Results 481-500 of 5,794 for speaker:James Lawless

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: Every transport project has its own challenges in terms of securing planning, going through Part 8, community consultation, the tender and then the issue of construction companies being available. I am sure the Chairman sees, as I do in my constituency, that the sequence does not always flow as quickly or as smoothly as we would like. There have been a couple that just did not-----

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: As a councillor for the Sallins-Naas area, I tabled a motion at the first council meeting of the 2014 term for the greenway from Sallins to Hazelhatch to be performed. I was delighted to open it in January of this year, so that took ten years. It is up and running and it is great. It was not yesterday.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: They are both done now at least.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I will take the second half of the question first, in terms of the plan for the whole country and island. We recently unveiled the all-island strategic rail review. It is a blueprint and map for the Thirty-two Counties of the island to have a connected strategic infrastructure corridor crisscrossed with railways. That is the starting point for the ambition. ...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: When the Cathaoirleach refers to a more responsive and agile process, what does he mean?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: I agree, Chairman, but that has effectively been done. A new planning court was launched earlier this year. To my knowledge, Mr. Justice Humphreys, Mr. Justice Simons and another judge are assigned to that. Therefore, there are three judges sitting in that division. The Dublin Airport cap that we discussed at the start of the meeting is a good example of an application that was made...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: Absolutely. The Chairman's first question was about the €29 million from the A5 Border to Derry project. That is part of a wider project to connect the north west. That goes from Clontibret in Monaghan across the Border right through Derry into Donegal and beyond. That is a very significant commitment by Government. It is aligned with the shared island project in terms of...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: There is a lot there. I will probably not respond to all of it in detail but I noted what the Chair said and hear exactly the points he is making. I will make a couple of comments. I have visited the communities around the airport. I have sat in houses in St. Margaret's and areas that are very much affected. I am not sure I was in the exact school mentioned but I certainly was in, or...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: I know the Cathaoirleach is not saying that it has delayed matters. The issue is more that Fingal County Council has not had things put to it until very recently. For example, the DAA only made a planning application in December 2023.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: With some further information, yes. I am not sure whether that has been submitted yet. It may about to be. There have also been discussions about an application for a simplified form of application that would be what is called the operational application, which has not been made yet. That would be beneficial. The sooner it is made, the sooner it will be processed. A planning authority is...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: It is probably not helpful to apportion blame around the table today. I am mindful of ongoing litigation.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: The DAA itself has said in recent interviews it should have acted sooner. I welcome that acknowledgement and think it is correct. I have said it on a number of occasions. There are live planning applications and a live judicial process, even though an interim decision has been made. As I said at the outset and in my statement last night, it is important all players in the system are aware...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 31 - Transport (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: Absolutely.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: 150. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44144/24]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Navigation Orders (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 212 and 213 together. On four occasions between 23 October and 1 November this year the news site referenced, sent a communication to me via email and to a range of other Government colleagues and Government bodies, in relation to flights that would be entering Irish sovereign airspace. The emails referred to a specific air operator alleging the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the driver licensing authority in Ireland and it recommends, following a detailed examination of the licensing system in a third country, whether or not to enter into a licence exchange agreement with that country. In considering licence exchange agreements, Ireland is currently giving priority to identifying countries that may be a source of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law. Driver licensing laws are intended to ensure drivers on our roads meet high safety standards. Testing standards are set at EU level. Ireland may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange with non-EU jurisdictions. This is not a straightforward matter. Reaching them is not a matter of political will and the core...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS), and all applications for a driving licence must be made through the NDLS. Where Ireland has a licence exchange agreement with a non-EEA country, a driving licence from that country can be exchanged in most cases, once the holder is resident...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for Driver Testing Service and the provision of test centres. As such, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days. Pending this more detailed response, I am...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (5 Nov 2024)

James Lawless: The Government has a dedicated Road Safety Strategy, which is aligned with the EU Vision Zero aspiration for 2050. It is being delivered in partnership by key road safety agencies, including my Department, the Department of Justice, the Road Safety Authority, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety and An Garda Síochána. Transport Infrastructure Ireland is leading the development of a...