Results 28,021-28,040 of 33,392 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

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...

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

Paschal Donohoe: ​The Road Safety Authority has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS). As a result of capacity enhancements put in place by the NCTS earlier this year, I am informed by the RSA that the vast majority of test centres have either no waiting list or a very short one.   ...

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

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and operation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. I will, therefore, refer...

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

Paschal Donohoe: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including issues pertaining to the skills tests for applicants for a taxi licence, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues relating to Marine Casualty Investigation Board (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​​The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) was established on 5th June 2002 under Section 7(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act, 2000. The purpose of the MCIB is to investigate and to establish the causes for marine casualties, with a view to making recommendations to the Minister for Transport for the avoidance of...

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

Paschal Donohoe: ​While my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism offerings such as at Fanad Lighthouse, Co. Donegal, it is not directly involved in developing or managing these projects. This is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply...

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

Paschal Donohoe: ​I had constructive engagement with  trade union representatives whom I met with on a number of occasions in the course of consideration of the IAG proposed offer for Aer Lingus.The Government's decision to support IAG's offer was based on careful consideration of all the issues of concern and independent expert advice.

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

Paschal Donohoe: ​The objects of a State port company are clearly set out in section 11 of the Harbours Act 1996.  However, as the Deputy will note from section 11, these objects are not restricted to purely commercial shipping matters, but may include, for example: 'to promote investment in its harbour; and to engage in any business activity, either alone or in conjunction with other persons,...

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

Paschal Donohoe: The provision of rail services is an operational matter for larnród Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to both the company and the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days. Iarnród Éireann has not applied for additional...

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

Paschal Donohoe: ​I had constructive engagement with Aer Lingus executives whom I met with on a number of occasions in the course of consideration of the IAG proposed offer for Aer Lingus.The Government's decision to support IAG's offer was based on careful consideration of all the issues of concern and independent expert advice.