Results 3,721-3,740 of 9,052 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: -----and I am responding to him. I hear these concerns every day. I have met the Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA, and the Freight Transport Association of Ireland, FTAI, and I know their concerns-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: We want to reduce our emissions-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: -----while ensuring we have a fit-for-purpose logistics and supply chain sector.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I appreciate this issue is of great concern, which is why it has been raised in the House. I am very aware of increased prices at petrol and diesel pumps over recent weeks. This is an international trend. Wholesale energy prices have increased significantly following rises in international oil and gas prices and a post-lockdown surge in energy demand. While the trajectory of the global...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I take the point the HGV sector is reliant on fossil fuels and I am acutely aware of that. As part of this transition, we are trying to ensure we put in place supports such as the diesel rebate scheme. I mentioned the alternatively fuelled heavy duty vehicle grant, which had a significant uptake from the sector, showing the interest. We are also co-funding three research projects with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will continue to engage, as I have done since I came into this role, with the sector to ensure we protect it. I will also work with my Government colleagues, given this is not just a transport issue. For example, the Minister for Finance sets policy in respect of tax and excise duties on fuel and the only increase this year was the planned carbon tax increase. I will engage with them in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is important to note that An Garda Síochána engages extensively with transport operators and that a range of regional and local operations have been put in place to address incidents and issues that have arisen at specific locations. There is ongoing communication between An Garda Síochána and the respective control centres and access to good-quality CCTV can assist...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: To add to my earlier response, An Garda Síochána established regional quick-response hubs at Portlaoise and Thurles to support our intercity services in order to address incidents of antisocial behaviour on board our services, and this has had a significant impact in reducing antisocial behaviour and increasing compliance. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, while standing in for the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will come back to the Deputy on that.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. My response to Deputy O'Rourke's question earlier outlines the position in relation to the driver shortage and increasing fuel costs for the haulage sector. I will focus in this response on the overall position as regards the road haulage sector and supply chain issues. The programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The climate action plan will be produced later today. We are going to need emissions reductions across every single sector and, as we are all aware and I am acutely aware from being in the Department, transport faces one of the bigger challenges in this area. We need to ensure that we can support the sectors that need the support most. We need a robust supply chain and that is why I am...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I received the Deputy's map so we got that correspondence. I will read out the reply on behalf of the Minister. DART+ West is the most advanced of the infrastructure projects that make up the overall DART+ programme. As outlined in the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area, DART+ will extend or enhance the current DART system west to Maynooth and Celbridge-Hazelhatch, south to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I share the Deputy's ambition on this matter, as would most people. The two primary reasons we simply cannot extend DART+ to Kilcock at this point are linked to the way land use and transport planning works in the greater Dublin area and engineering. Uniquely in Ireland, there is a statutory transport strategy for the greater Dublin area and it has set the geographic scope of the DART+...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I understand the Deputy's frustration. As I said, I share her ambition on this matter, but the fact is it would delay the process. DART+ West is the most advanced of the four infrastructure projects, with two rounds of non-statutory public consultations already completed. Its next step, subject to Government approval, is to enter the statutory planning system. As I said, this matter can...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Absolutely.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for this question and the opportunity to discuss the very serious issue of antisocial behaviour on our public transport systems. The safety and security of both public transport passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with antisocial behaviour, are important matters that, first and foremost, must be managed by every public transport company, in conjunction...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy. I am taking questions this morning for the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who must attend Cabinet. As Members know, the climate action plan is being launched later today. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Like many other sectors of the economy, road haulage is facing the dual challenges of rising costs and labour shortages. The global oil...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: On the carbon tax, as the Deputy knows, the Minister for Finance sets policy on tax and excise duties on fuel. The increase this year, which related to the already planned carbon tax, amounts to between 2 cent and 2.5 cent per litre of petrol and diesel. Revenue from any increase in carbon tax is ring-fenced and goes directly towards alleviating negative effects for those who cannot afford...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Haulage Industry (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The skills group will report back shortly. It is important to note, however, that a great deal of work is under way in the meantime. My engagement with the Minister of State, Deputy English, on the quotas for work permits is one example. On the RSA, it is the authority's role to engage in relation to securing licence exchange agreements with other countries. This is a long process and in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (4 Nov 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 193 together. Revenue, as Ireland’s Tax and Customs administration, is responsible for controlling the importation and exportation of goods in accordance with the European Union Customs Code and relevant national legislation. This includes goods being imported through the postal system. The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the...