Results 4,221-4,240 of 32,569 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (29 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.  I have therefore referred that part of the Deputy's question which relates to numbers of applicants over 70 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. In regard to costs for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (29 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006), the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test.  The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements, including the number and location of test...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (29 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (29 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and the overall funding of public transport. Matters relating to the re-opening of railway stations, such as at Dunleer, are a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that there are no current plans to re-open Dunleer station and no...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (29 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy is aware, National Ports Policy recommends the transfer of control of the five designated Ports of Regional Significance to more appropriate local authority led governance structures. As one of the five Ports of Regional Significance, Drogheda Port Company will transfer to the control of Louth County Council through a transfer of the current Ministerial...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Appointments (29 Jan 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has no records of representations received since March 2011 in relation to appointments of persons to any position under the remit of my Department  from the member of the Oireachtas referred to by the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The many concerns that have been voiced regarding IAG's potential takeover offer for Aer Lingus have been raised when limited detail is available.  It is important to note that IAG has made a proposal to make an offer and that no formal offer has yet been made. At this point, all we know is what the companies have announced publicly.  IAG has made a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The prepared response I shared was to the question submitted to me. On the strategic value of connectivity, the Government has always been extremely fair. It abolished the air travel tax and supported Shannon Airport, made it autonomous and gave it the ability it needed to compete. There are welcome signs of this. The Government has placed aviation and connectivity at the heart of how it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: If the Deputy feels so strongly about these points, I am given to wonder why he agreed to the privatisation of 75% of Aer Lingus in the first place.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: If he feels so strongly about all the points he has made, I am struck by how he squares that up with what his party did with the company when in government.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy made points about the strategic value of our stake in the Aer Lingus company to the country. We have always been crystal clear that the disposal of such a stake would be dependent on the right terms and conditions being secured and also what the gain for the taxpayer would be in terms of the share within the company. We have remained absolutely consistent to that point of view...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I touched on some parts of the Deputy's question when I was responding to Deputy Dooley. His question contains particular reference to the Heathrow slots. I will devote my time to responding to that issue. At the time of the flotation of Aer Lingus in 2006, a procedure for any proposed disposal of the Heathrow slots was built into the company’s articles of association. That...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I have always been acutely aware that national connectivity has a vital regional dimension. I have visited Shannon and Cork airports and met representatives of the two airports on matters of concern and interest. I understand that access to our country is fundamental to the way our economy has grown. Maintaining and increasing access in the future is vital not only from the point of view...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The first step in allowing the Government to determine its decision is for us to gain the right level of information and understanding about what IAG is proposing. We are in the process of doing so and preliminary contact has been made. I expect further contact to take place soon, which will allow us to understand the exact nature of what is being proposed. When I am in a position to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I must again make it clear that the IASS and its funding are primarily matters for the trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority.  Following SIPTU’s recommendation last November to its members in the DAA and the Shannon Airport Authority to reject the IASS trustees proposal, the Secretaries General of my Department and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The concerns workers had expressed and the fact that many of these concerns had been instrumental in the ballots which had taken place in the DAA and the Shannon Airport Authority formed the background to the decision taken by the two Secretaries General to ask the expert panel to engage in a process of clarification. For the Deputy's own information, the particular matters they were asked to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is at least possible that the Deputy might be misinformed on this as well.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am glad to hear that she has such certainty. I am struck by such certainty on this matter. I have my own information that I have put on the record of the House and I have answered each of the questions the Deputy has put to me. When I have answered them, she has then-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I have given the Deputy the answer on that. My information on the process that is taking place is that SIPTU has provided a statement to the expert panel.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In the communication that my Secretary General and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation made to the expert panel, we requested that engagement take place between the expert panel and senior officials within SIPTU to facilitate engagement. This is the information that I have. I understand that the process of engagment is under way. If the Deputy has information to the contrary,...