Results 23,501-23,520 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Okay. I am afraid it is not possible to cap the number of flights. We have benefited from international aviation being organised on a liberal basis with no restrictions. We cannot go back to the days where it was not possible to fly into Dublin. The solution must be to see how we can build up the international airports outside Dublin.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I stand by my comments at the COP27 meeting, which were backed up and supported by the Vice President of the European Commission and a number of European ministers. We agreed in unison that this was the right approach and that sectors like aviation, shipping and the fossil fuel industry will need to make a contribution to some of the funds we will require to address the climate damage...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: It is critical and central to the whole strategy. Going back to what Deputy Crowe said, environmental measures can be used to promote some airports over others. Shannon has potential there. It has a very long runway and can take heavier loads, a lower carbon footprint from across the Atlantic because of distance, lower circling times because of less congestion but also the potential to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I am surrounded by officials from-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Yes, but this committee does not the have the right to interfere or influence an ongoing tendering process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: That is what I am saying. I am not saying it has, but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I am very glad.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I am not saying it did. What I said is that is not where we should go.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I absolutely respect that. However, in the middle of a highly sensitive and highly important procurement process where we have to be sensitive to the commercial sensitivities in that, our Secretary General, if that is who the Chair is referring to, in his correspondence with this committee has been absolutely correct in the approach he took.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I do not accept that. I think we are straying very far way from the purpose of the-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Our first role is as part of the European Union and its legislative process. This is our key role. We are very progressive and looking for higher targets and the higher use of such fuels. My interaction has been directly with the airports and, for example, going to Shannon Airport and asking it to work with us on developing the policy capability. This included a recent visit to Shannon...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The next steps are likely to involve contracting fuels from the likes of the Port of Rotterdam and other such locations where there is already development. They will be used by some of the airlines in blended fuels. They will also include purchasing such material from an international market. We must then look at whether we can use some of the waste streams here for the development of such...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: This goes back to the earlier discussion with, I believe, Deputy Crowe. We need a global response. As I said, we do not want certain areas not contributing. I agree we should look for long-haul as well as short-haul flights to be included in various schemes. My recall is that the emissions trading scheme, ETS, does not go outside the EU area but the International Civil Aviation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: No, it is not fair. The strength of the COP27 decision is that 198 countries agreed it, although not in real detail. A transition committee has been established that will work over the next year with UN bodies, including the UN Secretary General's office. In truth, Europe was the only voice in those COP talks that raised the issue of such funding mechanisms, but I believe it can and will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: That is the exact sort of arrangement we can look at in this review of aviation policy. I welcome the views of this committee, as I said, and other parties in that regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We are aware of it. I was briefed by officials earlier in the week. My understanding is one of the issues behind it is that, even since the planning permission was applied, aircraft are getting lighter and have slightly different characteristics. As they take off, they are able to turn earlier and at a lower height than had been originally projected. The characteristics of the aircraft...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Nothing is outside any of the safety or other protocols. That is obviously the first requirement in anything that is done in the aviation sector. The review process is being conducted with the DAA and IAA. They will conduct and conclude that process quickly. I do not expect this to be an ongoing problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: One other party involved is the noise regulator. The local authority has a specific regulator who also has a key role in the process. They will have a critical role. The processes are there to protect householders and the environment, be it from noise or other elements. That noise regulator has a central role, as do the airport authority and the IAA. As I said, as soon as this was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Minister for Transport and Minister of State at the Department of Transport (7 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: It will not report to me. It is an independent body. I was briefed on that by the Department earlier in the week. I expect it will be very quick in carrying out its work. It is independent in its assessment.