Results 3,741-3,760 of 32,569 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: As I have previously stated, the UK HGV road user levy is an unwelcome development, especially in its effect on Irish hauliers operating in the Border region.  The UK authorities have rejected all requests to have significant sections of the Northern Ireland roads infrastructure exempted from the levy and have agreed to exclude only approximately 7 km of roads that criss-cross the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Accessibility improvements to public transport services are being advanced in the context of Transport Access for All, my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005. The 2013 Plan sets out a series of policy objectives and targets for accessible public transport across all modes. However, while significant progress has already been achieved, much remains to be done and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has not awarded any contracts to the company mentioned. The awarding of any contracts by agencies is a matter for the agency themselves, I will forward your query to them for direct reply to you as soon as possible. Please contact my Office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: While my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism projects such as the Wild Atlantic Way, it is not directly involved in developing or managing them. The development of the Wild Atlantic Way and similar initiatives is a matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland.    Fáilte Ireland is currently developing a similar tourism...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Speed limits exist to promote safe usage of our roads.  The legislation prescribes different classes of speed limit for different classes of roads,  It also allows some leeway to local authorities, in their capacity as road authorities, to determine the appropriate speed limit for particular roads or stretches of road. Where the law does allow options to local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Roads Authority Projects (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: 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 road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.   I support the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I think we can all agree on the need to make cycling as safe and attractive a mode of transport as possible.   In other jurisdictions, the 'local traffic only' option is often used in urban rather than in rural areas, and is mostly seen as an anti-congestion measure.  It is mainly a method of routing non-local traffic on to by-passes and out of built-up areas.  In...

Topical Issue Debate: National Car Test (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this important matter. I will not be able to provide answers to all the questions he posed. I will, however, revert to him on those to which I am not in a position to respond now. I will be able to address some of the broad points he has raised. I agree with the Deputy regarding the importance of NCT certificates and the difference they make in terms of...

Topical Issue Debate: National Car Test (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Let me respond to the various points the Deputy put to me. The first concerned the online indication as to when an appointment can be secured. I have discussed this with the Road Safety Authority and have been told that the indicator shows the average waiting time but that if somebody who needs an NCT to meet his legal requirements telephones his centre directly, he will receive an...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Community Care (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The service in question is not provided by my Department or its agencies and as such I cannot comment further on any reduction in service levels.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services Provision (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the DAA is the body charged with statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin and Cork Airports.  In these circumstances, plans to ensure the future growth and development of Cork Airport are matters for DAA and Cork Airport management and not matters in which I have a direct role. I am of course very aware of the importance of Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the licensing of vehicles, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Meetings (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested by the Deputy would require an inordinate time to compile as the number of meetings involved is quite substantial.   The Management Board (MB) of the Department would normally meet every Tuesday morning except for the month of August and over the Christmas/New Year period.  It is comprised of the Secretary General and the Assistant...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, including the issuing of wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) licences, and the management of the grant scheme for WAVs introduced in July of this year. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The present fee structure for driving licences was introduced in 2013 in the context of the introduction of the new plastic card format licence and the changeover to a centralised National Driver Licensing Service under the Road Safety Authority. The fees are intended to reflect the process involved in producing a licence, as well as the period of validity of the licence.  I have no...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Members for giving me the opportunity to update the House on some of the key issues of relevance to the tourism sector. Before I go into the detail of the Government's actions and future plans for the sector, I wish to highlight the significant contribution tourism has made to Ireland's economic recovery since 2011. From a position in 2010 where overseas visitors had fallen by 16% in...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I will respond to the main point each Senator has made to me to conclude this debate. I thank Senator O'Sullivan for his contribution. I am always reluctant to describe any part of our economy as being a good news story because we do so at the cost of forgetting - not that Senator O'Sullivan did - how difficult things were for quite a while...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: That said, I understand the need for hotels to set prices in a way that allows them to invest in, say, improving facilities, as pointed out by Senator Craughwell. This investment will not come from the taxpayer but from the owners. I accept the need for them to set prices in such a way as to make that sustainable. The sustainability goes both ways. There has to be pricing that is...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: They must continue to do so. As I have not had the opportunity to address Senator Craughwell before, I congratulate him on his election to the Seanad. I wish him the best of luck in the contribution he will make to it. He is correct with regard to the importance of airports and the contribution they make to how a tourist first views the country. The establishment of Terminal 1 and Terminal...

Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage (27 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."