projects and activities at Ireland’s smallest regional airports, those that provide...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (22 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the information requested is held by that organisation. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct reply. Please contact my office if a response is not received within ten days. To address the issue of increased testing...