Results 1,501-1,520 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: 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....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: 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. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: For 2024, 543 applications for exemptions to permit the carriage of munitions of war on Irish-registered civil aircraft operating outside Ireland were submitted by three Irish licensed airlines. For January 2025, the only month for which statistics have been collated and published, there were 80 such applications submitted by two Irish licensed airlines. In the majority of cases, these...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Obligation (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: 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 ticketing and technology projects. The NTA's Next Generation Ticketing project is to provide for an upgraded ticketing system to facilitate a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: European Union Regulation (EU) 2022/1280, which came into force on 27 July 2022, allows for Ukrainians residing in Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive to drive here on their national driving licences. All categories on the holder's Ukrainian licence are recognised. The Regulation applies to driver documents held by Ukrainians admitted to the EU under the Temporary Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Official Engagements (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I met with the CEO of Coras Iompair Eireann on the 12th of February 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Pensions (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: From the outset I would like to clarify that I, as Minister for Transport, have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, issues in relation to CIÉ pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIÉ, Group and their employees. As a commercial semi-state body CIÉ are responsible for the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Pensions (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: From the outset I would like to clarify that I, as Minister for Transport, have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, issues in relation to CIÉ pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIÉ, Group and their employees. As a commercial semi-state body CIÉ are responsible for the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Renewable Energy Generation (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together. It is essential that biofuel imports are required to meet the sustainability criteria under the EU Renewable Energy Directive for the purpose of environmental protection and emissions reduction, while ensuring that EU biofuel producers are not disadvantaged and promoting further development of advanced biofuel production within the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Since the use of e-scooters on Irish roads was formally legalised in 2024, it has been an offence to operate such vehicles on footpaths and an e-scooter user who commits such an offence may be issued with a Fixed Charge Notice (FCN) to the value of €50. Although it is not specifically an offence for an e-bike user to cycle on a footpath, it is an offence for any cyclist, be they...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) and the information requested is held by that agency. I have therefore referred the question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Once a holder of a non-EU/EEA driving licence becomes resident in Ireland, they can no longer use that licence and must obtain an Irish licence to drive here, either by exchange or by obtaining a licence through the normal process. The time taken to process driving licence exchange applications can vary. The licence for exchange must be verified by the jurisdiction that issued it and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driver Licence service (NDLS), including online services and platforms. Therefore, I have referred this question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Correspondence (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The query the Deputy raises was sent by email to the Department on 27 March. The Department's Customer Charter commits to providing an answer in 20 working days. This allows my staff time to seek clarification as necessary from correspondents to ensure that the information provided is accurate for the scenario under question. My staff will engage directly with the correspondent in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (1 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from Councils’ own resources and supplemented by State Road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The roll-out of infrastructure for mobile telecommunications services in Ireland is primarily a matter for private mobile network operators, operating on a commercial basis in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg is statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions in accordance with section 11 of the Communications Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies (27 Mar 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 153 together. The matters referred to in the Questions are operational matter for the SEAI. I have asked the SEAI to respond directly to the Deputy to provide the specific information sought as soon as possible. Additionally, the SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that such queries can be addressed...