Results 6,781-6,800 of 9,184 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: As set out in the previous reply to Deputy Martin Kenny, the Department continues to work with the State's ports as they progress projects in their master plans in line with national development plan objectives and national ports policy. The tier 1 ports of Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes all undertook significant capital expenditure in 2022. On 25 April 2023, the Government announced a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: The specific plans at Dublin Port relate to the growth that will occur, notwithstanding the need to ensure regional ports are also developed. It is about striking the balance in that regard. There will be a review as part of the national ports policy, into which we welcome the Deputy's input. I am aware of the Deputy's experience prior to politics. We are ambitious for Rosslare. We have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: It is not a case of either-or, thankfully, because the economy is growing at pace. We have a requirement to develop our regional ports, as the Deputy said. There is also a requirement to deal with the level of trade through Dublin. When one looks at the logistics pattern and the level of trade and the fact that a significant percentage of the goods and materials are delivered very close to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for his question. I am aware of the importance of this matter and the concern in Dublin and in other locations. It is a very serious issue of safety in our public transport network, as the Deputy said. I fully recognise that those who regularly use and work in our public transport network are most directly impacted by any safety or security incidents. Safety and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: We are fully committed to continuing to work with all stakeholders to ensure the safest possible environment for passengers and all employees providing vital public transport services. I welcome that in recent weeks the Garda transport hub has been announced and will be in operation in the National Train Control Centre at Heuston Station this Friday, 5 May 2023. This will allow An Garda...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: It is important that we have a safe and secure network and most importantly, that people feel safe and secure. The Department of Transport hosted the inaugural annual sustainable mobility forum last week, which was attended by key stakeholders from trade unions, public transport user-group representatives and public transport companies. All stakeholders engaged positively on a wide range of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Quality (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: The move to E10 has been signalled since 2021 in the renewable transport fuel policy. Moving to E10 petrol as standard will bring an immediate climate change mitigation measure using the existing vehicle fleet. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, made regulations for E10 on 1 April 2023 and these will be fully operational by 1 July. The regulations will be kept under review under the ongoing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Quality (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: I am answering on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The advice is that the sustained use of E10 fuel in older vehicles may result in more frequent maintenance due to the vulnerability of certain vehicle parts to the solvent properties of ethanol requiring, for example, their more frequent replacement, but the clear feedback is that this does not mean they cannot be operated with E10...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Fuel Quality (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: The clear evidence and guidance is to the effect that E10 fuel is safe but may necessitate more frequent maintenance. If the Deputy wishes to correspond with the Department about her specific concerns, I will ask the officials who have been engaging on this issue here and with their European colleagues to respond with the specific guidance. That may be helpful in responding to the people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Safety (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 24 together. With the State having incurred the investment required to deliver BusConnects, it is vital to ensure sufficient enforcement is in place to protect the benefits of that investment from widespread breaches of the restrictions applying to bus lanes, cycle tracks and junctions. To effectively ensure this outcome, camera-based enforcement...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Safety (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act provides for the use of camera apparatus to capture the constituent of an offence in the case of a number of offences under the Road Traffic Acts. Failure to obey a red light is a contravention of Article 30 of the road traffic regulations of 1997, and these regulations are made under section 35 of the 1994 Act. The offence of not obeying a red light is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Safety (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank both Deputies for their thoughts on this. The working group is inclusive of representatives of An Garda, local authorities, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport. The NTA is taking the lead in this phase, with the recommendation to be made in the third quarter of this year. We also need to look at international best practice if we are making significant...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: I understand from Rosslare Europort that the idea of a free zone is still at an early concept stage. The Port’s current focus and energy is on progressing its plans for developing Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) facilities through planning and financing to construction. As outlined to the Deputy when she raised the issue previously, no formal proposal from Rosslare Europort or any...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Obligation (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: I would like to thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter. Following engagement between my Department and Shannon Airport last year, theDepartment agreed to consider the airport’s request for financial support to provide EU hub connectivity. On foot of this, a submission was made by the Shannon Airport Group to the Department in Q2 2022, putting forward a case for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter. In the context of supporting greater connectivity on the island of Ireland, the Government agreed ‘to take forward a review of the potential for Government support to renewed viable air routes from Cork to Belfast and Dublin to Derry, working with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to deliver improved...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Strategies (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: In December 2022, the Government published Ireland’s Road Haulage Strategy 2022–2031, following two phases of public consultation. It is available on Gov.ie. The Strategy highlights the importance of the haulage and road freight sector and addresses seven thematic areas of particular relevance to the industry. These are: 1. Brexit, COVID-19 & Crisis Management 2....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 58 together. The operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred this question 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.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Safety (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: Irish airports have procedures in place to handle the risk posed by illegal drone activity, developed in accordance with guidance on managing drone safety risk issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Safety critical areas are defined, and a risk assessment is maintained at our airports. These procedures have been reviewed and revised where necessary in light of lessons learned...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 65 and 84 together. The Government is committed to ensuring that our national commercial Irish ports are positive contributors to the ORE industry and that Ireland meets the ambitious targets of 7GW of offshore wind (2GW of which is specifically dedicated to green hydrogen) by 2030. Supporting the development of port infrastructure is a core...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (4 May 2023)

Jack Chambers: As the deputy will be aware, daa has the statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin Airport, including the use of the new North Runway. As state bodies under my remit, I have regular engagement with both the IAA and the DAA and I have met with both bodies where current operations at Dublin Airport on the use of the north runway have been discussed. I am aware that...