Results 28,361-28,380 of 33,392 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Other Questions: Mountain Rescue Service (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware of the measure announced recently by the Northern Ireland Minister for Justice doubling the funds provided by the Northern Ireland Executive to search and rescue volunteer groups. My Department recognises and acknowledges the contribution that these voluntary groups make to their communities and to the general public. As the Deputy is aware, my Department, through the Irish...

Other Questions: Mountain Rescue Service (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am aware that the volunteers in question do great work. The Minister of State, Deputy Ring, was heavily involved in the matter last year and has a great interest in it.

Other Questions: Mountain Rescue Service (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As I said a special allocation of €200,000 was made last year as a result of the interest the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, and the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, had in the matter. That money was provided for the purchase of vehicles to allow the work the Deputy has described to be done better.

Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Provision (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I accept Deputy Murphy's point that in order for these routes to work well they must be integrated and cover relatively long distances. I had the opportunity to experience the success of the greenway in Mayo just over two weeks ago, in the company of the Minister of State, Deputy Ring. That was delivered in an integrated manner through the local authority, with the consent of many private...

Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Provision (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I agree with Deputy Murphy's points. We are hoping, through our smarter travel initiative, to find ways to encourage more people to use public transport. The Deputy will be aware that the millionth Leap Card was issued in the Dublin area a few weeks ago. We are now extending that programme to different parts of the country. It is now being made available in Limerick, for example. I...

Other Questions: Harbour Authorities (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​The drafting of the Harbours Bill 2015 is almost complete and I will be seeking Government approval very soon to publish the Bill. The Bill will provide the legislative basis to one of the national ports policy's key recommendations, namely that governance of the designated ports of regional significance vest in more appropriate local authority-led governance structures. As the...

Other Questions: Public Transport (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I covered some of this matter earlier in an answer to a priority question from Deputies Dooley and Ellis. At the end of last year, I met the unions regarding the matter and I instigated a process through the Labour Relations Commission, LRC, to respond to the issues the union leaders raised on behalf of their members. The Deputy asked about the terms and conditions of existing employees. I...

Other Questions: Public Transport (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: My intervention yesterday is the oddest example of neo-liberalism recently seen. Yesterday, I said employees whose routes might go to another company would not be required to move. This is a process in which both companies would be able to participate. The employee would have the choice. I recognise the legitimate concerns employees have raised, while also saying the Government is...

Other Questions: Public Transport (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: This is a new approach by the Deputy. If I had not done anything, she would accuse me of doing nothing. If I do something, she denies I did anything.

Other Questions: Public Transport (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy went on to say I had not engaged on the matter. A few moments ago, I described the engagement I had with the unions directly and the length of the process that went on, through the LRC, that involved the unions and the employers, to seek to respond on the matters that are being dealt with. I pointed out that the approach being taken here in Ireland is entirely different from that...

Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Provision (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware, the greater Dublin area, GDA, covers the four Dublin local authority areas as well as Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. In 2013, the NTA finalised its detailed work on the preparation of a greater Dublin area cycle network plan, which aims to bring to bear the kind of planning overview to which the Deputy referred. The plan was formally adopted by the NTA board in...

Other Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: First, I again make it clear that the IASS and its funding are primarily matters for the trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority. At the request of my Department and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the expert panel recently re-engaged with the unions to provide clarification on a number of issues arising from its...

Other Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As part of this process, both companies contributed €260 million to the resolution of this matter. A total of €190.7 million came from Aer Lingus while €72 million came from the DAA. Out of the €260 million, €60 million went into dealing with matters raised by deferees. This was an increase of €20 million as a result of the expert panel process. ...

Other Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: One of the great strengths of the way the marriage equality campaign has been handled by everybody involved is the great attempt by those of us advocating for a "Yes" vote not to politicise it or bring party political matters into it. I regret the way the Deputy has sought to integrate matters which are entirely different and separate. Although the Deputy has asked me not to repeat facts, it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: What strikes me is that the Deputy and Fianna Fáil did not make these points when his Government sold 75% of the company. Let me quote what the Deputy said about the legislation in March 2004. He stated:The purpose of this legislation is to provide for a viable future for the airline. It needs to change the focus which was initially targeted at the national interest. That need is no...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy did not seek in 2004 the very kinds of mechanisms he now seeks.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aer Lingus Sale (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I have outlined the circumstances that would obtain were the Government to find itself having to seek to dispose of its share. That decision has not been made; it is something we are considering. I have outlined all the criteria against which we would evaluate this decision, on which I am required to come back to the Oireachtas. However, the point I am making very clearly is that the very...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aviation Policy (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I have some other material that I will raise with Deputy Halligan.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aviation Policy (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I agree with Deputy Halligan that regional airports play an exceptionally important role in delivering balanced development across the country. The Deputy has in the past raised with me the issue of the lengthening of the runway at Waterford Airport and I followed up on that matter in anticipation of this question here today. My Department has been advised that the airport board is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aviation Policy (29 Apr 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I do not agree with Deputy Halligan's analysis regarding the risk of catastrophic consequences for either Waterford Airport or the other regional airports. The Deputy asked about the Government's response to the guidelines from the European Commission. As I stated earlier, we agreed with the guidelines that were being put out. I suppose we did that for larger reasons. It places new...