Wednesday, 18 Sep 2013

Written Answers Nos. 1631-1646

Air Services Provision

Questions (1631)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

1631. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the effects on the Irish aviation market if the merger of American Airlines and US Airways goes ahead in the United States; if he believes that current competition law and or an anti-trust case taken against the merger in the United States, creating the world's largest airline, would have been beneficial for Irish consumers or would have had a negative impact, given that both airlines currently operate routes from Irish airports; if his attention has been drawn to a European Commission decision regarding this proposed merger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37367/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The air transport market between Ireland and North America is a highly liberalised and competitive market. The fact that all four of the big US international carriers currently fly into Ireland is testament to this. The market has also grown significantly in 2013 with tourist visits to Ireland from North America up over 18% so far this year and overall seat capacity up over 25%.

The proposed merger was notified to the European Commission for clearance under the Mergers Regulation. Before clearing the merger the Commission closely examined the transatlantic air services market, including the Ireland-US market.

The Commission found only one route from Heathrow to Philadelphia where a merger of the two airlines would be potentially problematic, and the merger was cleared by the Commission following commitments made by the airlines to encourage competition on that route post-merger.

The matter is now for the US authorities to determine. I understand the US Department of Justice case focuses largely on concerns regarding the US domestic market, rather than the international market.

Coast Guard Services

Questions (1632)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

1632. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown on a year-by-year basis of the number of call-outs of each of the coast guard units that serve the County Wicklow coastline from 2005 to present; the average coast guard call out time for emergencies which occur along the Wicklow coast; the length of shoreline and nautical miles which are covered by each of the coast guard units covering County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37377/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The information sought by the Deputy comprises data covering a nine-year period which will require to be collated. The data in respect of Coast Guard callouts  in County Wicklow will require to be isolated from the overall records. This exercise will take some time to complete but I have asked my officials to progress it as quickly as feasible and I will forward the information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Airport Development Projects

Questions (1633)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

1633. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the provision of an additional runway at Dublin Airport; the amount that has been allocated by his Department for the runways to date over the past number of years; if he will provide a breakdown on the way this money was spent; if he has been provided with a timeline for the next phases of development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37386/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The matter raised by the Deputy in relation to the provision of an additional runway at Dublin Airport falls within the operational responsibilities of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and I have referred the question to the company for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten working days. 

It should be noted that DAA operates under a clear commercial mandate and its operations are entirely funded from its own resources and it receives no Government funding.

Integrated Ticketing

Questions (1634)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

1634. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the introduction of the new public services card may be integrated into the existing Leap card technology on public transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37391/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the integrated ticketing Leap card system.

I understand that the NTA is working closely with the Department of Social Protection to integrate the Public Services Card with the Leap card scheme for those with free travel entitlements.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.

Government-Church Dialogue

Questions (1635)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

1635. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of engagements that the Minister of State with special responsibility for Tourism and Sport had on his August 2013 visit to the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37404/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Michael Ring)

I visited the USA from 14th to 17th August last to attend the Milwaukee Irish Fest and a number of Tourism Ireland promotional events and meetings. Below is the Itinerary for my trip.  

Wednesday, August 14:

11.25 - Depart Dublin                                                  

Afternoon - Arrive Chicago approx.

1.45 pm - Briefing meeting with Tourism Ireland

Evening - Meet with members of the Irish Community in Chicago / Reception hosted by Consul General

Thursday, August 15:

Morning - Media interviews at the hotel including:

10.00 -  Interview with Mary Lu Laffey, The Daily Herald in Arlington Heights,

10.45 - Video interview with Keith Johnson,  Planner Wire on Business Tourism.

11.15 - Cliff Carlson, Editor, Irish America News

12.15 - Depart hotel for lunch event at Gage Restaurant

12.30 -14.00 - Tourism Ireland networking reception and lunch with Travel Trade, Carriers, Local Media, Business Tourism contacts

14.15 - Depart Chicago for Milwaukee. Greeted on arrival by Colleen Kennedy, Guest Relations, Milwaukee Irish Fest

17.00 - Depart for Milwaukee Irish Fest Opening Ceremony

17.30 - Irish Fest Opening ceremony on Aer Lingus stage

18.00 - Milwaukee Irish Fest Reception

Friday, 16 August:

06.50 - Depart Hotel for Irish Festival Grounds

07.15 - Arrive at Festival Grounds

07.45  - Media Interviews with WITI-TV FOX Milwaukee

08.10 -  Depart Festival Grounds for transfer to NBC studio

08.45 - Arrive at NBC studios

09.10 - Media Interview on the Morning Blend show

09.40 - Depart for Milwaukee City Hall at 200 E. Wells St.

