Results 2,641-2,660 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I have covered many of the points that have been made. It is a question of recouping the capital cost of €20 million.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I do not know what the charge is in Dublin Airport at the moment. The United States charges $5 for post-clearance or preclearance as part of the ticket price. That is not going to change. At the moment, the pre-inspection charge is €1.50. As a result of all the changes being made, the charge for preclearance will increase to €10.50. If one does not want to pay €10.50 for...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I cannot give such an example, which proves that all the propaganda from the Opposition, which claims that the region in question has been neglected by the Government, is total nonsense.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I apologise. I should have answered the Deputy's question instead of making that remark. No number is specified. A Deputy spoke earlier about the concern that the US side might pull back as a result of the announcement made by Delta Air Lines and Aer Lingus. I was reminded before my meeting with the US Secretary for Homeland Security to raise that specific issue. When I raised it during...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: When the Deputy has been in government for a while, he will know that preclearance is not needed very often.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Deputies for the interest they have shown in this important Bill and the contributions they have made to the debate on it. This legislation represents a landmark development in Irish aviation. I am confident that when the current recession passes, the Government's policy on preclearance will help Ireland to make progress on the road to economic recovery. I thank those Deputies and...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Deputies for their positive contributions to the debate on this legislation. Without exception, there was praise for these measures and for the agreement we have made. To the Deputies who queried why it took so long to reach agreement, I remind them that a similar deal with Canada took seven years to negotiate. I spoke to various members of Congress in the United States and people...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: A report was commissioned on marketing and other matters.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The report sought €53 million for the marketing of the mid-west region. As this sum exceeds the entire annual budget of Tourism Ireland, it was not realistic and was never promised. The former Minister for Transport, the late Séamus Brennan, and I succeeded in securing special earmark funding of €4.5 million for the region as an exceptional measure. This funding is being spent at...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I fail to understand how a departure tax in Ireland could have resulted in reductions in the number of passengers using airports across Europe. Some of the Deputies opposite noted that Belgium and the Netherlands decided to abandon similar taxes. However, the figures show that the rate of decline in passenger numbers in Belgium and the Netherlands is greater than in Ireland.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: If Deputies wish to make statements on the issue, they should at least consult the relevant figures. Data from the International Air Transport Association on passenger numbers show that the decline is a result of the global recession.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Ireland did not impose a departure tax across the world.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: We have heard nonsense, plain and simple, about this issue.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: If we were to abandon the departure tax, as proposed by Fine Gael and the Labour Party, it would result in a loss of income or increased charges of approximately €200 million. Will the Deputies opposite tell me where we would generate such a sum in the event that we chose to forego revenue from the departure tax? It is easy to call on me to abolish it, and I would be more than willing to...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: None of the Deputies opposite has proposed cuts to compensate for abolishing the departure tax. They cannot have it both ways.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The problem with the Deputy is he does not want to cut anything. He wants to create the impression that measures can be set aside and refuses to face up to reality.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I would like to be constructive. Deputy Broughan asked whether it is possible to change the designation of space. This can be done formally. The diplomatic notes are standard notes which must be exchanged when an international agreement is made. There is no delay in this regard. The State Airports Act was suspended following requests from the airports concerned arising from the current...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The agreement allows either party to request a review at any time. Redress is provided for in Irish law but that does not preclude passengers from also pursuing actions in the US. Deputies raised other issues which we may address on Committee Stage.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Deputy Broughan for his amendment, which is based on a discussion we held in the Seanad. His colleague in that House wanted increased clarity on the matter but accepted my explanation that the amendment he tabled in this regard would probably cause further difficulties. In accordance with the agreement, preclearance officers will not be allowed to carry any weapon in the preclearance...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The people we will be dealing with are law enforcement officers. They are not Irish law enforcement officers but they are law enforcement officers in American terms. From the US side, they will have been checked and cleared for security purposes. Obviously, they are here for a specific purpose, which is to ensure that people do not board planes bound for the United States who should not...