Results 2,901-2,920 of 9,549 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank Senator Craughwell. As Minister of State, I am committed to ensuring the Coast Guard remains fully capable and equipped to meet current and future challenges. An open recruitment process is under way to fill several leadership positions in the Irish Coast Guard, including a new appointment at assistant secretary level to lead the vital service and an open recruitment process for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy Dillon and appreciate his question. It is an important one. There was a meeting of the ministerial road safety committee this morning with me and the Minister of State, Deputy Browne. It is of serious concern the trend we have seen last year and again this year. In particular, in Deputy Dillon's county of Mayo and the adjoining county of Galway, there has been quite a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: There is always a road traffic Bill ongoing and we want to conclude the existing one. We have a number of priority areas this year. We will see what evidence is presented. In terms of the streamlining of road traffic legislation, there is always a Bill undergoing drafting and development. Whatever recommendations will come from the road safety experts, we will obviously assess that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: In the new road haulage strategy, sustainability and decarbonisation form one of the key areas of priority for the Government. Obviously, the haulage sector is on a different trajectory than people with personal vehicles because of the technology and the fact it will take a little longer to transition that sector. When we had the road freight forum recently, we discussed decarbonisation....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: That is something that was discussed, in fact, at the meeting of transport ministers in Stockholm a couple of weeks ago. A priority across European countries is ensuring that we make this sector more sustainable while also bringing everyone working and operating a business in it with us in terms of the positive changes they can make, for example, driver behaviour and increasing the use of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: Of course. I take Deputy Dillon's point. Significant work is being done in the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to develop the hydrogen strategy. There is great potential for Ireland in this regard and it is important that we develop the overarching policy so that we can unleash that potential. The national hydrogen strategy will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The waiting times and the fact that the contract operated by Applus+ is not being fulfilled are unacceptable. It is below the level of service one would expect. It is important that there be robust oversight from the RSA, which is why we have weekly meetings with it about the NCT and ensuring proper accountability by Applus+. This is why a system of penalties is being imposed. Those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Quarterly Update on Matters relating to Minister of State's Remit: Discussion (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate the Deputy's kind words. We will try to hold the RSA and Applus+ to account to ensure that the timelines they have set out are met. I take the Deputy's broader point. There has been slippage in operational areas, for example, driver testing and NCTs. They are not meeting the level of public service that we expect. We are engaging with the RSA on reviewing its areas of...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Select Committee (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I second the nomination.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and members for the opportunity to discuss the ratification of the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation. The purpose of the convention, for which I will seek the Dáil's approval, is to convert a body that is merely an international association into an intergovernmental one under the auspices of the United...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: Yes.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: There are a number of conventions, as the Deputy has referenced. This is separate to that. There are some that relate to the International Maritime Organization, which would be underpinned by primary legislation. In the legislative programme within the Department, we have a number of priority actions on enacting some of the international conventions that relate to maritime. There is a...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: We will send the committee a note. I receive a six-monthly briefing on multi-annual legislative programmes as they relate to maritime safety and maritime conventions more generally. There is a work programme that will go on for a number of years. We have sought to prioritise that. As the Deputy knows, there is draft legislation before the committee and the Minister for Transport, Deputy...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I will send a wider note-----

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: -----because there is a comprehensive note on a number of technical areas that will require enactment for the next number of years. I will send that to the committee.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: Yes, if we can get it scheduled, the plan will be to get it ratified as quickly as possible.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: As you know, Acting Chair, the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service and the Air Corps, have a primary role when it comes to strategic defence matters, so that is a matter for the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to respond to. The Naval Service plays an important role in the protection of our territorial waters.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: As I set out in my speech, the requirements for the ratification of membership are approximately €18,000, which is covered by the Department. More generally, a portion of the income of the Commissioners of Irish Lights every year is from its own source of income from light dues and commercial activity, including the chartering of its vessel and expenses incurred in its operations....

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Commissioners of Irish Lights is the authority involved in terms of the delegated function when the convention is ratified.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation: Minister of State at the Department of Transport (22 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I think we will bring a lot of know-how and experience in our role as an island nation. As a founding member of the new intergovernmental organisation, the ambition of the Commissioners of Irish Lights is to play an important role in the new structure. More generally, it is seeking a position on the council of IALA and they must also meet targets on the delivery of aids to navigation as...