Results 5,681-5,700 of 9,052 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Covid-19 (Transport): Statements (23 Sep 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I wish to reiterate the points the Minister made in terms of the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on our transport sector and international networks. I have had several meetings with stakeholders in both the aviation and maritime sectors and I am acutely aware of the financial precipice on which they find themselves. I profoundly hope that the adoption of the broad EU approach to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Traffic Legislation (23 Sep 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. We are all aware that the irresponsible and antisocial use of scramblers and quads can cause death or serious injury, as well as wider disturbance and nuisance. The incident to which both Deputies alluded is a good example of the dangers involved. Many of these vehicles are used by minors and are provided to them by family members and others,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Traffic Legislation (23 Sep 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputies. As I stated, under the Road Traffic Acts, there are already comprehensive measures in place for the Garda to deal with vehicles, including scramblers, quads and similar vehicles, in public places. In addition, there are also forms of legislation which allow for dealing with them outside public places and anyone supplying them to a minor can be prosecuted. Alternatives...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Flood Relief Schemes (16 Sep 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: 4 o’clock I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from the councils' own resources, supplemented by State road grants. I thank the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Flood Relief Schemes (16 Sep 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: It is the intention of the Department to liaise with Cork County Council regarding the programme and the timing of repair works. The Deputy can rest assured that that engagement is ongoing and will clarify funding requirements in respect of 2020 and 2021 and how that can be accommodated in light of moneys available to the Department and the council. It is important to note that the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (16 Sep 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will pass on those questions to the Minister, Deputy Ryan. We all understand the importance of the roll-out of broadband throughout the country and I understand the Deputy's frustration. We have all felt similar frustration in our constituencies over the years and we know this Government knows the importance of rolling out the broadband plan. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan (16 Sep 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The national broadband plan, NBP, contract was signed with National Broadband Ireland, NBI, in November 2019 to roll out a high-speed and future-proofed broadband network within the intervention area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in nearly 540,000...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Policy (9 Sep 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will be brief and try to keep to the time allotted. I have engaged with travel agents and have written to the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding supports for them. With regard to Aer Lingus workers, the Deputies can be assured that protecting jobs and employment is a key priority for the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Policy (9 Sep 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank all the Deputies for raising this important issue. I am acutely aware that, as an island nation, Ireland is particularly dependent on air connectivity both socially and economically, and aviation plays a critical role in our economy. However, due to coronavirus, global civil aviation is currently experiencing its most challenging crisis, more severe than what happened after the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ports Development (28 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: In regard to the free zone, Rosslare Europort is seeking the creation of such a zone at the port to facilitate and encourage the development of businesses. The port has been engaging with Wexford County Council on this matter. Among the business opportunities the port wishes to pursue in the context of a free zone is the creation of a facility to service the growing offshore wind industry....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Driver Licences (28 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy. I agree the number of people waiting for appointments is at an unacceptably high level. I believe a further extension of the licences is the correct approach to deal with the issue. The extension is subject to EU approval and my officials have contacted the EU in that regard. We will also be prioritising work on the legislation required to get the online system up and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Ports Development (28 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Rosslare Europort continues to work closely with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and other Government Departments and offices in preparing for the border controls and other impacts that will arise from Brexit. The port's border inspection post, on a 16 acre site 1 km from the port, is ready for operation and additional staff have...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Driver Licences (28 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. The National Driver Licence Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and is provided under contract. The NDLS processes applications for learner permits and driver licences. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the provision of services, as the Deputy has outlined. As a result, a number of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Football Association of Ireland (23 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: A nominations committee was formed by the FAI to appoint independent directors to the board of the FAI in line with one of the key recommendations of the governance review group report. Sport Ireland was invited by the FAI to nominate two independent persons to the committee. Its nominees were Olive Loughnane and Peter McLoone. Amrop, a world-leading executive-search firm, was appointed as...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Football Association of Ireland (23 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Further to the comprehensive statement provided by the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, last Thursday on the memorandum of understanding with the FAI, I am pleased to provide additional information in response to the Deputy's query. At its meeting on 30 January the Government authorised the then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Improvement Schemes (23 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for his question. I wish to explain that, once funding arrangements have been put in place through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Overall, TII is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Improvement Schemes (23 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will explain how national roads projects are identified for development. The NDP identifies two categories of national road improvements. The first includes projects to advance to construction, subject to satisfactory outcomes of the project appraisal and development consent approval processes. The second includes projects at pre-appraisal and early planning stages that are being...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for his question. I have been engaging with the airline sector over the past week and will continue to do so next week. I am very concerned about the aviation sector, including the consumers involved and the vindication of their rights. It is something I have been working on in my Department. I have also met representatives of travel agents but I will continue to engage...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will come back to the Deputy with a comprehensive response to his query.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Marine Casualty Investigations Board (14 Jul 2020)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board was established as an independent body in 2002 under the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) Act 2000 to investigate marine casualties and publish reports of such investigations involving Irish-registered vessels worldwide and other vessels in Irish territorial waters and inland...