Results 7,661-7,680 of 9,184 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (20 Mar 2024)

Jack Chambers: I have no plans to change the rules to allow a person who holds a driving licence for an automatic transmission car to drive a manual transmission car. A person must pass their driving test in a manual transmission vehicle if they wish to obtain a driving licence to drive a manual transmission car. If a person passes their driving test in an automatic transmission vehicle, the driving...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pension Provisions (20 Mar 2024)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. From 1 May 2023 responsibility for past pensionable remuneration for all Irish Aviation Authority (“IAA”) staff, transferred from the IAA to AirNav Ireland. In line with the Rules of the Pension Plan any increases to pensions in payment are at the discretion of AirNav Ireland, and where proposed are subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (20 Mar 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Irish Aviation Authority (“IAA”) is responsible for the safety and security of civil aviation in Ireland, as well as the economic regulation of commercial aviation operations. Its functions are funded by way of fees and charges to the end user. The setting of such fees and charges is a matter for the IAA. I understand that the IAA has recently increased some of its fees,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (20 Mar 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) or my Department have not changed the licensing rules regarding tractors. Category W will continue to be the licence category that covers work vehicles and land tractors. The definition of “work vehicle” means a vehicle (other than a land tractor) which has a maximum design speed not exceeding 40 kilometres per hour and which is constructed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (21 Mar 2024)

Jack Chambers: Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) is integral to achieving Ireland’s Climate Change ambitions, with a target of achieving 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030, with a further 2GW to be in development by 2030. Beyond that, the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan 2021 also sets out a target of 37GW of ORE projects to be delivered before 2050. Government...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (21 Mar 2024)

Jack Chambers: Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 provides for the use of cameras by the Gardaí to assist in the detection of certain offences under the Road Traffic Acts. These powers have been successfully used by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), working in partnership with the Gardaí, with regard to speeding offences and it is open to other road authorities to use these powers on a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (21 Mar 2024)

Jack Chambers: The issue of multiple successive learner permits is a road safety priority for me, and my Department is committed to addressing it. However, it requires three parallel approaches to be successful: · Changing the permit renewal system to prevent unlimited renewals. · Increasing driver testing capacity for timely access to practical tests. · Reviewing...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (21 Mar 2024)

Jack Chambers: In June 2019, the Government at that time gave an approval in principle of an expression of support for an expansion proposal at Waterford Airport and to providing Exchequer funding of €5 million towards a runway extension project. Government support was not only contingent on local authority and private investment necessary to complete the project being committed and any risks...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (21 Mar 2024)

Jack Chambers: I understand that the Deputy is seeking information on the fees charged for the provision of en route air navigation services. AirNav Ireland, who provide these services since 1 May 2023 (prior to that date these services were provided by the Irish Aviation Authority) and are the recipient of these fees, have informed me that the following are the sums in respect of the years 2019 to 19 March...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (21 Mar 2024)

Jack Chambers: Maritime transport is the most important means of connecting Ireland to international markets, accounting for more than 90% of Ireland’s international trade. An efficient and resilient maritime transport sector is fundamental to the successful functioning of the Irish economy. At the end of the Brexit transition, Ireland saw a rapid and unprecedented reconfiguration of its...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Acting Chairperson. I thank the House, and particularly everyone who has contributed to the debate over the past while and during earlier Stages, for the passage of this Bill. It is, as Senators will be aware, a short and focused Bill to address the worrying trend we have been witnessing on our roads. After the worst year on our roads in almost a decade in 2023, sadly we are...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (9 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 227 together. The term "private jet" is not defined in national, European, or international law and the nature of ownership does not arise as a specific categorisation. There has been no proposal to ban such aircraft from Dublin Airport, but, as in the wider aviation sector, any proposals to regulate access more stringently would require that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (9 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the information requested is held by that agency. I have therefore referred the question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days. Regarding the driver testing...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (9 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: The forthcoming changes to alcohol licensing hours being brought forward by the Department of Justice may entail a need to consider enforcement arrangements such as Garda deployment. These are, however, a matter for the Garda Commissioner. If there are any implications in terms of Garda resourcing, this would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice. My Department's role is to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (9 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: The carriage of munitions of war is prohibited on any civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory unless an exemption to do so is granted by the Minister for Transport, as implemented in the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989. In 2023 and to date in 2024, no applications have been received or exemptions granted, to permit the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (9 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: My Department through the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) maintains a record of the ‘registered owners’ of motor vehicles. Articles 9 and 10 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (SI No. 385 of 1992) and amendments made thereon set out the procedures regarding notification and recording of change of vehicle ownership. While...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (9 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 225 together. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the Driver Testing Service and the information on applicants requested is held by it. The Authority also holds tester cost information, as the employer of the driving testers. As such, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (9 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: The operation of the National Car Testing Service, including the recruitment of staff, is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the Deputy's query to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response with the information requested has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (9 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, including all application and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my officials have the power to intervene in individual cases.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (9 Apr 2024)

Jack Chambers: I would like to thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter. As you are aware Shannon Airport has made a submission to my Department requesting the establishment of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) air service to provide EU Hub Connectivity from Shannon Airport. As previously advised, while the establishment of air services is a commercial matter between airports,...