Tag Archives: Minister Paschal Donohoe

THE government’s decision to reduce the proposed levy on concrete products has been described as “literally a half measure” by the founder of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG).  Dr Martina Cleary said the reduction to five percent of the levy announced in the Budget would still just bounce back on those who have been forced to remediate their homes because of defective concrete blocks.  While the levy was unveiled as a means of funding the revised grant scheme for pyrite and mica-affected homeowners in Clare, Limerick, Donegal and Mayo, it generated widespread controversy over the likely impact on building costs. The CPAG founder described the measure as a “facade” which fails to challenge those who supplied defective materials affecting thousands of homes. “Rather than this half measure, there should be a full-scale public inquiry into those quarries and suppliers responsible and a massive fine imposed on them,” she said. “It is despicable that this revised grant is allowing those …

THE possibility that a major public building has defective concrete blocks has been raised in the Dáil by a local TD, who said that if this proves to be the case, it will put Clare “to the top of the list” in terms of government support. Deputy Cathal Crowe made an impassioned plea for Clare homeowners affected by pyrite and/mica to be given equal access to redress scheme and a Local Property Tax (LPT) exemption, currently only available in Donegal and Mayo. Addressing the Minister for Finance, he was sharply critical of the scope of the existing Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, which offers a maximum of 90% of remediation costs to homeowners in those two counties. “I am of the view that a major public building in a certain county has pyrite in it,” Deputy Crowe told the chamber. “Many people hope it does not. I hope it does for the simple reason it will advance the cause of …

International Airline Group (IAG) will consider options, including Aer Lingus codeshare and accepting customers originating from Shannon that could enhance the existing all-business British Airways two daily service from Heathrow to JFK via Shannon, Transport Minister, Paschal Donohoe said in the Dáil this morning Wednesday. In opening the debate on the proposed sale of the Government’s 25% stake in Aer Lingus, Minister Donohoe said the airline’s Shannon flights to Boston and New York are expected to be strengthened as a result of the company becoming part of the North Atlantic Joint Business. “Aer Lingus support for existing American Airlines flights to Philadelphia will provide opportunities for additional capacity and increased connectivity to the US,” he said. According to Ministe Donohoe, “The financial advisers have considered a range of different valuation methodologies which they consider to be relevant. The [Inter-depertmental]Steering Group has concluded that a price of €2.50 is acceptable. The Dáil is being asked to approve in principle the disposal …

The passing for the Roads Bill 2014 paved the way for the establishment of a new agency -Transport Infrastructure Ireland – through the merger of the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA). The merger of NRA and RPA is intended to demonstrate the best and most efficient use of public resources consistent with the Government’s public sector reform agenda and, in particular, its Agency Rationalisation Programme, Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said, “’The new merged body will benefit from the sharing of technical and professional expertise developed over the years in the RPA and NRA. This will help to create a new streamlined organisation which will play a key role in maximising the contribution that the State’s investment in transport can make to supporting our growing economy and to meeting Ireland’s longer-term economic and environmental objectives’. The ministerial orders, giving effect to the merger provisions contained in the Bill, will be executed in the coming weeks.