Results 181-200 of 1,674 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy will be aware that the RSA has statutory responsibility for the operational aspects of the national driving test, NCT, including test applications and scheduling matters. I would first like to assure the Deputy that the Department is working closely with the authority on addressing driver testing waiting times, which is an issue of great concern. The current national average...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: As I have said, the wait time in Ennis is 22 weeks, the wait time in Kilrush is 13 weeks and, as the Deputy has said, the wait time in Shannon is 35 weeks. I have been told by the RSA that the additional sanctioned testers are being deployed in the areas with the longest waiting times. I will ask the RSA to correspond with the Deputy on the specific deployment but we have been told they are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I advise the Deputy that the City of Derry Airport sought to be included under the regional airports programme for the period from 2021 to 2025 and made a submission to a previous public consultation held by my Department in September 2019. As the Deputy has referenced, Derry airport asserts that its position is unique on the island of Ireland as it serves a large customer base on both sides...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: In the context of supporting greater connectivity on the island of Ireland, the Government agreed to take forward a review of the potential to support air routes from Cork to Belfast and from Dublin to Derry, working with the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive as part of our commitments under the New Decade, New Approach Agreement. As I said, a desk-based review is being...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: On the overall point, as I said, I was in Derry yesterday at the launch of the multimodal hub, which is a good example of collaboration between North and South and which will be of enormous benefit to citizens in the region. I agree with the many posters I saw in the broader region yesterday with regard to the ongoing delays with the A5 and the dangerous roads, which obviously have an impact...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Safety (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy knows, SI 24 of 2023 is an unmanned aircraft systems order from the IAA. We have strong criminal sanctions in place and there is also a standard operating procedure to ensure that appropriate actions are taken when a drone is observed in the vicinity of the critical area. That includes how sightings and detections are reported and verified, notifications to air traffic control...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I was about to go into detail on that. As I have said, my Department continues to engage with ISIF and the EIB regarding the availability of funding and financing options for ports in providing the necessary ORE infrastructure. Clearly, there are challenges beyond funding to achieve our ambitions. It will require improvements to the planning process, which the Government is trying to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: Irish ports are at various stages of development in advancing renewable energy, RE, infrastructural projects. It is only when the respective business cases are completed that any funding gap can then be identified. Ensuring developers and ports collaborate is of paramount importance. Current Government policy is that Irish ports receive no Exchequer funding, with the State only stepping in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: Yes, but market failure has to be determined in accordance with Article 107.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Safety (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The safety of aircraft and people on the ground is my primary concern relating to illegal drone use. There are EU and national rules in place around the use of drones, including an exclusion zone of 5 km around airports. The misuse of drones is an offence. In response to illegal use of drones, summary proceedings and proceedings on indictment can be brought under both civil aviation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Safety (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: We are constantly engaging with the relevant authorities - the IAA and the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA. A meeting was held as recently as last Saturday to try to make progress with the purchase of counter-drone technology for Dublin Airport, and there will be further engagements this week between the IAA, the DAA and the Garda. As part of this, we are looking at comparative examples...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: Sustainable aviation fuels, SAFs, are widely recognised as a key element in our efforts to reduce aviation-related emissions in line with our climate goals. This is reflected in the internationally endorsed basket of measures for emissions reduction, which includes increased SAF use, alongside aircraft technology, operational improvements and market-based measures. From both a production...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The SAF industry throughout Europe is at an early stage of development and, in an Irish context, Ireland is not traditionally a fuel producer. It imports more than 90% of its aviation fuel. Within national energy policy, there is a clear focus on significantly increasing the production of renewable energies and as part of this we are developing a national hydrogen strategy. It is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I share the Deputy's ambition on this and on taking the correct steps on climate action. It is clear that the scaling up of the use of SAF will be crucial in facilitating decarbonisation in the aviation sector. With regard to the next steps, the ReFuelEU aviation proposal will be a key measure in achieving this. We can continue to work with our colleagues in Europe to achieve agreement on...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: Offshore renewable energy, ORE, is integral to achieving Ireland’s climate change ambitions with a target of achieving 7 GW of offshore energy by 2030, of which 2 GW will be dedicated solely to the production of green hydrogen. Ports will play a critical part in achieving this ambition. In December 2021, a policy paper was published on the facilitation of offshore renewable energy by...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which is continuing to affect people across the State as the National Car Testing Service, NCTS, remains under pressure. The operation of the NCTS is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, RSA. My Department has worked closely with the RSA and the NCT contractor, Applus, to support their efforts over the past six...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The RSA advises me that it expects the service to return to the 12-day standard by the end of June 2023, although efforts will continue to achieve this earlier if possible. In the meantime, I urge motorists seeking a test when making their bookings to contact the NCTS directly to avail of the priority waiting list. The Deputy has requested the number of customers qualifying for a free...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy is aware, the RSA on behalf of the State provides oversight for the specific contract. I say clearly that the failure to deliver the public service according to the wait time is unacceptable. We have been clear with the RSA and, by extension, with Applus on that. That is why contract mechanisms have been triggered and why there is a process around the imposition of penalties,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Asset Management Agency (16 Feb 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank both of the Deputies for raising this issue. I will reflect the feedback they have provided and what they have stated regarding the community's perspective on this, which is important. As I stated, I have been advised by NAMA that it holds a 20% equity interest in the development site at Poolbeg west SDZ. Under the terms of the shareholder agreement NAMA entered into in 2021, all...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Services (16 Feb 2023)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate the Deputy raising this matter and her interest in and commitment to the referendum. As indicated, the Minister is fully committed to supporting the referendum on public ownership of water, and I cannot emphasise that enough. The Minister's preferred approach, as outlined in the Irish Water transformation policy paper, is to bring forward proposals for a referendum on water...