Results 5,741-5,760 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Network (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As I have covered this matter already, I will just reiterate two points so that we will have more time to deal with any further points the Deputy wishes to make. On the second question, there has been some speculation that I recommended the extension of the Luas and a particular route. I have not brought any recommendation to Cabinet on this matter, but I will do so soon. When I have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Network (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Ellis. I reiterate that we are not talking about the cancellation of DART underground in the future. However, the tunnel, as designed more than a decade ago, is no longer appropriate or proportionate to what we believe our country is going to look like in the coming decades. The tunnel alone would cost €3 billion, which means that there are many other projects in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Network (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I apologise to Deputy Ellis because I did not answer his question on the BRT and the specific point he put to me earlier. We need to find new ways to increase the capacity of our bus network. No matter what changes we make in the future, the form of public transport most likely to carry most people across our country is bus and this will be done by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus. Hence,...

Other Questions: Road Haulage Industry (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy McGrath. The road haulage industry suffered during the recession, particularly due to the downturn in the construction sector.  The Government recognised the challenges facing the sector and announced the fuel duty rebate for hauliers in 2012, which could result in savings of up to €70 million per annum for the haulage sector. The number of road...

Other Questions: Road Haulage Industry (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: That action has already happened.

Other Questions: Road Haulage Industry (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am absolutely aware of the needs of the road haulage sector. There are a few groups and sectors that I have met more regularly since I came into office because I believe, and I have said this to them, the work they do provides the backbone to how much our economy develops.

Other Questions: Road Haulage Industry (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Indeed, Deputy, we have supported them. This is why we have brought in the fuel rebate and why I have made changes elsewhere in the implementation of law to look to recognise their needs. I assure the Deputy that a very complicated piece of work on the taxation of their sector is now approaching finalisation. The sector and its representatives have been actively involved in that work...

Other Questions: Road Haulage Industry (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Regardless of what change we make to it, I am not sure the sector will be celebrating, given the kind of challenges it has faced.

Other Questions: Road Haulage Industry (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I have given a commitment to the sector, to which I have referred publicly and which I am happy to reaffirm. Due to changes which the United Kingdom has made in how it taxes that sector - it has a right to tax how it wants-----

Other Questions: Road Haulage Industry (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Yes, we do, and that is why we brought in the fuel rebate in recognition of an issue they had then.

Other Questions: Road Haulage Industry (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The UK made a change to how it wants to tax this sector. The Minister for Finance has said that, dependent on the money available to us, over time, we will look to address the sector to try to help its efforts to be more competitive. The sector has been involved in work that we have done in that area. While no decisions have yet been made in the budget, that work is under way. I am...

Other Questions: Road Projects (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The assessment and prioritisation of individual national road projects within...

Other Questions: Road Projects (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy knows, I am not in a position to confirm or announce what will be in the plan or whether all or some of what he refers to will be included. I have to get Government support and agreement as to what that project will be and I am working on that at the moment. I reiterate that I am very much aware of the need for the projects to which he is referring. The Deputy has raised the...

Other Questions: Road Projects (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am well exhorted in respect of this project. I am aware of all the points the Deputy has made. I have outlined the challenges I face. We have a capital budget that has rapidly decreased for reasons with which we are all familiar. I am working very closely with the Minister, Deputy Howlin, and have been doing so for nearly a year, on how we can respond to the challenges we face. I am...

Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The number of US troops who have passed through Shannon Airport to date in 2015 is 39,613.   The number of requests my Department received up to the end of August 2015 from civilian aircraft to land at Shannon Airport or pass through Irish airspace while carrying munitions was 566. Some 188 permits were issued for aircraft to land at Shannon, five were issued for aircraft landing...

Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: On the Deputy's point regarding the 48-hour time period, I cannot give her an answer now but I will find that information and share it with her. I have done my best to answer all the different questions the Deputy has put me and have given her figures on them. In addition, I have available the monthly figures for this year in respect of the number of US troops who are transiting Shannon...

Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: All the decisions my Department takes in this area are with the active consultation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and are consistent with the foreign policy objectives of our country. I appeared before the summer before the petitions committee of the Oireachtas and answered questions on this matter for most of an afternoon. As for the broad question the Deputy put to me...

Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: In response to the Deputy, I am comfortable and I do support the objectives in our foreign policy. Ireland is a neutral country. The policy we have reflects that and as a former Minister of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, I saw the way in which Ireland's neutrality was articulated in different meetings and in different discussions on the matter to which the Deputy is...

Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am answering Members' questions on the passage and transit of aircraft through Irish airspace. The Government's policy in this matter is clear. I have outlined to Members all the figures Deputy Clare Daly sought in her question, as she is absolutely entitled to do, and I have stated I will supply further material and I will. As for the use of civilian aircraft and that matter, the...

Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (23 Sep 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: That is my knowledge and the Garda has the ability to carry out such an inspection if these provisions are being infringed.