Results 13,141-13,160 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together.28 and 29 together. The Questions refers to premises which are located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Travel Trade Sector (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I am fully aware that the travel trade sector has not been able to reclaim any meaningful level of lost trade over the past 6 months. It is an SME sector, and as such travels agents and tour operators have access to all of the various business supports made available in the July stimulus package and in last month's Budget. Budget 2021 contains historic levels of State support for the SME...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Government Decision to move to Level 5 of Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 was taken due to the very serious increase in COVID-19 infection levels. The Government decision and the public health regulations require that driver theory tests are suspended for the duration of the Level 5 restrictions.The decision to suspend this service, like many other...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the licensing of SPSVs, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Given the role of the NTA as regulator, I have referred your question to the Authority for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Meetings (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Since coming into Office, both Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton and I have met with daa senior management, including its Chief Executive and the Managing Director of Cork Airport. Indeed, at the end of August Minister of State Naughton visited Cork Airport and met with senior management. While I have not had direct engagement over the period in question, I assure the Deputy that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: This is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. Project Ireland 2040 identifies a programme of regional and local road improvement projects to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Specific details on the layout and facilities available at a RSA Test Centre are held by the Road Safety Authority and I have no information on this matter. I am therefore passing the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. If a reply has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by Exchequer road grants, where applicable. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I am joined by officials, Ms Andrea Lennon and Ms Nicola Hayes. I thank the committee for the opportunity to come back to speak further about the impact of Covid-19 on Irish aviation. I know the committee has dedicated a lot of its time and energy in the past month to raise and examine the key issues for aviation, with a focus on what needs to be done. I am very glad to receive its further...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I look forward to the committee's report. This area will continue to change and evolve as the virus is continuing to evolve, along with the impact and responses to it with respect to testing and regulations. We will have to continue to be flexible and look at how arrangements change while following best international practice as best we can. It is about listening to the health advice....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: On the Chairman's final question, I reiterate what Dr. Holohan stated yesterday. It is far too early to be making statements in that regard. We are into the second week of level 5 restrictions. As Dr. Holohan stated, we are moving in quite a hopeful direction in terms of the level of incidence, but we will have to wait and see how that progresses. We must also wait and see what happens in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: It will be in place within a short number of weeks. As I stated, it will be operated on a voluntary basis, that is, people will have to opt in. It is not that every single passenger will have to do that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: It will be voluntary. It is designed-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Our current approach involves looking for passengers to comply with the regulations. The advice is clear in terms of passengers currently coming in restricting their movements. We are doing that on the basis of seeking public support in the compliance------

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: No, we are saying it is an option. The system we will operate will be very similar to what the German and UK Governments are seeking to introduce. The health authorities indicated to me that if we are to introduce a testing system, such an approach would involve passengers being tested five days after arrival. My understanding of the health advice is that passengers would restrict their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The number of people travelling has decreased significantly. When I last appeared before the committee, approximately 15,000 people a day were coming into or leaving the country. The most recent figures show that this number has halved, approximately, as a result of the level 5 restrictions and what is happening internationally. There are a significant number of essential workers who must...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Yes. The Chairman should remember that, as Dr. Holohan and the civil servants from the Department of Health stated yesterday, our system is based on public support for compliance. A friend of mine told me about the travel restrictions in China, New Zealand and other countries that have a forced quarantine system whereby one is put in a hotel on arrival and is obliged to remain there for two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Senator. None of us knows how this virus will progress or the effect it will have on the wider economy and on international travel. I do, however, know for certain that Shannon Airport is of critical importance for the people working in the industry. Moreover, surrounding industries, nearby industrial estates, the wider Limerick region and, indeed, the region as a whole...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: That is one of the options at which we have been looking. As I have said, this whole area keeps changing. The application of such an approach will depend, to a certain extent, on European rules on state aid. We are looking at that. We are also looking at whether operating expenditure arrangements in airports could be supported and whether further capital supports could be provided. We...