10.00 - Reception at City Hall to welcome Minister Ring and other honored  guests hosted by Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett, and Aldermen Michael Murphy and Robert Donovan.

11.45 - Depart City Hall for media lunch

12.00 - Lunch with local media representatives  

15.45 - Depart for Milwaukee Irish Fest

16.00 - View Opening

16.15 - Visit Tourism Ireland and Irish Destinations area and meet participants.

17.00 - Visit the Clare County Council reception at the Brian Boru tent at the festival grounds.

17.30 - Tour the Milwaukee Irish Fest

18.00 - Visit Cultural Village: Gaeltacht, Hedge School,  Theater, Dance Pavilion, Cultural Exhibit Pavilion, Currachs, Genealogy, etc.

Saturday, 17 August

10.00 am - Depart for Chicago

Government-Church Dialogue

Questions (1636)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

1636. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the parameters of the discussions held with ministerial colleagues at the informal meeting of Ministers for Transport in Vilnius, Lithuania from 15 to 16 September 2013; if he will detail any agreements reached; if he will provide an update on matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37419/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

Owing to a prior commitment, I was unable to attend this meeting but Ireland was represented at official level. The Council discussions on this issue on Monday the 16th of September 2013 were of an informal nature and were arranged for the purposes of holding a preliminary exchange of views on the Commission’s proposals.  No decision or agreement was scheduled to be reached at this Informal Council. A wide-ranging discussion was held during which the objectives of the Single European Sky were fully endorsed and supported. There was however a prevailing view that the Commission’s proposals are somewhat premature and that insufficient time is being given to allow existing legislative measures to be fully implemented.  In these circumstances, there is accordingly a doubt on the supplementary value of introducing additional legislative measures at this point towards the achievement of the Single European Sky.

In relation to further discussions on these proposals in the short-term, the position in this respect remains to be clarified as the Lithuanian EU Presidency already has a comprehensive programme of other important matters on its agenda.

Pension Provisions

Questions (1637)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1637. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the deficit in the Irish Aviation Authority pension scheme; if he understands this scheme to be a defined contribution scheme or a defined benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37443/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

I am satisfied that the Irish Aviation  Authority (IAA) is taking the appropriate steps to addresss the deficit in its  pension fund. Following an extensive consultation process between the IAA and its staff unions, agreement was reached on a remedial plan in 2010 and subsequently accepted by all parties, including the Pensions Board.  The agreed plan  includes an increase in employee and employer pension contributions as well as a pensionable pay freeze for all staff until the Summer of 2015.  I am informed by the IAA that it is on track to return the pension fund to solvency by 2018.

The IAA currently operates four superannuation schemes all of which are defined benefit schemes apart from its most recent hybrid pension scheme, which comprises both defined benefit and defined contribution elements.  The defined benefit portion of the hybrid scheme applies to earnings below €60,000 with  a defined contribution being applied to earnings above that amount.

Pension Provisions

Questions (1638)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1638. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the deficit in the Córas Iompair Éireann pension scheme; if he understands this scheme to be a defined contribution scheme or the defined benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37445/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The CIÉ Group operates two defined benefit pension schemes, the Executive scheme and the Regular Wages scheme. The total deficit in the schemes at 31st December 2012, as reported in the 2012 published Accounts, was €491.9m. I met the Chairperson and officials from CIÉ last week and received an update on the deficit in the pensions schemes. I was advised at that meeting that CIÉ had submitted a funding proposal to the Pensions Board to address the deficit and this proposal has been accepted.

Pension Provisions

Questions (1639)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1639. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the deficit in the Dublin Airport Authority pension scheme; if he understands this scheme to be a defined contribution scheme or the defined benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37446/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS) is a multi-employer scheme involving the employees of Aer Lingus, Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) and the now non-operational SRT Technics.

Pension entitlements and pensions in payment under this scheme are primarily matters for the Trustees, the members and the companies participating in the scheme and I have no operational responsibilities in that regard but it is important to state that this scheme is closed to new entrants.

