Results 781-800 of 5,794 for speaker:James Lawless

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The Road Traffic and Roads Act (2023) was passed last June. The Act contains significant provisions related to the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) which is operated by the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI). A number of sections of the Act have already been commenced. In order for IMID to be populated with verified driver numbers by insurers and intermediaries acting on their...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Insurance Coverage (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I am informed by the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland that information in relation to vehicles uploaded to the National Fleet Database has been provided to An Garda Síochána on a daily basis since 4 June 2024. This is in addition to the details for more than 3 million other vehicles provided daily from the Irish Motor Insurance Database. Checking and verifying the information...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Industry (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The details requested by the Deputy are provided in the table below. The data reflect the number of vehicles registered on the Department's National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database each year from 2020 to 2023 and as of the 30th of June 2024. Year of Registration on NVDF County Fuel Type ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: Someone resident in Ireland must have an Irish or EU driving licence to drive here. In accordance with the EU Driving Licence Directive, the foreign driving licence must be surrendered to the Road Safety Authority. The most common reason for delays in the licence exchange process is from verification of the driving licence from the other driving licence authority. At times a response is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: Driver licensing is handled by the National Driver Licence Service, the provision of which I have delegated to the Road Safety Authority under the relevant legislation. My Department does not have access to and may not intervene in individual applications. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Legislative Programme (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I am aware of the recent article referred to by the Deputy. The Deputy may also wish to note that the same publication subsequently published an update on progress made by my Department in the area of consolidation of the Roads Traffic Acts. There is general agreement that the Road Traffic Acts, which date back to 1961 and have been amended on multiple occasions, are in need of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law and standards for driver testing are set at EU level. This ensures that those licensed to drive on our roads meet the required standards of safety. Ireland may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange with non-EU jurisdictions. These agreements can be made only when the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction are...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: People understood at the local elections.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I thank Deputy Durkan for the question. As he as said, there have been significant developments in this matter overnight and in the last couple of days which I very much welcome. My Department has been monitoring this industrial relations dispute for several weeks and I have been closely engaged since being appointed to this role this day last week. It is important to state that neither I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I thank Deputy Durkan. I would expect no less than a watching brief from my constituency colleague and will take on board the points that will be wisely made by him. I agree with his comments that this is critical, which is why I particularly welcome the intervention of the Labour Court, not just to hear the parties on request but to act on its own volition under the aforementioned section...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The Deputy is quite right that we have enjoyed relative industrial peace in this country in recent times and that is to be welcomed. It is a sign, largely, of a successful economy but also of empowered workers and unions and good relations between employers and employees. Thankfully, that has been the case, by and large, in recent times, notwithstanding the current dispute. The Taoiseach...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I look forward to working with the Deputy in this brief. His is Sinn Féin's spokesperson on transport and I know from the justice committee, where we worked together well, that he will be diligent in that regard. I look forward to continuing that relationship now that we are both in new roles. I extend my sympathies to the families of those who sadly lost their lives over last...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I hear what the Deputy is saying. He stated that local authorities could not get funding from the Government. I want to hear about that if it is the case. I am surprised to hear it, as there has been a significant allocation. Some €658 million was allocated in the past year, 90% of which was directed towards maintenance and renewal work. That allocation was a €32 million...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I listened with interest to and take on board the Deputy's comments. I am not sure it is entirely fair to suggest that local authorities are saying they cannot get works done. A staggered approach is taken and it is not just a case of being given the money and tar to fix a road. Rather, what is the collision data, what are the risks and what is the opinion of the local engineer, who is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: That is exactly what we would want to see. The Deputy mentioned interagency co-operation. A strong example of that was the recent implementation of an initiative by my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, who signed a ministerial order on 21 June just before leaving this role to allow the sharing of collision data between agencies. Now, the Garda and the Road Safety Authority,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2019 the then Government gave an approval in principle of an expression of support for an expansion proposal at Waterford Airport and to providing Exchequer funding of €5m towards a runway extension project. The project was then estimated to cost €12m and the €5m Government support being sought at that time was not only contingent on...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 45 together. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. The national average estimated waiting time for a car driving test invitation is 15.6 weeks for a new applicant. While this is still above the service level agreement target of 10 weeks,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (4 Jul 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: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030, which was published in December 2021, has the target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% this decade and achieving Vision Zero by 2050. Vision Zero has been adopted across the EU and aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The strategy is currently in Phase 1, which runs to the end of 2024,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter. In the context of supporting greater connectivity on the island of Ireland, and as part of its commitments under New Decade New Approach, the Government agreed ‘to take forward a review of the potential for Government support to renewed viable air routes from Cork to Belfast and Dublin to Derry, working with the UK...