Results 7,201-7,220 of 9,184 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Road Safety: Statements (26 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I welcome the opportunity to address the Dáil and update Members on road safety and the current progress against actions within the Government's road safety strategy 2021-23. The safety of all road users is the first priority for my Department. Travel and transportation is an essential component of social and economic life in this country and needs to be available, accessible and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Military Aircraft (26 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport. My department operates a robust system, in consultation with other Government Departments, whereby...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Vehicle Registration Tax (26 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: The rates of motor tax for goods vehicles apply to vehicles which are '...constructed or adapted for use and used for the conveyance of goods, or burden of any other description, in the course of trade or business...'. In order to verify that a vehicle meets these criteria, the first taxing of a goods vehicle by a vehicle owner must be done at the owner's local motor tax office. Article 3 of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (26 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: As the deputy will be aware, daa has statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin Airport. Accordingly, I have forwarded your request to daa for a direct response. If a response is not received within 10 days, please contact my private office.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the committee for inviting me to talk about the important matter of road safety and update it on the road traffic measures Bill 2023. I sincerely appreciate the committee having made this time available at such short notice to discuss this legislation given the trends on our roads. I am joined by my Department officials who work in the area of road safety. In three out of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: In response to Senator Doherty's point on the trend in recent years, she is correct that during some of that period there was reduced activity on roads. However, we saw ongoing persistence of some of the lifesaver offences in that speed was still a central factor. We know that the trend during Covid and even after continued in terms of the incidence of intoxicated driving. The consumption...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: My understanding is that An Garda Síochána sought to maximise the opportunities with GoSafe. The possibility through the contract was to increase by up to 20%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Garda will be able to give further information on that. It is recruiting additional personnel to run the GoSafe vans and procuring additional vehicles to maximise the opportunities through GoSafe. I agree that if there is further capability to do more there, that should be pursued. My understanding, however, is that the Garda has sought to reach the upper end of what is possible...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: We know that increased activity over bank holiday weekends is a key factor. Looking at the trends here and globally, there are higher numbers of collisions and often higher numbers of deaths. I can set out some of the research from Australia which tracked this over a number of years to give an example of how changing the periodic offences makes a difference. To give some context, RSA...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Unfortunately, when the Road Safety Authority does its various surveys on driver acceptability of speeding, it is very high, and a significant percentage of drivers openly admit to speeding when they are anonymously surveyed. It is unfortunately socially acceptable to many. For many drivers who are compliant, the speed limit is often the target rather than being aware of the wider...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy is correct. The plan is that we have to enact the legislation to change the default speed limits. Once that is enacted, we will produce detailed guidance for every local authority then to do a speed limit review and the new guidance will inform local authorities on how to conduct a review and on the recommendations that evolve from it. Essentially, the present position is that,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for that. I regret that there has been a negative impact on many commuters and public transport users in Meath and the regression in service people have experienced this week and in previous weeks. We will reflect what is said at the committee to Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority and we will write back to the committee with their feedback and response....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I am here to deal with the general scheme of the road safety measures Bill. What I will say is that we have an ambitious plan to continue regional development and upgrade our road network, which is of central importance, particularly for the roads that have a very poor road safety record. What we are trying to do through the national development plan process and through the funding...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: There is also a need to prioritise and keep focus on the road safety dimension to road investment.