Results 861-880 of 4,026 for speaker:

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Viability of and Opportunities for the Post Office Network: Discussion (16 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: I thank the witnesses for their statements and contributions thus far. We have reached a point where we must have a long think about how we want our towns to develop. The main streets in our towns were home to many different types of shops 20 or 30 years ago, including hardware stores, drapery shops, butcher shops and so forth but they have all gradually disappeared. They have either moved...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Viability of and Opportunities for the Post Office Network: Discussion (16 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: I appreciate Mr. O'Hara's reply but that is no way for a pillar bank operate or communicate. It seems to be the case that negotiations will take place next week. We will have to see how they go. That has put post offices in a very difficult position in light of the level of public expectation, which is unfair and unwarranted. No doubt postmasters will do everything they can to ensure that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Covid-19 on Driving Instructors: Unite the Union (18 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: I thank the witnesses and wish them the best of luck in the continuing growth of their branch. Gaining some 90 members in seven months in a pandemic is quite an achievement. I thank them for their testimonies today. I have a few quick questions. The witnesses can take as much time as they wish to answer them. If there is anything else they wish to add or any issues raised by other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Covid-19 on Driving Instructors: Unite the Union (18 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: I am very satisfied with those answers. If there is time left, the witnesses should feel free to add anything they so wish.

Ceathrú Chultúir 1916 Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: I am delighted to contribute to the debate on this important Bill. I commend Sinn Féin on bringing it to the House, I commend the now Minister for bringing a similar Bill before the Seanad six years ago and I also welcome the Minister of State saying the Government will not oppose the Bill on this Stage. Ultimately, everyone wants to get to the same place on this issue. As a Dub, it...

Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: On behalf of the Labour Party, and as a parent, I am very supportive and welcoming of the Bill. The Labour Party is delighted the Bill has cross-party support. It has been eagerly anticipated and it is a good thing that it is finally here. I can state without qualification that it is a good step to where we need to go in terms of how we approach parental leave and, as a State, respect the...

Residential Tenancies Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: In theory, everybody would welcome the extension of a ban on evictions until July. However, the ban provided for in this Bill is not the same as what was previously in place. We in the Labour Party have always said that we will work constructively with the Government to do whatever we can to solve this crisis, keep people in their homes and allow them to have hope that they have a future in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: 43. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the future viability of the aviation industry sector and the thousands of jobs in the sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15565/21]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: My question is the same as Deputy O'Rourke's. It is the only question. What I have heard over the past five minutes has not given any comfort to me or any of the thousands of workers who are watching and concerned about the future viability of their livelihoods and lives. I must ask again what is the view of the Minister of State on the future viability of the aviation industry. The...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: It will certainly not be an easy road. It is a pretty desolate road at the moment. We have consistently been calling for action. The language is so familiar, as it has been for months. The Minister of State mentioned the fact the EWSS has been put in place, as was the temporary wage subsidy scheme, TWSS, was before that. We are talking about a survival package, a recovery package that...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: Our concern is there will be thousands of workers who will be outside the industry and looking in at that recovery in a couple of years' time because they have been let go. The workers are asking for a safe return to travel, as we have all been asking for. We want a roadmap back with clearly defined public health guidelines and milestones. That is not easy, we know that, but the European...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: 54. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the programme for Government commitment to enhance suburban and commuter rail across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15570/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: 76. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the length of the backlog for driver and theory test applications; his plans to address the backlog for the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15568/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: 79. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the length of the backlog for the renewal of driver licences; his plans to address the backlogs in the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15569/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Policy (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: 87. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request that the National Transport Authority consider creating a link between all public bike schemes nationwide to enable users in one location to avail of the scheme in another; if a cost-benefit analysis has been carried out on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15566/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Legislative Measures (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: 117. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for legislation for the use of e-scooters; his further plans to include e-scooter usage in the decarbonisation of road transport plan as set out in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15567/21]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Transport (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: 177. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of vehicles owned or leased and operated by his Department and agencies and semi-State companies under his remit broken down by the number of ICE and non-ICE vehicles and fuel category, that is, petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15117/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: 246. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has contacted or plans to contact the UK authorities to raise concerns about the commissioning of a new coalmine in Cumbria in view of the UK's leadership role at COP26 in Glasgow and the recent call by the UN Secretary General on all states to decommission all proposed coal plants; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Transport (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: 247. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of vehicles owned or leased and operated by his Department and agencies and semi-State companies under his remit broken down by the number of ICE and non-ICE vehicles and fuel category, that is, petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15118/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (24 Mar 2021)

Duncan Smith: 376. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the programme for Government commitment to commission an economic evaluation of higher speed rail links between the main cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15664/21]