Results 3,121-3,140 of 32,547 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance Funding (15 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 800 to 806, inclusive, together. As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects, such as those alluded to by the Deputy on the N22, N23, N70 and N86 is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Harbours and Piers Development (15 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I have no direct role in the allocation of funding to projects as part of the development of the Wild Atlantic Way.  It is a matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply.    However, it should be noted that the Tourism Capital Investment Programme is allocated for the funding...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank all Senators for their good wishes. I am looking forward greatly to working with all Senators who are interested in the various areas for which I am responsible. I know from my time in this House that Senators are always a source of good advice and proposals on policy areas and legislation. I will always listen to what everyone has to say in respect of anything I am putting forward...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Amendments Nos. 2 and 4 relate to superannuation schemes. Amendment No. 2 refers to section 23 which deals with the superannuation schemes of the Shannon group. This is a technical amendment. When the provisions in section 34 relating to "replacement schemes" were deleted a reference in section 23(8) to a "replacement scheme" was overlooked in error and ought also to have been deleted on...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Senator Darragh O'Brien for the points made. In the time in which I have been privileged to be in this role, I have spent a huge amount of time going through the legislation and understanding its impact. I am keenly aware, as is the Senator, of the consequences the measure will have on people dependent on the pension fund or who are working at the moment, and I am very much aware of...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Amendment No. 5 is a technical amendment. As originally drafted, the section provided for a fine or a prison term for an individual or a corporate offender who, deliberately or recklessly, dazzled pilots of aircraft with laser lights. The imposition of a prison term can only apply to an individual offender. It is not possible to impose a prison term on a body corporate. The amendment,...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Amendment No. 6 is a technical amendment, which removed an unintended requirement that the consent of the Minister be obtained to establish a car park at an airport.

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Amendment No. 7 added a new section 48 to the Bill, the purpose of which was to restate and update the powers of authorised officers at airports. The powers of authorised officers are set out in several Acts dating from 1973 to 2004. Some of the language in the earlier Acts does not reflect modern usage and the parliamentary draughtsman took the opportunity for this update. The amendment...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The contributions of the Senators have reflected some of the issues in the Bill. I will pick up on the points Senators O'Neill and Mulcahy made on the objectives of the Bill regarding changes to Shannon Airport and Shannon development. Between 2006 and 2012, Shannon Airport lost two thirds of its passengers. That was the situation when we drafted the Bill. Last year, 1.4 million people...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: This is a pension deficit of €750 million. We are trying to create a legal framework within which resolution can be finally reached. I will not reduce such a serious and complicated problem that will affect so many people to the level of political catcalls across the floor of the Seanad. I am conscious of what the Bill will do, of how long the problem has been going on and the...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Safety (16 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and for his kind comments on my appointment. I am aware that he has been working on and raising this issue for a very long period of time. I understand completely the importance that attaches to the improvement of this route, not only for safety reasons but also because it plays an important role for the Deputy's constituency and the broader...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Safety (16 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I will respond to the two points the Deputy made about the road itself and the particular section of road to which he referred. Regarding the road itself, I am now engaging in reviewing our capital spending plans, in other words, the money we will spend on roads and other projects for the coming years. There are many priorities and issues that need to be addressed in that regard. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (16 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Road traffic legislation places the onus on users of vehicles on public roads to ensure that their vehicles comply with the law, are safe and maintained in a roadworthy condition at all times. All vehicles when in use on a public road must meet the requirements of road traffic regulations including those applying to noise and exhaust systems.  Vehicles that present...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Safety (16 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: All consumer products placed on the market in the EU are governed by EU legislation. Dinghies sold in supermarkets, depending on their size and specification, are required to comply with the requirements of one of the following EU Directives – the Recreational Craft Directive, the Toys Directive, the Personal Protective Equipment Directive or the General Product Safety Directive. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Integrated Ticketing (16 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Responsibility to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the integrated ticketing Leap Card system is a function of the National Transport Authority. Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (16 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no power to intervene in individual cases.  I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for Direct 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: Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment (16 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The recruitment of staff to the  Road Safety Authority (RSA) is a matter for the Authority itself and is addressed in the context of the Haddington Road Agreement and in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). The RSA, in common with other State Agencies and Government Departments, is subject to the Employment Control Framework introduced...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Semi-State Bodies (16 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company is a commercial State company that operates under the Harbours Acts. It is statutorily independent of government and is not in receipt of any State funding. The payment of expenses to its Directors is a matter for the company. My Department is in regular contact with the Company. As mentioned on 19 December 2013, the Company has taken legal action to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Policy (16 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: A number of submissions/comments have been received concerning the proposals set out in Section 3.1 of the draft National Aviation Policy for Ireland which was published on 21 May 2014.    The draft National Aviation Policy was developed following a public consultation process in 2013.   The consultation process covered all elements of aviation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Commencement of Legislation (16 Jul 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.