Results 5,721-5,740 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (25 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Renewable Fuel for Transport Policy Statement 2021 set out the pathway to the achievement of Climate Action Plan targets and European obligations concerning sustainability and GHG reduction criteria for renewable energy in transport. The policy sets out that the annual increase in the renewable transport fuel blending obligation (RTFO) rate (provided for under Part 5A of the National Oil...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Data Protection (25 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: All official mobile devices used by my Department and apps which run on them comply with guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review by the NCSC. All work-related applications on Departmental phones are housed within a secure container which prevents any data...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (25 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is strongly committed to providing a cost-efficient public transport sector, including affordable and accessible public transport services, is vital to a functioning economy. In this context, a number of measures have been taken to ensure services remain affordable. To support this objective, in Budget 2023, c. €563.55 million of funding has been secured for Public...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (25 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I launched the National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy in January 2023 for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the crucial period out to 2025. The strategy identifies that the charging needs of buses is likely to be met at bus stations and bus depots, with opportunity charging taking place on public infrastructure. ZEVI are currently working on the National EV...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (25 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure including the BusConnects programme. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (25 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the Local Area Hackney Scheme, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry. Accordingly, I have referred your questions to the NTA...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (25 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned....

Offshore Renewable Energy: Motion (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I will leave it to Deputy Murnane O'Connor for the concluding two minutes.

Offshore Renewable Energy: Motion (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I move: That Dáil Éireann supports the Government commitments on Offshore Renewable Energy referenced in the Policy Statement on the Framework for Phase Two Offshore Wind, approved by Government on 7th March, 2023, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 17th May, 2023. If it is okay with the House, I will share two minutes of my time with the Minister of...

Offshore Renewable Energy: Motion (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I appreciate this opportunity to speak about trying to get broad support for what we are doing in offshore wind and to give a strong signal that this is an enormously important project for the development of energy security, climate targets and the industrial development of our country. In the few minutes I have, I will briefly set out some of the background to where we are at the moment. ...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: These amendments are to make small but important technical corrections to the legislation underpinning the motor insurance database. The Bill seeks to insert a new section 56A into the Road Traffic Act 1961, which will require people applying for motor insurance to provide certain information to the insurer. This is information the insurer would need to have later to provide it for the...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I wish to reassure the Senator that the ages for medical certificates for driving licences are set in regulations rather than the Bill. That will not change in the amendments or drafting of the Bill. As I said, we will continue to review and revise that issue based on the best advice from An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority. Nothing in the Bill will change that or...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I understand the Senator's concern, but I do not agree with the proposal. Section 5(p) of the Bill inserts a new section, section 109A, into the Road Traffic Act 1961 to provide for new Garda powers to deal with dangerous driving. I appreciate the Senators are concerned about the reference to a vehicle which is not only being driven or used but also likely to be driven or used in any place...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I accept and understand the argument Senator Higgins is making, and there is a certain validity to it. However, I also have to listen to other Senators and Deputies state this is long-awaited legislation and describe the real threat to people, particularly in parks, streets or urban areas, where people very threatened and very much endangered by the use of these scramblers. The Bill...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I do want to encourage the use of cargo bikes and tricycles but I am afraid I cannot accept the amendments because I do not think they are necessary. In fact, they could confuse matters, which I am sure we would not want to see happen. At the points where Senator Higgins is proposing to add reference to a cargo bicycle or tricycle to the Bill, we are amending the definitions of pedal cycle...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I will not be able to accept the Senator's amendment but I want to explain why. She asked that I name the devices. To take an example, the tag used at a tolling booth is another such data-gathering device. I could go on. The nature of the tags varies but there is a range of different types of devices and I do not think I can list in primary legislation all those other data gathering...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: It is difficult because our discussion is really about the future amendments, where it is my intention to accept what the Senator said during the Committee Stage debate and put a requirement on the Minister to be specific in respect of how it is regulated. In response to some of the direct concerns, those regulations include how data might be provided, used, stored, destroyed and so on. It...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: This is to give flexibility and it is not in any way to diminish the role of local authorities. It may sometimes involve TII asking the local authorities to take some of the functions in national roads. It is not to restrict local authorities, but to extend their capabilities.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: On Committee Stage we discussed some of the data-protection measures in the new section 77A, which the Bill will insert into the Road Traffic Act 1993 to deal with traffic cameras and other devices. I thank Senators Ruane and Higgins for drawing attention to the important issue of data protection regarding the use of cameras and other devices on our roads. I believe we are in agreement on...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: This is a small, but important, amendment to improve data protection with regard to traffic cameras and other devices. Subsection 8 of the new section 77A that is being inserted into the Roads Act 1993 relates to data-sharing agreements when data from the cameras and devices in question are to be shared. Section 77A(8) lists matters which may be specified in a data-sharing agreement. One...