Under the IASS, fixed contributions are payable by the employers and members regardless of the funding position of the IASS. Both the benefits and the contributions are defined within the scheme rules. The scheme is registered and operated as a defined benefit scheme under the Pensions Board criteria due to the benefits it seeks to provide and accounted for as a defined contribution scheme by the sponsoring employers due to the fixed funding covenant.

I understand that the Trustees of the IASS have advised the participating employers and membership that the  results of the March 2011 actuarial valuation of the scheme indicates a significant deficit as measured under the statutory minimum funding standard.

Resolution of the funding difficulties in the scheme is a matter for the Trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the members and for the Pensions Board.  The parties have participated in discussions with the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court to identify solutions. Once agreement is reached among all parties, I understand that it is intended that union members will be balloted over the coming months on the proposals.

Departmental Advertising Expenditure

Questions (1640)

Jim Daly

Question:

1640. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total cost of all media advertising to his Department for each of the past five years; the efforts his Department is making to ensure that local media, both print and radio, are being supported as well as national media by his Department's budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37485/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The information requested by the Deputy is available from my Department's website at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services. The information at this link is updated regularly. 

In view of the current serious economic climate,  it is the policy of my Department that advertising/promotions in the national press or other print or radio media, other than in exceptional circumstances,  are only undertaken where there is a statutory requirement to do so. In all other cases, publications and advertising are conducted online, mainly through the Department's website.

Where there is a Statutory requirement for media advertisement, this is done in whichever is the the most approriate media, local or national, given the purpose of the advertisement.

The Department's objective in doing any promotions or advertising is to get a particular message out to a particular cohort of citizens rather then to support the media per se.

Ministerial Appointments

Questions (1641, 1642, 1643)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

1641. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of all bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department to which ministerial appointments are made; the statutory provision providing for the making of such appointments in each case; the annual allowances or other payments made to the chairperson; the annual allowance or other payment made to an ordinary member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37500/13]

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

1642. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of the boards, bodies or committees under the remit of his Department where there is currently a vacancy to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, if the vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of vacancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37515/13]

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

1643. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of the bodies, boards or committees under the remit of his Department where it is anticipated there will be a vacancy within the next six months to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, if the anticipated vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of anticipated vacancies in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37530/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1641 to 1643, inclusive, together.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to Board appointments and vacancies is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership.

The statutory provisions for such appointments are set out under the relevant Act for each agency.

Details of the approved fees for each Board are also set out at the above link. Details of actual payments to each Board member are available in the Annual Report and Accounts of each agency.

 In addition to the information on the website,  the Irish Sports Council established the Anti-Doping Committee of the Irish Sports Council under section 18(3) of the Irish Sports Council Act, 1999.  The Minister appoints the Chairman of that committee under section 18(5) of that Act.  The Chairman is paid travel and subsistence allowances at the rates, and subject to the conditions, of civil service regulations.

Public Transport

Questions (1644)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

1644. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request all providers of public transport, mainly Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, through his Department and the National Transport Authority, to have the correct spelling of Kilpedder, County Wicklow, used on all their signs, websites, timetables and Internet applications, as opposed to the incorrect spelling of Kilpeddar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37540/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

This is a matter for Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the companies for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Public Transport

Questions (1645)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

1645. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether Busáras, the central bus and coach station in the capital, should be opened up to private sector operators to create more competition in the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37547/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

Section 62 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 provides that the National Transport Authority (NTA) may designate a bus station in the Greater Dublin Area to be a shared facility. I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Coastal Protection

Questions (1646)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

1646. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a ship (details supplied) that ran aground off the Dublin and Wicklow coastline in August 2013 posed a threat to the coastline in terms of pollution; if the sandbanks near the Kisk Bank will pose a threat to other shipping movement in the area in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37552/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

I have been informed by the Coast Guard that at about 0800 on 20 August 2013, the vessel concerned went aground on the Bray Bank (an extension of the Kish Bank) off the Dublin/Wicklow coastline.  There was no pollution reported from the vessel, but as a precaution, the Coast Guard boarded the vessel and sounded the tanks to check their integrity and it was found there was no threat to the coastline. The vessel refloated at the subsequent high tide and proceeded to the Dublin Port for docking the following day.

These Banks are clearly marked on Navigation Charts and appropriate Buoyage is in place to warn shipping.