Results 4,621-4,640 of 32,572 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Seanad: National Car Testing System: Statements (3 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator raised a point with me and I did not respond. I have responded to a number of his colleagues on this issue. I am closely monitoring what is happening and I am very much aware of people's concerns regarding the six different options available. There was an exchange on that. One in particular has an effect on the Galway racecourse, which is a very valuable amenity to the city,...

Seanad: National Car Testing System: Statements (3 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I apologise for missing that point. I take a different view from that of the Senator. I understand why he would say it is something that should be considered. However, the reason I am not supportive of such a change is that a really important objective behind this testing procedure is to encourage people to do all they can to have their cars safe all the time. My concern is that if we...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Properties (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Public Works is responsible for the procurement of office (and other) accommodation required for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and accordingly, the arrangement of lease terms, rental levels (and reviews etc.) is a matter for them. In addition, the OPW undertakes regular monitoring of space allocated to Departments to ensure that it is used to the optimum...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourist Accommodation (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Under the Tourist Traffic Acts 1939-2011, certain types of accommodation using protected titles, such as hotels and guesthouses, are statutorily obliged to register and comply with approved regulations.  These regulations mainly relate to the quality of the product and level of service.  In addition to this system of registration, Fáilte Ireland also offers a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The R179 Carrickmacross to Donaghmoyne Road is a regional and local road, the improvement and maintenance of which is the statutory responsibility of Monaghan County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on such roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (4 Mar 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. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will appreciate, one of the main causes of road crashes on Irish roads is excessive and inappropriate speed. My Department, in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána and other stakeholders, is continuing to examine this area to identify measures that can be taken to bring about future reductions in fatalities and serious injuries....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: A Criminal Justice (Fixed Charge Processing System) Working Group, jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality, comprising representatives of all relevant State bodies, was established in March 2014 to oversee and facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of a report by the Garda Inspectorate into the Fixed Charge Processing System.  As...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Since 2011 two senior civil servants at Assistant Secretary level from the Department have been appointed to State Boards under the aegis of my Department following their retirement. Mr Paul Bates was appointed to the Board of Dublin Port Company on 19th September 2013 based on his wide ranging experience of strategic policy development and analysis, programme design and management,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Services Provision (5 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together. I am committed to supporting a well-funded public transport system into the future, recognising the vital role it plays in our economy and society generally. I ensured that PSO funding for bus and rail services was maintained at current levels in the last Budget, the first time this has happened since 2008. I also recently...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (5 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Bus Éireann’s Expressway services are commercial services operated in competition with private operators on main trunk routes and are licensed by the National Transport Authority (NTA). By their very nature, commercial services cannot and do not receive any PSO funding from the Exchequer. All of these commercial bus operators will only provide services where it is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (5 Mar 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. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's Question to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aer Lingus Sale (5 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As Aer Lingus is in an 'offer period' under the Irish Takeover Rules, I am constrained in what I can say publicly on the matter, as these rules apply to significant shareholders in some regards as well as offerors and offeree companies during an offer period. I briefed the Cabinet last week on the latest position in relation to the IAG proposal to make an offer for Aer Lingus...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sale of Aer Lingus (10 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As I stated previously, as Aer Lingus remains in an offer period under the Irish takeover rules, I am constrained in what I can say publicly on the matter, as these rules apply to significant shareholders in some regards as well as offerors and offeree companies during an offer period. However, I did make a detailed statement clarifying the Government's position on the matter last month. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sale of Aer Lingus (10 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is now very much a matter for IAG as to whether it wishes to make a further proposal which we would then consider in the way I have outlined. In response to the Deputy's specific question about the nature of assurances, we have not received any further assurances beyond the proposed deal that IAG made available a number of weeks ago which I have said was not acceptable to the Government...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sale of Aer Lingus (10 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is very important to be clear about the legal powers of the State at the moment. As the Deputy knows, the power that our shareholding confers on us at the moment is the ability to play a role in blocking the disposal of slots at Heathrow but not in determining their use. I must emphasise again that maintaining and growing access for our country, with particular focus on what will happen...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bus Éireann Services (10 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Tá brón orm that I do not have enough of the líofacht to respond to the statement from the Deputy as Gaeilge but I want to accurately respond to the points he made. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services, including the provision of PSO subvented services. I ensured that PSO funding was maintained at...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bus Éireann Services (10 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I appreciate the point the Deputy is making regarding the tábhacht or the importance of the services to which he is referring. These are services commercially delivered by Bus Éireann and not delivered by way of the PSO funding made available to Bus Éireann by the State. As I outlined in my initial response, one of the challenges to which Bus Éireann is currently...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bus Éireann Services (10 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In regard to the Deputy's reference to the importance of money in the context of delivery of these services, that is the challenge. Bus Éireann has withdrawn these services because there is no adequate commercial rationale to it delivering them. In the absence of these services, changes will have to be made to existing subvented services. The Deputy will be aware that subvented...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sale of Aer Lingus (10 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his question. As I have previously said on a number of occasions, the IASS and its funding is a matter for the trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme member and the Pensions Authority. The Deputy will be aware that the trustee proposal which was approved by the Pensions Authority and implemented on 31 December 2014 includes a contribution by...