On 9 February this year, in a post still visible on its website, Sinn Féin made a series of uncosted promises in respect of the cost of living. This is a pattern that has become all too familiar for the Sinn Féin Party. In its alternative budget last October, it committed to spending €3.2 billion over and above what the Government committed to spending. Again, more uncosted voodoo economics.

Last February, Sinn Féin promised that every individual with an income of up to €30,000 would receive a cash payment of €200 and those earning between €30,000 and €60,000 would receive a cash payment of €100. I have costed that measure using 2020 Revenue figures. It is a promise of €310 million. Nowhere was that promise costed or an explanation given as to where the money would come from. Sinn Féin also promised to put one month's rent back into renters' pockets, another slogan without any substance. I have also co…

I welcome the opportunity to update the House on this topic. As Deputies are aware, the Government last week supported a request for members of the Defence Forces to undergo appropriate training and certification to enable them to be on standby to assist the DAA with security activities at Dublin Airport, if required, over the coming peak summer weeks. Putting this emergency contingency measure in place does not mean that members of the Defence Forces will automatically be deployed to the airport. Instead, they wil…

Regarding pay and conditions, these are matters for the DAA to address directly with the trade unions. When we look at what the CEO said to the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications several weeks ago regarding the projections concerning aviation passenger numbers, if he knew then what he knows now regarding the pickup in the numbers of passengers travelling, then he would have made different decisions. Additionally, since the removal of Covid-19-related travel restrictions in March 2022, there has been a …

I thank the Minister for Justice for bringing this important Bill before the House. The Bill represents a comprehensive and co-ordinated Government response to address a number of important issues flowing from the Ukraine crisis. I will speak about Parts 6 and 7. Part 6 puts the licensed haulage emergency support scheme on a legislative footing. This scheme provided emergency financial support to the licensed haulage sector following the sharp and sudden increase in fuel prices in March 2022 caused by the war in Uk…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic. I will take this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I understand that the Deputy's matter relates to the provision of bus services on routes operated by Go-Ahead Ireland, and whether any measures can or have been taken to improve these services. My Department has responsibility for policy and overall funding in respect of public transport. However, the Department is not involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services nationally…

I reassure the Deputy that the NTA is engaging regularly with Go-Ahead Ireland and other public transport operators regarding any service provision issues on the PSO network and the authority provides regular updates to the Department on these issues. Go-Ahead Ireland is actively taking steps to reduce the impact of the increased level of staff absences on service provision through an extensive campaign to recruit new bus drivers. The NTA and Go-Ahead Ireland are currently reviewing the existing service timetables …

Motor tax receipts in 2021 were €908 million. Motor tax receipts accrue to the Exchequer. Changes to motor tax rates, including the potential abolition of motor tax, require primary legislation. These changes are made at budget time and are given permanent effect as part of the finance Bill. A number of issues need to be considered in any proposal to abolish motor tax. The driver and computer services division of my Department is responsible for the maintenance of the national vehicle and driver file, NVDF, the cen…

The Government is acutely aware of the cost-of-living pressures people are experiencing. Addressing the cost of living is a matter for consideration as part of the budgetary preparations. I thank the Deputy for his contributions and I will take the issue back to my Government colleagues.

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am advised that, due to the spike in the number of Covid-19 cases, Aer Lingus has been forced to cancel three return flights and one direct flight today. I am also advised that, due to a mandate from the London Heathrow Airport authority, one return flight to Dublin from Heathrow has also been cancelled today. Aer Lingus has apologised to those impacted and the team at the airline is working to accommodate impacted passengers on the next available service as efficiently …

I responded to this last time. I am very conscious of getting through the legislation. I will give a response again today but I would like to keep it brief, if that is possible, because I am conscious we have important legislation before us. The IAA has more than 120 safety experts committed to their roles, including 25 highly experienced pilots with aggregated experience of hundreds of years of flying in all large aircraft types, 25 highly qualified and experienced engineers with aggregated hundreds of years of ex…

I have answered.

I have answered the question. I have clearly outlined the independence of the IAA. I have answered the question.

I have answered Senator Craughwell's question. The parliamentary draftsperson from the Office of the Attorney General provided the drafting advice and the Bill was prepared by officials with the Department with the support of the IAA.

They are an independent----

I would like to remind Senators that this Bill is mainly about reforming structures. It is not about recreating the regulatory framework. In respect of the expert input, that was sought for the search and rescue. As I have said, the parliamentary draftsperson from the Office of the Attorney General provided drafting advice and the Department officials worked with the IAA, which has all of that technical expertise that I outlined earlier. This is about a structural change within the regulatory framework. It is impor…

The AAIU recommendations have all been accepted by the Department and are being acted upon.

As I said previously, my Department will undertake further analysis in respect of best practice in this area and will review oversight of aviation and aviation safety regulation in other jurisdictions. It will also review the oversight of safety regulation in other sectors in Ireland. Notwithstanding the approach in relation to contracting the advice, I am committed to examining our practice in this area.

Yes. This legislation is about reforming the structures; it is not about the regulatory framework here.

Were we on section 59?