I thank the Senators. There were a number of issues there which were not directly related to the amendment. I will deal with IAA industrial relations first. I am aware a significant proportion of air traffic controllers have made representations to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, in recent weeks outlining their concerns regarding workplace issues in the IAA. With any commercial State body, workplace issues fall in the first instance to be addressed by the board and executive of that body. Nevertheless, briefings have be…

It is important to differentiate between what we are doing in this Bill, which seeks to reform the regulatory structure, and industrial relations issues. It is very clear that we should not conflate the two and both aspects are equally important. The internal dispute resolution board was established with union agreement. It is important, as frustrating as it is, that both sides engage and try to resolve matters. In terms of the amendments, I reiterate that putting charters and fora into statute and hard coding it w…

I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter and for the opportunity to provide clarity on some issues. The Coroner Service comprises the network of coroners located in districts throughout the country. Coroners are independent quasi-judicial officeholders whose core function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. This is an important public service to the living, in particular, to the next-of-kin and friends of the deceased. Coroners not only provide cl…

I understand the frustration and the pain of many families. I empathise with the concerns raised here tonight. I reiterate that I have no role in the timing and the conduct of the inquests and that it is strictly a matter for the coroner concerned. Regarding the specific concerns relating to Cork, as I have said, the Courts Service works closely with coroners throughout the country to facilitate inquests. They continue to do so, ensuring that they adhere to public health. I will ask my officials to liaise bilateral…

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue, which I am taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and addressing our climate action challenge, and the Government is committed to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. As the Government, we need to provide people more options so that they can make the switch to sustainable mobility. Within the national develo…

I will relay the Deputies' comments to the Minister. I reiterate that the national development plan supports and commits to BusConnects, DART+ and MetroLink. The most important date for MetroLink will be when it secures planning permission. To do that, it needs to enter the planning system and, to do that, it needs Government approval. The focus within the Department is on completing the review of the preliminary business case and secure Government approval. At project level, the focus will be on completing the wor…

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan. I thank Deputy Collins for raising the matter of the regulation of horse-drawn carriages for hire and reward within the Dublin area. The Minister has asked me to use this opportunity to outline how this issue came about and to set out the work under way with Dublin City Council to resolve this issue. As stated by the Deputy, in February 2011, Dublin City Council took over from the Garda Carriage Office responsibility for the…

I will convey what the Deputy stated here to the Minister, Deputy Ryan. On the process, once the general scheme is published, the Minister will engage with the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications in regard to commencement of the pre-legislative scrutiny. I want again to underline the Government's commitment to resolving this issue and empowering Dublin City Council to regulate horse-drawn carriages on the same basis as every other local authority. I am happy to confirm to the House work on the developme…

I thank the House for the opportunity today to introduce the Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020. As Senators will be aware, the Bill was subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport in July 2019. The Bill was published on 4 December 2020 and passed all Stages in the Dáil on 7 July this year. This Bill has been considered by the Oireachtas in the context of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation industry. It is estimated that during the pandemic, the Gov…

I might leave it there so.

I thank Senators for the contributions they have made to this Second Stage debate. I am going to endeavour to respond to as many of the issues raised as possible. Senators Buttimer, Murphy and Ahearn raised the regions and supporting our regional airports. As Members will know, policy on regional airports has been influenced by the need to optimise conditions for regional development and connectivity. It absolutely is a key priority for the Government. We are acutely aware of balanced regional development and how a…

I am speaking today on behalf of the Minister for Justice on a motion referring to a draft proposal by the Council of the European Union relating to the extension of the period defined in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, TCA, to allow the continued sharing of DNA profiles, fingerprints and vehicle registration data, also known as Prüm data, with the United Kingdom. This is an essential tool for law enforcement across the EU and, of course, is of particular value to law enforcement co-operation between Ire…

I thank all Senators for their contributions. On the data protection issues that were raised, Prüm is limited to fingerprints, DNA and vehicle registration data. The Prüm measures set out particular, bespoke requirements in respect of data protection and countries need to demonstrate how these are respected in the national implementing legislation and other arrangements. This will be subject to assessment as part of the evaluation undertaken. In addition, the European Commission has adopted an adequacy decision, in…

No.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves, under Article 29.5.2° of the Constitution, the terms of: (i) the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Armenia, of the other part; (ii) the Agreement on air transport between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the State of Qatar, of the other part; (iii) the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Repu…

No.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the Ninth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection in accordance with Standing Order 34, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 20th September, 2021, and discharges and appoints members to Committees accordingly.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Specialised Committee on…

I thank the Deputies for their contributions on this motion. A number of specific questions were raised, which I want to address. First, regarding the timing of this proposal, the Commission published its proposal on 27 August, so detailed discussions took place in recent weeks on technical aspects of the proposal. The Department moved as soon as the proposal was published to obtain legal advice and then sought to obtain Government approval. Regarding the evaluation process, the Commission carries out an evaluation…

The Irish aviation sector is critical to Ireland's economic development by being a key enabler of international trade and business, including foreign direct investment and tourism. However, the impact of Covid-19 on travel is the most challenging crisis in its history. Many analysts are predicting that it will take several years for the sector to return to 2019 levels of activity. While air traffic data for Europe show some recovery, the pace of recovery is still slow in the Irish market, with traffic currently at …