Results 5,321-5,340 of 32,593 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Fáilte Ireland (16 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In terms of boards under the aegis of my Department, since its establishment in 2011, the person in question previously served on the board of the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland.  As the payment of fees and expenses to directors of Fáilte Ireland is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland, I have referred the question to the agency for direct...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Harbour Authorities (16 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​The rates of expenses payable to the directors of State companies is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The expenses payable to the directors of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company are in line with the current rates set by that Department. The review of the level of fees payable to the directors of the company is also a matter for that Department.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Legislative Process (16 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 904 and 905 together. The information in relation to Bills initiated in the Dáil or Seanad since September 2013 is contained in the table below. In addition, there are a number of draft pieces of legislation which have yet to be initiated in the Dáil or Seanad but have already gone through the pre-scrutiny process (i.e. proposed Harbours Bill...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The information requested by the Deputy regarding subsistence and taxi payments is set out in the following table. My Department has been audited by the Revenue Commissioners for tax compliance. No issues were raised in this regard. Travel and taxi usage policies are reviewed on a regular basis. Changes in relevant circulars issued centrally by the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts Data (16 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​Details of external services procured by the Department, including reports commissioned by the Department, are available on my Department's website at the following link . The details will be updated on a 6 monthly basis in future and full details of external services for the first 6 months of 2015 will be collated and published in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Road Network (16 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 909 and 910 together. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (RLR) is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Functions (16 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has no input into the running of international matches and major fixtures in association football and has no role in decision making on the specific matters mentioned by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Funding (16 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The FAI has not sought assistance from my Department in meeting debt obligations.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Functions (16 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. As this question is a matter for the Irish Sports Council, I have referred it to the Council for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (16 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Dublin City Centre Transport Study (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Before I reply to the Deputy's question, I add my voice to the voices of those who spoke in the Dáil yesterday about the awful tragedy and loss of life in Berkeley. My thoughts, like those of everyone else, are with the families of those involved and everyone else who has been affected by this incident. The Dublin city transport study which was recently published jointly by the National...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Dublin City Centre Transport Study (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: A recognition of the role played by Dublin City Council in this respect, as well as the powers afforded to the council under law and the use made of these powers, needs to be at the heart of the discussion. The council is looking to hear the views of the people of the city and beyond on its proposals. While that consultation process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to become...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Dublin City Centre Transport Study (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Nobody involved in the process has the objective of seeking to turn our city centre into a no-go zone or to get to a point at which our city is hollowed out. The objective of the proposals the city council is putting forward is the opposite of this. It wants to create a more vibrant and sustainable city centre balancing the huge number of people passing through it with the needs of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: An agreed solution was implemented at the start of this year to address the funding difficulties in the Irish airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme, IASS. This agreed solution is a matter for the trustee, the companies participating in the scheme and the scheme members and the Pensions Authority. Under the agreed solution, the total contribution...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am fully aware of the hardship caused to people as a result of what happened to the pension fund. The pension fund faced a huge deficit. The one thing on which I am very clear is if I had gone against the wishes of the trustee, the person whose job it is to administer and run the fund, the Deputy would be the first person in the Dáil Chamber to criticise me for doing so. I am...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is good to hear the Deputy acknowledge the success we are having in tourism. He also opposed many of the measures put in place to deliver this success. He opposed the way we needed to fund the lower VAT rate, which is the very measure supporting Irish tourism and supporting hotels, cafes and restaurants in delivering affordable prices to tourists to get them to visit our country. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Improvement Schemes (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I must point out again that, while I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme, the construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads are matters for the National Roads Authority, NRA, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. I understand the proposed M7 Naas bypass widening scheme which follows the alignment of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Improvement Schemes (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I agree with the Deputy that the maintenance and, where necessary, the creation of good national roads are crucial to how the economy moves and our ability to move goods and services throughout the country. It is also crucial to make sure the national finances continue to improve and that if we commit to a project, we have the ability to fund it. The Deputy will be aware that a condition of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Improvement Schemes (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy acknowledges that this is a very significant amount of money from the taxpayer. It is easily comparable to, if not greater than, the private sector investment put into the millennium business park and the surrounding area. It is receiving priority for the future, provided funding is available, because of how busy the existing roads in the area, in particular the M7, are and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Roads Authority Projects (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects, including the M20, are matters for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Acts. 1993 to 2007, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  Given the...