Results 29,541-29,560 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Topical Issue Debate: State Airports (8 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I will pass on the points made by the Deputy to the individuals involved because I share his objective of ensuring employment is maintained and, regardless of what part of the country we were speaking about, that everybody has the opportunity to grow more employment and future jobs. I am aware, as is the Deputy, of the role of Kerry Airport and the contribution, as he has stated, it makes to...

Topical Issue Debate: State Airports (8 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: -----and we all need to respect this.

Topical Issue Debate: State Airports (8 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Deputy Spring for raising this matter and I know he has championed the need for development and employment in his county and constituency. I appreciate the importance of this issue and know why the Deputy has raised it today. The Deputy has given some background information on the bodies involved and, for the benefit of the House and the record, I want to make some points on Shannon...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Expenditure (8 Oct 2014)

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 implementation of individual road projects such as the N71 is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (8 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Transport Authority (NTA) is managing the Regional Cities Programme on behalf of my Department. Under this programme capital funding is provided for investment in public transport measures in the regional cities, including improvement works at Ceannt Rail Station in Galway. Noting this, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Improvement Scheme (8 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) provides funding for roads and laneways that Councils have not taken in charge.  However, the maintenance and improvement of these is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. There is no separate allocation for the LIS.  Instead, local authorities may use up to 15% (increased from 7% in 2013) of their initial Discretionary Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Commissions of Investigation (8 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has not commissioned any investigations or inquiries during the past 12 months and at present is not considering establishing any investigations or inquiries during the next 12 months.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Light Rail Projects Status (8 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) such as metro, light and heavy rail projects. Following the comprehensive review of capital expenditure carried out in 2011 a decision was taken to defer Metro North and a number of other major projects, including  DART...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (8 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Firstly, I would point out that Regulations, signed by my predecessor this Summer, mean that people who are abroad for a fixed period for work or study do not need to appear in person to renew their driving licences.  When people emigrate on a permanent or long-term basis, it should be the norm that they would acquire a driving licence in their new country of residence.  Where...

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am not aware, but I will check that for the Senator and will come back to him at another stage in this debate to let him know what the company is. It is a fair question to ask. In relation to his point on who the ultimate party would be, he is correct that it would be a local authority that was hiring somebody to do the work. Under this Bill, it would then be subject to the regulation...

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am glad the Senator has clarified that in his response. His point in relation to signage is important and I do not want to take away from that. The fact that signage needs to be clear and well understood was touched on by many Senators earlier, but of course the issue of open private land, which Senator Barrett touched on, is of particular significance. Local authorities, as we are all...

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The answer to both those questions could be in the code of practice that the National Transport Authority would have the ability to issue, should it decide to do so. This Bill gives the National Transport Authority the ability to issue codes of practice in particular areas within the industry. If they were so minded, the issues mentioned by the Senator could clearly be included within this...

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Senator Norris could not be rude. I will come back to him in relation to that point and I apologise for not referring to it directly. The reason disabled drivers are given specific recognition within the Bill is to ensure that the issue is treated consistently across the country and in relation to different pieces of land. I know from my own constituency work that when people cannot access...

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Thank you, Acting Chairman. I thank all Senators for the contributions they have made on the Bill and the general issues of parking and transport policy. I will begin by emphasising briefly some of the main points in the Bill and will then respond to some of the points made by Senators. The first key part of the Bill that will improve the current situation is its focus on the activity of...

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Twice.

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am glad to have the opportunity to raise it. In my case, I was going to the cinema in Parnell Street. I parked on Parnell Street, having looked at the signs which indicated that free parking was allowed after 8 p.m., in other words that the parking fees were suspended at 8 p.m. When I came back to my car later that night after the movie, I was amazed to discover I was clamped. While I...

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I hope it was a good film.

Seanad: Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I would like to thank the Seanad for the opportunity to introduce the Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014. The Bill addresses the commitment in the programme for Government to legislate to regulate clamping. The impetus for this commitment stems principally from public concerns in regard to the activity of some clamping operators and the extent to which clamping may be carried out in a less than...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.  Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. Following a Government decision on 11 February 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax Collection (7 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013, introduced new arrangements for declaring the non-use of a vehicle for motor tax purposes. The system requires a non-use declaration (off road declaration) for a vehicle to be made in advance of its motor tax expiry date thereby replacing the system whereby owners could declare the non-use of a vehicle retrospectively, commonly referred to as...