Results 101-120 of 193 for speaker:Jim McDaid

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: They are two separate situations — the original 5% provision remains as it was.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: That is my interpretation at this point. The original one has finished and this is the new ESOP — the new legal structure.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: No. I see Senator O'Toole's point. He has accepted the legal situation and the documentation. When one is reading a reply something may hit one and that is the issue one raises. I knew he would raise the ballot issue I mentioned but I still felt I had to state the position as it is something of which Members should be aware. If we were cold and calculating we could tell these people they...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: While I accept most of the points the Senators have made, I want to reply to the latter points concerning the situation at Aer Lingus and Shannon Airport, including the accusations flying here, there and everywhere. I have heard Deputies and Senators extolling the virtues of what Willie Walsh has done for Aer Lingus but the same arguments are not made about Shannon Airport. One Senator said...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: Aer Lingus is a commercial company with a commercial mandate and has to make its own decisions. We do not interfere in a company which has a commercial mandate as such. However, Fianna Fáil has and will continue to have a political interest in the matter at Shannon Airport. Aer Lingus must ensure it can take its place among other airlines operating in the international aviation industry. One...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: I took the Montreal Convention legislation in the Dáil yesterday and there was more debate about Knock, Shannon and Cork Airports than about the legislation. However, if I was a backbencher, I would also make sure that I raised those issues. The Council of Ministers is debating the single skies policy and the slots issue is being dealt with separately. Aer Lingus does not own slots but has...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: I have explained what could happen regarding the Shannon stopover. An airline such as Air France could come in and swipe the gateway from under the nose of Aer Lingus.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: Shannon Airport no longer needs to be as dependent on Aer Lingus as it has been. More than 70% of people from Munster must fly from Dublin when going on holidays when that is not necessary. This is a complicated area and it is a case of the best interests of Irish aviation versus the best interests of Aer Lingus. The slots issue is a concern because 40% of all European passengers travelling...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: The Minister's actions would be determined by the Government of the day. Grandfather rights mean one is entitled to slots because one has been there for such long time, but one does not own them. There is an ongoing debate on this issue in Europe and I can make the papers available to the Deputy if he so wishes.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: Whoever takes over the airline automatically gets them.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: There are 12 members on the board, four of whom are worker directors and if an employee share ownership plan, ESOP, is to go ahead, the number of worker directors would be reduced to allow for representation by ESOP. In the event of a future sale, it would allow the third party to be on the board as well. It is trying to keep the number on the board at a workable level. It would not be the...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: As I understand it, Senator Browne's amendment seeks to provide that people who have left the company would be entitled to participate in a shareholding scheme. In the ordinary definition of the term, "shareholding" is used to reward people who have been in a company for the work they have done. It would be exceptionally difficult in this case to establish an entirely new scheme. The separate...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: That matter is dealt with in section 4.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: Can I clarify this with the Senator after the debate?

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: The purpose of section 9 was raised in the Dáil. It involves superannuation schemes in Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta and contains 17 subsections. My response to the Senator's amendment relates to superannuation schemes in general. The sole purpose of the section is to provide that Aer Lingus may establish its own pension schemes at some stage. While the section is long and complex, running to 17...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: All I can say to Senators is that if a lay person was to attempt to read this legislation, he or she would consider it to be double Dutch. It is drafted in another form of the English language. The provisions of the Bill use a different phraseology to Senator Browne's amendment to achieve the same effect. My officials have indicated that the provision the Senator seeks to make through his...

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: I thank Members for facilitating discussion on Committee Stage. If Members have any queries, they can avail of the expertise within my Department. Report Stage ordered for Wednesday, 31 March 2004.

Written Answers — Vehicle Permits: Vehicle Permits (30 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: Information on the number of special permits granted by local authorities for vehicles, including off-road dumpers, is not compiled by my Department.

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (31 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: I appreciate the Senator's amendment. As I said on Committee Stage, I would like it if all the capital budget for an area of transport could be ring-fenced for capital benefits, but unfortunately the Department of Finance has informed me that the Senator's amendment would not cover that in the first place, much as I would prefer to accept this type of amendment if it was to set a precedent....

Seanad: Aer Lingus Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (31 Mar 2004)

Jim McDaid: I can answer the Senator's point by saying that once the Bill is passed the trustee can proceed without delay to the next step, if necessary. As regards my colleagues in the Department, we do not foresee any major objection in this regard. A problem that may arise is one of human nature in terms of whether people will want to go ahead with the share issue. That will be a matter for them and...