Results 4,261-4,280 of 9,442 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Proposed Legislation (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan. I thank Deputy Collins for raising the matter of the regulation of horse-drawn carriages for hire and reward within the Dublin area. The Minister has asked me to use this opportunity to outline how this issue came about and to set out the work under way with Dublin City Council to resolve this issue....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Proposed Legislation (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will convey what the Deputy stated here to the Minister, Deputy Ryan. On the process, once the general scheme is published, the Minister will engage with the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications in regard to commencement of the pre-legislative scrutiny. I want again to underline the Government's commitment to resolving this issue and empowering Dublin City Council to regulate...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and addressing our climate action challenge, and the Government is committed to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. As the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will relay the Deputies' comments to the Minister. I reiterate that the national development plan supports and commits to BusConnects, DART+ and MetroLink. The most important date for MetroLink will be when it secures planning permission. To do that, it needs to enter the planning system and, to do that, it needs Government approval. The focus within the Department is on completing the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Coroners Service (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter and for the opportunity to provide clarity on some issues. The Coroner Service comprises the network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. Coroners are independent quasi-judicial officeholders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. This is an...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Coroners Service (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I understand the frustration and the pain of many families. I empathise with the concerns raised here tonight. I reiterate that I have no role in the timing and the conduct of the inquests and that it is strictly a matter for the coroner concerned. Regarding the specific concerns relating to Cork, as I have said, the Courts Service works closely with coroners throughout the country to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Aviation Industry (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank Senator Buttimer for giving me the opportunity to make a statement with regard to plans for an aviation recovery strategy and the commitment of the Government to support our airports. We are all well aware that the aviation sector plays a critical role in our economy, as Senator Buttimer said, as a direct employer, an indirect employer and a driving force for tourism and business,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Aviation Industry (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Senator for his comments. We acknowledge that aviation is a global industry. It has weathered a crisis and demonstrated great resilience. It is important to state that much of the recovery in the passenger numbers has been driven by our successful vaccination programme and those of our European neighbours. At this stage, approximately 90% of our incoming passengers completing...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I might respond very briefly. Senators have raised the issue of membership of the DAA and, although the Bill does not set DAA membership, I take their comments on board. Section 17 sets the membership of AirNav. Its text is repeated from the existing Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 - as it currently applies to the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, it will now apply to the proposed Irish Air...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Members of local authorities are not precluded from this. This is text repeated from the existing Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 as it currently applies to the IAA and will now apply to the IANS. This section provides that a director of the IANS, or a subsidiary, who is elected to political office, either at national or European level, will cease to be a director. Similarly, an employee...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Senators. There were a number of issues there which were not directly related to the amendment. I will deal with IAA industrial relations first. I am aware a significant proportion of air traffic controllers have made representations to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, in recent weeks outlining their concerns regarding workplace issues in the IAA. With any commercial State body,...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is important to differentiate between what we are doing in this Bill, which seeks to reform the regulatory structure, and industrial relations issues. It is very clear that we should not conflate the two and both aspects are equally important. The internal dispute resolution board was established with union agreement. It is important, as frustrating as it is, that both sides engage and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Heritage Sites (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 to 125, inclusive, together. I would like to thank Deputy Wynne and Deputy Munster for their questions in relation to Shannon Group and the transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to the relevant local authorities. In terms of the timeline, I can advise the Deputies that Shannon Group is engaging with the relevant Local Authorities with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority, I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 to 131, inclusive, together. Details on waiting lists at each test centre are an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred this part of the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days. Due to the suspension of driver testing...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air are protected by Regulation (EC) 1107/2006. Article 12 of this regulation requires that where mobility equipment or assistive devices are lost or damaged whilst being handled at the airport or transported on board aircraft, the passenger to whom the equipment belongs shall be compensated, in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Ireland has a driving licence exchange agreement in place with the UK. Under that agreement, a UK driving licence holder may exchange their licence for an Irish licence with equivalent categories, subject to some exceptions. Some UK licence categories only apply in the UK and are not exchangeable where there is no equivalent category in Ireland. Accordingly, the holders of licences with...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Disabilities Assessments (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Both the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) are authorised by law to issue disabled parking permits. My Department has no role in either the issuing or the renewal of these permits and nor can it comment on individual cases.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Department is very aware of the challenges facing the RSA as they work hard to further manage the backlog in the Driver Testing Service. Due to the suspension of driver testing services in the initial pandemic response, along with the health protocols required since the resumption of services, services are operating well below normal capacity and a significant backlog has developed....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (5 Oct 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the specifics of any services or supports provided to individual persons in custody or on release. However, I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that, in general, all prisoners receive the balance of their own funds in their prison account on release. In addition, prior to release,...