Results 24,321-24,340 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (23 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I have no role or function in the matter raised in the Question. Spectrum management and the oversight of spectrum licensing conditions is a statutory function of the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg) in accordance with the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 and the broader telecoms legislative framework, including the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926. ComReg is statutorily...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (23 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Electricity storage, including large-scale Lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage Systems (Li-BESS), is critical in providing flexibility to the Irish electricity system by helping to increase the volume of renewable electricity on the grid. Electricity storage will also support Ireland’s legally binding decarbonisation objectives as set out in the latest iteration of the Climate Action...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (23 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for decisions in relation to the routes of those...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Provision (23 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. The number of Greenway projects under development has increased significantly, from 13 in 2019 to around 70 projects/sections being progressed by TII at present. These projects are at various stages of development...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Authorities (23 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The 2009 National Cycling Policy Network sets out the requirement for Local Authorities to assign an officer at an appropriate senior level to act as an Active Travel Officer (ATO), also known as Walking and Cycling Officers. Many Local Authorities employed an ATO prior to the commencement of the current National Transport Authority (NTA) Active Travel resourcing programme in 2021. As such,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (23 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to Iarnród Eireann's booking system for free travel users is an operational matter for the company and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Provision (23 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. Regarding the rail review, as the Deputy is aware, the Strategic Rail Review is being undertaken in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below: Current number of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by the Minister for Transport Date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed All Island Strategic Rail Review Q1 2023 Review of the safety regulatory...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Pensions (23 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 to 190, inclusive, together. CIÉ have advised that the Group’s two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”), are currently not in compliance with the Minimum Funding Standard (MFS) as defined in the Pensions Act 1990. As the Deputy may be aware,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (23 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport, including rail. The operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network, including level crossings, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. As the Deputy may be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC) provides the funding framework for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: On the order of business, it is my understanding that there may be a suspension for the debate in the Dáil on the anniversary of the war in Ukraine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: That is great. I thank the Chair for inviting me here today to discuss the general scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill and for his ongoing interest and input in the critical matter of marine accident investigation. Marine safety and the promotion and enhancement of safety are key objectives and priorities of my Department that underscore many of its...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I am satisfied and I hope the committee will find something similar in its pre-legislative scrutiny. If there are any concerns, I look forward to discussing them when the committee sends its report, on Second Stage or at any stage in the legislative process. The principle recommendation was the establishment of an MAIU structure, similar to what we have in the rail and aviation sectors. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The budget will not be a very big draw on a Department with a €2.5 billion or so capital budget and a significant current budget. It will probably cost less than €1 million if it is similar to other organisations. It will depend on the timelines involved. For the drafting process, we are depending on the Office of the Attorney General. Pre-legislative scrutiny and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: We in the Department have done the work and for us it will be a priority to get it through. There are benefits as I have said. One of the other elements involved will be to allow for the registration under an Irish flag of the vessels we will need in the offshore industry. For this reason, it makes sense for us to proceed as quickly as we can.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I would like to hear the contribution of the Taoiseach on the motion in the Dáil. I also have to speak myself on it. I do not have to go immediately.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I thought it was 2 p.m., but it may be slightly delayed because of the vote. I ask that we can keep an eye on it. If I see the debate starting, I may leave.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I do not accept that the reports were not implemented correctly. The issue raised by the European authorities was about board governance structures, not investigations. Having rectified this issue in the legislation last year, the file is closed and there is no outstanding complaint or any question from the European Commission, or any other official source, that there is a difficulty or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Those are the very words. This was bord snip territory. No criticism of the author is in any way implied but at the time that was the background that informed the desire to amalgamate agencies. We will share the report with the members of the committee, but I do not believe it should be centre stage. In any event, the need to act on the recommendations of the Clinch report, which we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Accidents) Bill 2022: Minister for Transport (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I do not agree with the Acting Chair's conclusion that the issue that had arisen regarding governance structures has such implications for the reports that have been done in recent years. Our first thoughts are with any family whose loved ones have been involved in an accident, but it will not serve them or the wider purposes of promoting maritime safety for us to believe there was this...