Results 601-620 of 5,794 for speaker:James Lawless

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I could not agree more with the Deputy and I am actively engaged in trying to find a solution. I find it somewhat extraordinary that 17 years had elapsed since the 2007 cap had been imposed until last year when the DAA lodged its planning application to lift the cap. One might have thought that given an issue with such gravity that it might have been addressed earlier. We are where we are,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy and I believe we are ad idem on this. I reiterate the Government wants to see the cap lifted. It is national aviation policy to grow the connectivity at Dublin Airport and indeed at the regional airports and across the island because we are an island nation. Unfortunately, it is not a straightforward matter. It is one that whatever approach we ultimately take will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for his question and for the opportunity to update the House on this matter. As he will be aware, my Department has undertaken a detailed appraisal of the development proposal put forward by Waterford Airport. That appraisal has included the assessment of significant documentation and responses to queries raised by Department officials and addressed by the airport,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: It is a little unrealistic to categorise this as some sort of once in a lifetime opportunity for the State and that the funding is not required until the end. Effectively the State has been asked to take a loan from private interests to be paid back pro rata when it is completed. Whether the money comes at the start, middle or end, the fact is the State is being asked to contribute...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: The Deputy’s commented on metro spend. He will not have forgotten the global financial crisis. A lot of money was spent on various projects leading up to 2011. The State was in a different position then. I was someone who was cheering on that big dig at the time. I would have loved to seen a metro and an interconnector build around in the city and a circle line and all the things...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: The Deputy raised the metro. The Deputy decided to raise the metro.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: The Deputy can talk down his time if he wishes. I will talk in the time available to me.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I am addressing my remarks to you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I will continue. There is also nothing stopping the airport from serving propeller planes tomorrow. There is no impediment whatsoever. What the airport is seeking is state support to start a new business model that would involve a longer runway with larger planes with no commitment I have seen that any airline is ready to take...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 64 together. 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. In...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: E-scooters which comply with the relevant regulations have been legal to use on Irish roads since May of this year. Requirements include limits on maximum weight, power and design speed, adherence to EU requirements for construction standards and electrical and battery safety and fitment of front and rear lights and reflectors, brakes and a bell. They should also display a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As recently advised to the Deputy in response to a separate Parliamentary Question on this matter, my Department has undertaken a detailed appraisal of the development proposal put forward by Waterford Airport. This level of appraisal is necessary to ensure that due diligence is exercised in accordance with my Department’s “Transport Appraisal Framework” and the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As the Deputy is aware my Department has undertaken a detailed appraisal of the development proposal put forward by Waterford Airport. This appraisal has included the assessment of significant documentation and responses to queries raised by Department officials and addressed by the airport up until 17 July. This level of appraisal is necessary to ensure that due diligence is exercised in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As the Deputy will be aware, tourism matters are under the remit of my government colleague the Minister for Tourism. However, in relation to the matters raised regarding Dublin Airport, I can advise the deputy that increasing capacity at Dublin Airport is in line with the National Aviation Policy which recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport to meeting national social and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: As an island nation, aviation plays a crucial role in our economy and society. The National Aviation Policy (“NAP”) published in August 2015, established a policy framework for the development of the aviation sector. The NAP was designed to create an environment that would encourage the sector to enhance Ireland's connectivity, to foster the growth of aviation enterprise and to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, this includes all application and scheduling matters and neither I nor my department have the power to intervene in individual cases. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct reply....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Military Aircraft (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 163 together. Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, the carriage of munitions of war by civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory and by Irish-registered civil aircraft, wherever they may be operating, is prohibited, unless an exemption from this prohibition is granted by the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Navigation Orders (17 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: While no specific working groups have been established to review air navigation policy matters in the past 18 months, the Department is committed to the objective of providing high quality air navigation services with modern air traffic management infrastructure as outlined in the National Aviation Policy (2015). The Department continues to work with AirNav Ireland, the Irish Aviation...

Finance Bill 2024: Second Stage (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: I thank all the Deputies who spoke today and contributed to the debate. I will respond to as many of the points raised as I can in the time available to me. Some of the points made were very interesting and thought-provoking but they may have strayed outside the parameters of the Finance Bill, so I may not be in a position to respond to them. I will, however, note them for future...

Finance Bill 2024: Second Stage (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: Four years.

Finance Bill 2024: Second Stage (16 Oct 2024)

James Lawless: That is what parliamentary questions are for.