Results 3,461-3,480 of 9,442 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is an operational matter for the RSA, but I hear the concerns of the Deputy, loud and clear. I know that in normal times, not just driving instructors, but somebody accompanying the learner driver doing their test, would normally be facilitated to wait in the waiting room in the driving test centres. However, these are not normal times. I take on board the Deputy's concerns in this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: Maybe there is and we can look at that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Strategy (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: As signalled since the publication of the report, The Implications of Brexit on the Use of the Landbridge, by the Irish Maritime Development Office, IMDO, in 2018, it has been a matter of continuing concern that there is likely to be disruption to access to the British land bridge when customs and border controls between the EU and the UK are introduced at the end of the year. Since the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Strategy (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: In regard to the IMDO report, it is important to note that its analysis took account of the capacity across the ro-ro network and on services between Ireland and continental Europe. As recently as last week, Stena Line and Irish Ferries both indicated that they will be putting on a daily direct service from January. Indeed, they have been responding to demand throughout the pandemic and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Strategy (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: As we move towards the end of the Brexit transition period, there is a lot of engagement happening at a cross-departmental level, incorporating Dublin Port, the Office of Public Works, Revenue and my Department, to ensure we are as well prepared as possible. A huge amount of work has gone into this over the past number of years. There have been many campaigns aimed at preparing businesses,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ferry Services (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: Foot passengers are currently able to travel to France on ferry services, with the exception of one operator over the winter months due to operational constraints. I understand that the Deputy's question was prompted by the announcement last Thursday regarding increased service frequencies on roll-on roll-off passenger, RoPax, ferry services from Ireland to France from January 2021 and by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ferry Services (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: Irish Ferries and Stena Line operate services on the Dublin to Cherbourg and Rosslare to Cherbourg routes, respectively. Brittany Ferries is expected to provide services from Rosslare to Cherbourg and from Cork to Roscoff from March to October of next year. Both Irish Ferris and Stena Line carry foot passengers during the peak period every year. However, Stena Line carries foot passengers...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ferry Services (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: Bus and rail services are available for foot passengers travelling to Rosslare to avail of the Stena Line services that run all year. I reiterate that the situation referred to by the Deputy relates just to Irish Ferries during the winter period and to the MS Epsilonvessel, because of health and safety reasons regarding the ramps on board. The Government is, however, looking at how we can...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Airports (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: The impacts of Covid-19 on the aviation industry continue to be devastating, with knock-on effects for our domestic tourism and regional economies, particularly in the west. This has been further compounded by Ryanair’s most recent decision to cut its winter capacity at Ireland West Airport Knock and to cancel all services for four weeks, from the end of next week until mid-December....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Airports (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: The €6 million announced this week for our regional airports will be administered by the Department of Transport, which has begun the process of engaging with the European Commission regarding state aid rules. Ireland is an island nation and I do not have to explain to the Deputy or anyone here the importance of core connectivity. I am very hopeful that will be successful. It will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Airports (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: There is eligibility in respect of state aid rules where airports have suffered damages due to the impact of Covid-19. It is clear and obvious to us that regional airports, such as Knock, have been severely impacted by Covid-19. It is in the context that we are engaging with the European Commission. The Deputy can be assured of the certainty around that and the importance of maintaining...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: My Department and the RSA are aware that some driving instructors disagree with the decision by the RSA to close washing facilities and waiting rooms at driver test centres, to ensure compliance with public and occupational health requirements during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. I understand from the RSA that prior to the current pandemic some test centres across the country offered toilet...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy and I hear his concerns on this. As I said, this is an operational matter for the RSA. The learner driver who is doing the test can go into the driver test centre to use the facilities. The reason behind the measure is to try to minimise the through traffic inside test centres to protect public health. I hear the Deputy's concerns. It is not only about the driving...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: These protocols were put in place to minimise the likelihood of the transmission of Covid-19 within the centres and to minimise the throughput of people in them. People doing the driving test must be brought to the centres by an accompanying driver because they are learners who have not yet passed the test. Those accompanying drivers may be parents. I am not detracting from what Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: My Department is in constant contact with the Road Safety Authority since the start of the pandemic regarding all of its services, the impact of Covid-19 on those services, and how they can best be maintained in the current circumstances. As you are aware, car driving tests were first temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 in March 2020 and since resuming operations in mid-July, there...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Tests (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 19, 59 and 76 together. The Plan for Living with Covid-19 and Government decisions affirm that any testing model implemented for international travel should not impinge on HSE testing capacity. In light of this any testing for international travel will need to draw on resources from the private sector which are not being accessed by the HSE. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 90 together. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has issued various blanket exemptions for existing licensed pilots in line with the European Union Aviaton Safety Agency (EASA) recommendations, subject to a detailed safety review and implementation of mitigating measures. These initial exemptions were detailed in IAA Aeronautical Notices P30 and P33...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Development (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: As a consequence of Brexit, additional infrastructure will be required for customs, SPS and health checks and controls at our ports and airport. Since 2018, detailed work has been underway across Government, led by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform, to invest in the infrastructure, systems, and staffing required for additional checks and controls for trade with Great Britain...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 41 and 65 together. As you may know, the Irish Aviation Authority currently operates under a dual mandate, within which it provides air traffic management services on a commercial basis to the aviation industry and is also the safety and security regulator of that same industry. Under this dual mandate, the IAA also regulates some of its own...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (12 Nov 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) developed protocols for conducting the driving test safely during the pandemic, following detailed consideration and medical advice. Due to the additional hygiene and sanitation procedures that are now absolutely necessary, each testing slot now takes a much longer time to complete. As a result, the number of tests a tester can safely conduct per day was...