Results 27,581-27,600 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: An agreed solution was implemented at the start of this year to address the funding difficulties in the Irish airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme, IASS. This agreed solution is a matter for the trustee, the companies participating in the scheme and the scheme members and the Pensions Authority. Under the agreed solution, the total contribution...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am fully aware of the hardship caused to people as a result of what happened to the pension fund. The pension fund faced a huge deficit. The one thing on which I am very clear is if I had gone against the wishes of the trustee, the person whose job it is to administer and run the fund, the Deputy would be the first person in the Dáil Chamber to criticise me for doing so. I am...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is good to hear the Deputy acknowledge the success we are having in tourism. He also opposed many of the measures put in place to deliver this success. He opposed the way we needed to fund the lower VAT rate, which is the very measure supporting Irish tourism and supporting hotels, cafes and restaurants in delivering affordable prices to tourists to get them to visit our country. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Dublin City Centre Transport Study (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Before I reply to the Deputy's question, I add my voice to the voices of those who spoke in the Dáil yesterday about the awful tragedy and loss of life in Berkeley. My thoughts, like those of everyone else, are with the families of those involved and everyone else who has been affected by this incident. The Dublin city transport study which was recently published jointly by the National...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Dublin City Centre Transport Study (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: A recognition of the role played by Dublin City Council in this respect, as well as the powers afforded to the council under law and the use made of these powers, needs to be at the heart of the discussion. The council is looking to hear the views of the people of the city and beyond on its proposals. While that consultation process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to become...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: With the return of economic growth, we must ensure that we have measures in place to deal with the consequent increase in traffic. It is a key objective of transport policy to encourage modal shift away from the car so as to improve economic competitiveness through reduced congestion, particularly in high density urban environments such as Dublin. This also supports climate...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Mitigation Plan (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As the Deputy will be aware, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill creates a statutory obligation to develop a National Mitigation Plan for Ireland.  In anticipation of the legislation, my Department has already commenced work on preparing the transport contribution to the Plan. Furthermore, in keeping with commitments under the Aarhaus...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Strategy (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 anticipates the introduction, subject to legal advice, of rehabilitation and driving awareness courses as court-based sentencing options for specific offenders (Action No 107, due Q1 2015). I understand that such courses would be broadly similar in style and content to those currently offered by the  Pro-Social Driving Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding regarding the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. With regard to the Osberstown...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Airports (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​The draft National Aviation Policy, which I intend to publish before the summer recess, sets out Government policy in relation to Cork Airport's role as a key tourism and business gateway for its region, making particular reference to the development of key niche markets. In line with the policy, our focus has been on exploiting the opportunity to grow inbound tourists to the Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​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 local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. I am not in a position to provide additional funding to County Meath at present. In...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Provision (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: NBRU and SIPTU difficulties with the tendering of public bus services included a concern that current legislation referred to by the Deputy would compel the National Transport Authority (NTA) to tender the remaining 90% of PSO bus routes, in other words all PSO routes, after the end of 2019 and that it would be impossible for further direct award contracts to be put...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Harbour Authorities (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The drafting of the Harbours Bill, 2015 is complete and I expect to seek Government approval to publish it very shortly. The Bill will provide the legislative basis for one of the National Ports Policy's key recommendations, namely that governance of the designated Ports of Regional Significance should vest in more appropriate local authority led governance structures. As the Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Tourism (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy and it is not involved in the development of regional or sectoral tourism.  This is an operational matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland, and I have accordingly referred the question to the agency for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if a response is not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aer Lingus Sale (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As I said in my reply to the Deputy on the 9th June in relation to this issue, an agreed solution was implemented at the start of this year to address the funding difficulties in the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS). This agreed solution is a matter for the Trustee, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax Collection (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: While the computer systems associated with the National Vehicle and Driver File in my Department facilitate the collection of motor tax, including, in particular through the online motor tax channel, arrangements regarding the payment of motor tax fees are a matter for Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and I have no role in the matter.  ​I have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aer Lingus Sale (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government considers that a sale of the State's minority shareholding to IAG, on the basis of the terms offered, would be the best means of securing and enhancing Ireland's connectivity with the rest of the world and maintaining a vibrant and competitive air transport industry in Ireland.  It would also best serve the interests of the travelling public, Aer Lingus and its employees,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Arts Promotion (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As the Deputy will be aware, Tourism Ireland is the agency with responsibility for the overseas marketing of Ireland as a tourist destination. Decisions on how the arts are used to attract visitors from overseas are matters for Tourism Ireland and these decisions are not subject to my approval.  Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Roads Authority Funding (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As the Deputy is aware the Government decided in 2010 that future PPP projects would be funded from capital budgets and this means that expenditure related to the current tranche of PPP projects will be drawn from NRA's capital budget together with other calls on that budget. As availability payments are contractual commitments, the onus is on the NRA is manage the balance...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Schemes (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​The Active Travel Towns Programme (ATT) is designed to achieve modal shift from the car to either walking and/or cycling and to secure greater public transport use through facilitating greater walking and cycling access to public transport. This objective is being achieved in a planned and co-ordinated way in towns around the country. My Department, in conjunction...