Results 5,181-5,200 of 9,059 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Seanad: Covid-19 (Aviation): Statements (26 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am grateful to be invited to the Seanad this afternoon. I am pleased to speak to the House on the impacts of Covid-19 on aviation. As the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has spoken about plans to introduce mandatory quarantine for international travellers, I will not address that matter but I am happy to speak further on it in my closing remarks if that is required. The aviation sector has...

Seanad: Covid-19 (Aviation): Statements (26 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank all the Senators who made a contribution here today on this critical issue. I really appreciate the Senators' comments. I have heard their concerns loud and clear. On mandatory quarantine, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, outlined earlier today that the Government has introduced a Bill to provide for mandatory quarantine in hotels for travellers arriving in Ireland from certain...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Government has put in place a range of supports for businesses, including those in the aviation sector. The supports include the wage subsidy scheme, alleviation of commercial rates, deferral of tax liabilities, the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme, the Credit Guarantee Scheme, and the SBCI Working Capital Scheme. As regards supports specifically targeted at the protection of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The aviation sector is one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with all airlines seeing a severe depletion of revenue and facing various degrees of financial challenge. The knock-on implications for our airports have also been severe. My officials and I have maintained regular contact with key stakeholders throughout this crisis, and Government has put in place a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Driver Theory Test has not been deemed to be an essential service under Level 5. As a consequence, the service is closed while Level 5 restrictions remain in place. Candidates who have a theory test scheduled up to 5th March will be contacted via email with a rescheduled appointment. The service will remain closed until at least the 05 March. While I fully appreciate the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The operation of the National Car Test (NCT) service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases. I have therefore referred 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.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Fines (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: My predecessor raised the penalty for parking in a disabled bay without displaying a valid permit from €80 to €150 in March 2018. While I cannot condone the selfish and irresponsible practice of a certain cohort of motorists parking unlawfully in disabled bays, I believe that the current level of penalty is proportional to the offence, and I have no plans to increase it at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Development (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy is aware Drogheda Port Company, as a Port of Regional Significance, transferred to Louth County Council in October 2017 and is no longer directly under the remit of my Department. I am however aware that Drogheda Port Company has announced it is to develop a new deepwater port, to be located on the Meath coast north of Bremore Head. I understand that the Port Company is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The weekly aviation statistics compiled by my Department with assistance from the airports and published on gov.ie give headline statistics on passenger numbers at our airports for the previous quarter.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Meetings (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together. I have met with representatives of the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) since taking up my role as Minister of State with responsibility for the postal sector. In these meetings, we discussed the matters raised in the Grant Thornton report commissioned by the IPU, I intend to meet the IPU again on 2 March following a request for a further meeting.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: A lot of work has been done over the past few years to develop the post office network and this has had a positive effect for both postmasters and customers. This momentum needs to be maintained and if An Post, the postmasters and Government work together we can ensure that the network can emerge as a central hub for a wide variety of valuable community-focused services. While it is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement, maintain and promote the National Postcode System "Eircode". Eircodes are assigned to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 94 together. I am fully aware of the plight of travel agents and tour operators due to the significant impact of the pandemic on international travel. I understand the cash flow pressure that they are under, the unique implications of the refund requirements placed by the Package Travel Directive and the difficulties they have had with the airlines...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: This is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I have therefore referred this 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.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Waiting list details are held by 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. The Driver Theory Test (DTT) has not been classified as an essential service by Government and consequently it has had to be suspended in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I would like to make the Deputy aware that the operation of the tests is handled by the RSA. As many of the suggestions raised are operational matters, I have also referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. If a reply has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office. The Department has been in discussions with the RSA on how to return to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As of the 3rd February 2021, 66,090 UK driving licence exchange applications have been processed over 2019, 2020 and 2021 by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS). 3,393 applications were on hand to process, while 1,687 applications were awaiting further customer response. A resident of Ireland must have an Irish or EU driving licence to drive here. A UK driving licence is no longer...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Training (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 88 and 89 together. In Ireland, the requirements in relation to pilotage and pilot training in each port will differ based on their individual needs. Under the Harbours Acts 1996 to 2015, the ports are the pilotage authorities for their respective pilotage districts and it is a matter for individual ports to decide what is appropriate in terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Facilities (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: In Ireland, the relevant provisions of Regulation (EU) 2017/352 are given effect by S.I. No. 128 of 2019 - the European Union (Port Services) Regulations 2019 - which was signed into law on 29 March 2019. The S.I. provides for the designation of complaints handling bodies, penalties and appeals for the purposes of compliance with Regulation (EU) 2017/352. Regulation 4 of S.I. No. 128 of 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Consumer Rights (24 Feb 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 93, 105 and 123 together. As the Deputies are no doubt aware, air passenger rights are protected by Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, which covers the rights of passengers in instances of flight cancellations. However, if a flight goes ahead and a customer either cancels or does not use their ticket, they are not entitled to a refund under EU law. ...