Results 16,781-16,800 of 26,148 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I respectfully suggest that as part of our overall review of this, the commission would look to get legal opinion on whether its remit extends in that area. There is a lacuna here. The practical implication is that it may put travel agents and tour operators out of business in Ireland. Many jobs are involved in the tourism sector, so we ask the commission to examine that area. Beyond what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will conclude with a few questions. The bond that is paid is 4% of turnover for a travel agent and 10% for a tour operator. What turnover figure does the commission look at?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is that a calendar year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Do they have to pay physical cash?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Are they typically cash bonds or insurance bonds?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Am I correct in saying that the only person who has access to that bond is the customer? The merchant providers do not. Am I correct in that assumption?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: If a payment had been made to the travel agent, which it put through for the customer, and the entity it was dealing with becomes insolvent and the provider has paid the money, is it purely the customer that can submit a claim to the commission?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The merchant providers have little, if any, contact with the commission on a financial level.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: This is slightly unrelated. I note that the Commission for Aviation Regulation is responsible for the scheduling, co-ordination and allocation of slots at Irish airports. How does that work? I assume that has nothing to do with the allocation of slots outside this jurisdiction.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is that the only airport? It does not arise in respect of Cork Airport or Shannon Airport.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: What does "constrained" mean?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Merchant Service Providers in the Travel Trade in Ireland: Discussion (23 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Might I suggest that if more passengers were transferred to Shannon Airport and Cork Airport, there might not be the serious, continual congestion in Dublin Airport? I will bring Senator Buttimer back in. As it stands, it is clear from all members that there is a lacuna. We need to invite the merchant providers in. I suggest that we write to the Department of Transport. The legislation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Minister for Transport (30 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Apologies have been received from Senator Craughwell. The purpose of our meeting is to continue our pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019. On behalf of the committee I welcome to today's meeting the Minister for Transport and Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ryan. His officials, Mr. Ray...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Minister for Transport (30 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Minister for accommodating us on the time. I now invite members for questions. I call Deputy Cathal Crowe. As Deputy Crowe is not in Leinster House, I call Deputy McAuliffe, who is substituting for his colleague, Deputy O’Connor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Minister for Transport (30 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Maybe in the Minister’s response he might address something he touched on briefly in his opening address and give more details on the timeframe in terms of publishing the full legislation, when he expects it to go to Second Stage and Committee Stage, and put a bit more flesh on the timeframe. It was a point Deputy McAuliffe raised, but I am putting firm direction on the question itself.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Minister for Transport (30 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I presume the Minister is talking about it going to the Dáil for First Stage and Second Stage and it then coming back to the select committee for Committee Stage

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Minister for Transport (30 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: On that, our understanding is the Bill is being drafted at the moment. On the logistics of having the Bill published, outside of pre-legislative scrutiny, does the Minister have a timeframe for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Minister for Transport (30 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I accept that. My understanding is there was work going on. Let me put another way to the Minister. Is there further work to be done, outside of what he has given us here in the brief, around anything to do with the Bill?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: General Scheme of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Minister for Transport (30 Jun 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: That gives clarity, Minister. Thank you.