Results 18,081-18,100 of 26,152 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Covid-19: Statements (Resumed) (16 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Ceann Comhairle and all his staff in Leinster House, at every level, for their great help and support throughout the year. I wish them all, and their families, a happy and peaceful Christmas. I will concentrate on this afternoon's announcement by the Minister for Health that we will expedite the roll-out of the vaccine by opening vaccination centres for longer hours, from 8...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Industry (16 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, undertook to commission a review of the financial situation of Shannon Airport, which was carried out by NewERA. I understand that, according to that report, there is a need to continue to provide financial supports for Shannon Airport into 2022. The regional airports programme, which has...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Industry (16 Dec 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am a little surprised that this report was given to the Department last July. I am also surprised that the Minister of State said it was confidential and commercially sensitive because I read about its contents in the Irish Examiner. The article stated, "A review of Shannon Airport has found that the group should continue to receive State funding, the Cabinet has heard." I am a Deputy...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Inflation: Discussion (resumed) (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Moving away from inflation slightly, I wish to discuss insurance. We are getting many queries on the ground about the lack of availability of insurance cover. This has to do with licences because, to operate in this jurisdiction, a provider must go through the Central Bank. Has the Central Bank received many applications from people to set up as insurance companies? How will that market...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: No apologies have been received. Our first session an engagement with the chairperson designate of the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, Ms Rose Hynes. The purpose of the meeting is to engage with the chairpersons designate of the IAA and An Post, discuss their strategic priorities for their roles and their views on the challenges currently facing their organisations. For this session, on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is there anything in law that requires this navigational equipment within the cockpit Mr. Ó Conghaile is talking about being in compliance and integrated with the IAA's mapping because that is what Mr. Ó Conghaile is implying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is there a lacuna in the regulations of the law between the mapping the IAA is required to provide legally and the equipment that is used at night to navigate within the cockpit of a plane? Is there a lacuna there that it does not require to be in compliance with the IAA's maps?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Would it be good standard that the equipment should be integrated with the State mapping? Are the IAA's the blueprint in terms of flight paths for planes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Many flights are at night, however. I am an ordinary person looking at this matter. Mr. Ó Conghaile is telling us that the IAA's mapping had all the features defined on the maps. That is a given, and everyone accepts that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Within the equipment, though, there was a failure to identify the particular features where the crash took place. As an ordinary person looking at this situation, I am going to say that there is a lacuna. It follows, as clearly as night follows day, that the same type of safety procedures should be in place, based on the IAA's mapping, at night as during the day. I thought that would be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: We will have to conclude-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I ask the Deputy to be brief, because I have a lot of-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will allow the to Deputy conclude on this point. Other members can come in on it as well if they wish. Several other members wish to ask questions too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr Ó Conghaile and call Senator Horkan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does Ms Hynes wish to let Mr. Ó Conghaile deal with this question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am as much to blame as anyone else, and I apologise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Senator Horkan, please.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: There is a report on this matter and we must be careful not to attribute blame.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Senator may make a recommendation to the committee that we write to the Minister on that particular point. It is a very good suggestion. Mr. Ó Conghaile is not in his role to provide legislation; he is there to enact it. If the Senator is making a recommendation that the committee write to the Minister-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Aviation Authority: Chairperson Designate (24 Nov 2021)

Kieran O'Donnell: Senator Horkan needs to conclude now.