Results 2,981-3,000 of 9,563 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Safety (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Minister and I are actively engaging with the DAA and other relevant State agencies on the recent incidents of illegal drone activity at Dublin Airport and on potential measures to deter any future activity of this nature. We received briefings from relevant bodies after both the St. Brigid's weekend incidents and the most recent incident on 21 February. We will continue to support the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Safety (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy Farrell. As I have said, notwithstanding concerns, we are looking to progress urgently the commercially available counter-drone solutions at airports. We are also looking at other jurisdictions, as the Deputy stated. Alongside this we need to ensure there is appropriate engagement in a legal and regulatory context. This work is accelerating quickly. We acknowledge it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Safety (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I assure Deputy Durkan that this is being taken very seriously and urgent action is being taken. A number of meetings and engagements have taken place on the potential purchasing of counter-drone technology. In response to the issue of criminal enforcement, significant penalties are available, including sentences up to life imprisonment. This is a very serious sanction. The Deputies...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank both Deputies for their suggestions. There is an important road safety component for learner drivers which has been developed over many years. The solution is the sanction of additional testers rather than unwinding or undoing evidence-based road safety measures that have been developed over a number of years. We must try to assist learner drivers to get a test and bring the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Coast Guard Service (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Department is committed to ensuring that the Irish Coast Guard service remains fully capable and equipped to meet current and future challenges. An open recruitment process is currently under way to fill several senior leadership positions in the Irish Coast Guard, IRCG, including a new appointment at assistant secretary level to lead this vital service and an open recruitment process...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Coast Guard Service (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: As I said, a new assistant secretary, who will serve as a member of the Department of Transport's management board, will oversee a review of all aspects, including strategy, structure, roles, culture and governance of the Coast Guard service. This will be the first time an assistant secretary will be appointed to do that. The appointment was placed and advertised through the Public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Coast Guard Service (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputies for their suggestions and input. To respond to Deputy O'Rourke's point, relevant legislation is going through pre-legislative scrutiny. I will await the recommendations of the committee on that legislation. On the broader point, as I said, the role of volunteers is extremely important. It is for that reason that we are appointing someone at assistant secretary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy will be aware that the RSA has statutory responsibility for the operational aspects of the national driving test, NCT, including test applications and scheduling matters. I would first like to assure the Deputy that the Department is working closely with the authority on addressing driver testing waiting times, which is an issue of great concern. The current national average...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: As I have said, the wait time in Ennis is 22 weeks, the wait time in Kilrush is 13 weeks and, as the Deputy has said, the wait time in Shannon is 35 weeks. I have been told by the RSA that the additional sanctioned testers are being deployed in the areas with the longest waiting times. I will ask the RSA to correspond with the Deputy on the specific deployment but we have been told they are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I advise the Deputy that the City of Derry Airport sought to be included under the regional airports programme for the period from 2021 to 2025 and made a submission to a previous public consultation held by my Department in September 2019. As the Deputy has referenced, Derry airport asserts that its position is unique on the island of Ireland as it serves a large customer base on both sides...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: In the context of supporting greater connectivity on the island of Ireland, the Government agreed to take forward a review of the potential to support air routes from Cork to Belfast and from Dublin to Derry, working with the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive as part of our commitments under the New Decade, New Approach Agreement. As I said, a desk-based review is being...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: On the overall point, as I said, I was in Derry yesterday at the launch of the multimodal hub, which is a good example of collaboration between North and South and which will be of enormous benefit to citizens in the region. I agree with the many posters I saw in the broader region yesterday with regard to the ongoing delays with the A5 and the dangerous roads, which obviously have an impact...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Safety (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy knows, SI 24 of 2023 is an unmanned aircraft systems order from the IAA. We have strong criminal sanctions in place and there is also a standard operating procedure to ensure that appropriate actions are taken when a drone is observed in the vicinity of the critical area. That includes how sightings and detections are reported and verified, notifications to air traffic control...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: I was about to go into detail on that. As I have said, my Department continues to engage with ISIF and the EIB regarding the availability of funding and financing options for ports in providing the necessary ORE infrastructure. Clearly, there are challenges beyond funding to achieve our ambitions. It will require improvements to the planning process, which the Government is trying to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: Irish ports are at various stages of development in advancing renewable energy, RE, infrastructural projects. It is only when the respective business cases are completed that any funding gap can then be identified. Ensuring developers and ports collaborate is of paramount importance. Current Government policy is that Irish ports receive no Exchequer funding, with the State only stepping in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: Yes, but market failure has to be determined in accordance with Article 107.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Safety (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The safety of aircraft and people on the ground is my primary concern relating to illegal drone use. There are EU and national rules in place around the use of drones, including an exclusion zone of 5 km around airports. The misuse of drones is an offence. In response to illegal use of drones, summary proceedings and proceedings on indictment can be brought under both civil aviation...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Safety (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: We are constantly engaging with the relevant authorities - the IAA and the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA. A meeting was held as recently as last Saturday to try to make progress with the purchase of counter-drone technology for Dublin Airport, and there will be further engagements this week between the IAA, the DAA and the Garda. As part of this, we are looking at comparative examples...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: Sustainable aviation fuels, SAFs, are widely recognised as a key element in our efforts to reduce aviation-related emissions in line with our climate goals. This is reflected in the internationally endorsed basket of measures for emissions reduction, which includes increased SAF use, alongside aircraft technology, operational improvements and market-based measures. From both a production...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (2 Mar 2023)

Jack Chambers: The SAF industry throughout Europe is at an early stage of development and, in an Irish context, Ireland is not traditionally a fuel producer. It imports more than 90% of its aviation fuel. Within national energy policy, there is a clear focus on significantly increasing the production of renewable energies and as part of this we are developing a national hydrogen strategy. It is...