Results 1,201-1,220 of 6,386 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 64 together. The Government has a dedicated Road Safety Strategy, which is aligned with the EU Vision Zero aspiration for 2050. It is being delivered in partnership by key road safety agencies, including my Department, the Department of Justice, the Road Safety Authority, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety and An Garda Síochána. In...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: E-scooters which comply with the relevant regulations have been legal to use on Irish roads since May of this year. Requirements include limits on maximum weight, power and design speed, adherence to EU requirements for construction standards and electrical and battery safety and fitment of front and rear lights and reflectors, brakes and a bell. They should also display a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As recently advised to the Deputy in response to a separate Parliamentary Question on this matter, my Department has undertaken a detailed appraisal of the development proposal put forward by Waterford Airport. This level of appraisal is necessary to ensure that due diligence is exercised in accordance with my Department’s “Transport Appraisal Framework” and the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As the Deputy is aware my Department has undertaken a detailed appraisal of the development proposal put forward by Waterford Airport. This appraisal has included the assessment of significant documentation and responses to queries raised by Department officials and addressed by the airport up until 17 July. This level of appraisal is necessary to ensure that due diligence is exercised in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As the Deputy will be aware, tourism matters are under the remit of my government colleague the Minister for Tourism. However, in relation to the matters raised regarding Dublin Airport, I can advise the deputy that increasing capacity at Dublin Airport is in line with the National Aviation Policy which recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport to meeting national social and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As an island nation, aviation plays a crucial role in our economy and society. The National Aviation Policy (“NAP”) published in August 2015, established a policy framework for the development of the aviation sector. The NAP was designed to create an environment that would encourage the sector to enhance Ireland's connectivity, to foster the growth of aviation enterprise and to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 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 reply....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Military Aircraft (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 163 together. 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 may be operating, is prohibited, unless an exemption from this prohibition is granted by the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Navigation Orders (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: While no specific working groups have been established to review air navigation policy matters in the past 18 months, the Department is committed to the objective of providing high quality air navigation services with modern air traffic management infrastructure as outlined in the National Aviation Policy (2015). The Department continues to work with AirNav Ireland, the Irish Aviation...

Finance Bill 2024: Second Stage (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank all the Deputies who spoke today and contributed to the debate. I will respond to as many of the points raised as I can in the time available to me. Some of the points made were very interesting and thought-provoking but they may have strayed outside the parameters of the Finance Bill, so I may not be in a position to respond to them. I will, however, note them for future...

Finance Bill 2024: Second Stage (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Four years.

Finance Bill 2024: Second Stage (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: That is what parliamentary questions are for.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Military Aircraft (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: My officials are continuing to give consideration to the legislative changes necessary to allow for the introduction of a regime of random inspections. This includes the provision and consideration of legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General. However, in light of the recent allegations regarding overflights by carriers carrying munitions of war in situations where exemptions...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the operation of the National Driver Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the information requested is held by that organisation. I have therefore referred the specific 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposed Legislation (16 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: Military Aircraft (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: In response to Parliamentary Question No. 256 of 11 September 2023, my predecessor advised that his officials had assessed records from 2003 to that date and had identified no instance where an application was processed and exemption granted, under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, for the carriage of cluster munitions on...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Following a comprehensive procurement process, the Department of Transport awarded a 10-year contract to Bristow Ireland Limited (BIL) to provide year-round, day and night Search and Rescue aviation services. This service will be delivered through a fleet of six search and rescue (SAR) configured AW189 helicopters located in Dublin, Shannon, Sligo and Waterford. This contract was signed in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Military Aircraft (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: The operation of overflights is a complex matter which is underpinned by various multilateral conventions and/or bilateral agreements to which Ireland is a party. As a result of this, air operators do not need to seek prior permission before transiting our airspace save where they are intending to carry munitions of war. In 2023 approximately 368,000 overflights were managed in Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposed Legislation (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Labour matters are primarily the purview of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, except in limited areas where the European Union has separately legislated in respect of mobile workers in civil aviation. I can confirm that I am not intending to introduce any legislative changes or measures related to pay and working conditions in the Irish aviation sector.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: The Government has a dedicated Road Safety Strategy, which is aligned with the EU Vision Zero aspiration for 2050 and includes the interim target of halving fatalities and serious injuries this decade. The Strategy is being delivered in partnership by key road safety agencies, including my Department, the Department of Justice, the Road Safety Authority, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety...