Seán Canney
Galway East · Independent · Ireland
“To obtain an operational authorisation, an operator must provide a comprehensive safety portfolio, which includes assessing and addressing both ground and air risks with appropriate mitigations. Manna Air Delivery holds such an authorisation from the IAA.”
“The national policy framework for UAS, agreed by the Government, was published by the Minister in August last year. The policy framework aims to guide high-level strategic planning and development in the drone sector in Ireland through support, growth and innovation, while ensuring safe and secure operations.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. I note Manna Air Delivery's recent statement that it will for now cease deliveries by drone in Ireland.”
“It proposes 16 actions under three main areas: the use of airspace and planning; compliance and enforcement; and enterprise and innovation. Actions in the policy framework include the establishment of a national working group on UAS geographical zones to develop transparent processes and procedures for the designation of these zones; the…”
“This new route provides passengers travelling from Charleville to Cork with a morning service at 7.05 a.m. and a service from Cork to Charleville at 5.45 p.m., Monday to Friday. This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, a major public transport initiative.”
“I thank the Deputy. I reassure him again that the Department, its Minister, Deputy O’Brien, my fellow Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are fully committed to delivering a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system for the benefit of current and future generations.”
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“-----which is closer to two thirds than half. I do agree with the Deputy, though. We need to have more of it, and we need to see it on the ground. Ireland continues to be seen as a location of choice for new investors as well as long-established companies that choose to further invest in substantial expansions of their operations here. That is borne out in the IDA report from last year. In 2024, direct employment in IDA client companies stood at more than 300,000 people nationally for the third year in a row despite some downsizing in the tech sector. Ireland still offers a competitive, consistent and transparent corporate tax regime, good access and connectivity and an excellent return on investment as well as being an attractive environment where people can live and work.”
“Ensuring a strong continued pipeline of foreign direct investment is a core objective of this Government and to that end, Ireland’s proposition for foreign direct investment remains competitive. This is demonstrated by the IDA’s results for 2024, which show that Ireland secured 234 investment wins, delivering a record level of research and development investment as IDA clients committed €1.9 billion across 64 investments. These investments are projected to create 13,500 jobs over coming years. The results also show strong balanced regional development throughout 2024 with 59% of the FDI investments in locations outside of Dublin. As a person who comes from rural Ireland and with the Deputy coming from the midlands, it is important that we have regional investment and regional balance in our development.”
“This will include sharing the skills profiles of impacted employees with companies that may be hiring, be that with multinationals in IDA client bases or indigenous companies through Enterprise Ireland. In parallel, the IDA continues to engage with Nelipak Healthcare senior management to assist the company, which has indicated that it is committed to supporting affected employees. The IDA will also provide introductions to companies that are recruiting locally and support services for staff affected. As a country we are close to full employment. The economy is well diversified, with hundreds of thousands of people employed in indigenous SMEs, pharmaceuticals, agrifood, medtech and financial services. As the Deputy said, however, we cannot be complacent. We have to watch our costs.”
“Staff were notified by the company of its decision, and a formal collective redundancy process is under way, with the first redundancies expected to take place at the end of February 2025. Nelipak Healthcare operates a second Irish facility in my home county of Galway, which is not affected by this decision. This is very disappointing news for Clara, where this facility has provided valuable employment for 30 years. Our sympathies are with those effected by this announcement in what is a very difficult time for them all. In response, the Government is on hand to support those workers. Our agencies will work to support the employees affected in the period ahead as they pursue alternative employment.”
“I will take this matter on behalf of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Peter Burke. I thank Deputy McCormack for raising this important matter. The Minister, Deputy Burke, and I share his deep concern for those staff and their families in County Offaly who are impacted by the decisions of the companies. In January 2025 , Nelipak Healthcare of Clara, County Offaly, announced that it had undertaken an analysis of sales forecasts and operational needs in the UK and Ireland, and a decision was made to recommend up to 40 redundancies. This reorganisation is a post-Covid-19 correction following a return to pre-Covid volumes and a need to reduce budgets.”
“It also provides for the necessary regulation-making power to cater for the vessels being used in the offshore service sector and the carriage of industrial personnel on those vessels. I thank the MCIB, its board, investigators and staff members for their ongoing work. The new unit will build on the important contribution they have made. I again thank Deputies for their contributions. I look forward to the Bill being referred to the Seanad for its next Stages.”
“Is everybody happy? I thank all Deputies for their contributions this evening. I know their hearts are in the right place. I thank the House for facilitating Report and Final Stages today. The important thing is that this Bill is to enhance the safety regime and bring accident investigation in line with international best practice and standards. We also need to regulate offshore service vessels because they are required if we are to take full advantage of offshore wind energy. We have made progress towards achieving two important policy objectives with this Bill. As I said, this Bill is about enhancing our maritime safety regime and marine accident investigation.”
“I move amendment No. 6: In page 49, line 19, to delete “107th session” and substitute “110th session”. Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 will allow for the updating of the definition of the Maritime Labour Convention to take into account amendments adopted in 2022 that came into force in December 2024. This section deals with consequential amendments required to other merchant shipping Acts on foot of the new requirements for offshore service vessels. The proposed amendments update the definition of the Maritime Labour Convention to take into account amendments adopted in 2022 that came into force in 2024. This will allow for regulation to be made to give effect to the 2022 amendments.”
“I move amendment No. 2: In page 47, line 10, to delete “1994” and substitute “2000”. Amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, are technical textual amendments for defining the high-speed craft code of 2000. This section deals with consequential amendments required to other merchant shipping Acts on foot of the new requirements for offshore service vessels. The amendments proposed are technical amendments to correct typographical errors in the definition of the high-speed craft code of 2000.”
“What I said was that the report has not been published in full but the recommendations and observations have been published. Recruitment is at clearance stage but no appointments have been made and will not be made until this Bill is enacted. Recruitment has gone through the Public Appointments Service process. I am new to this position. I have no problem meeting people and my officials will come back to the Deputies about that. That is part of what I will do.”
“It is also there to regulate offshore service vehicles. The Lacey report was not a report on marine accident investigation. It was a report of a previous government looking at the possibility of setting up a multimodal accident investigation unit. This Bill only concerns marine accidents. There is nothing precluding us from introducing a multimodal approach in the future but we need this Bill now to improve safety. There is no confusion about the agencies and what they will investigate. The agency will operate on a statutory remit. At present, all work on investigations work within their statutory remit with no issues - gardaí, Marine Survey offices, etc. If a vehicle is tied up, there is still no difference. It is investigated.”
“Many issues were raised and many reports were mentioned. Ireland intends to ratify the Cape Town Agreement. However, important matters relating to the implementation of the agreement have been raised at the IMO. The Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments developed interim guidelines to assist in the implementation of that agreement, which was adopted in December 2024. The formal resolution is awaited and Ireland is fully engaged with the process at the IMO. We have a higher standard than what is being set out in the Cape Town Agreement. The recommendations and observations of the Clinch report have been published and have been or are being implemented. This Bill is put in place to enhance the safety regime and bring accident investigation into line with best international practice.”
“It is also important to note this amendment would not preclude a coroner from referring to a report of the MAIU in a coroner's inquest as questions of liability, whether criminal or civil, are not part of the coronial process.”
“I move amendment No. 1: In page 24, line 12, after “in” to insert “civil or”. This section was amended on Committee Stage to ensure accident investigation reports of the marine accident investigation unit, MAIU, are prohibited from being used in criminal proceedings. I wish to further amend this section to also prohibit their use in civil proceedings. It is a strict requirement of the EU directive that investigations of the MAIU must be independent of criminal investigations or other parallel investigations held to determine liability or apportion blame. This amendment makes this distinction clear in respect of the use of evidence. This amendment will also reduce the risk of a chilling effect by ensuring witnesses and those involved in marine accidents can provide information without fear of this information being used in litigation.”
“I acknowledge the work of my officials in the Department of Transport and officials across government. Much work has been done but transformation in this space is critical when lives are at risk on our roads. I look forward to hearing the contributions of the Deputies on this important issue.”
“These two bodies will comprise an operations-focused driver and vehicle standards agency to deliver services like driver testing and the NCT and a new body to lead the State's promotional, educational and awareness campaigns on road safety. A departmental group led by the Department and comprising relevant stakeholders is progressing with this reform. A new road safety communications steering group has also been established. This is led by my Department and will bring together the RSA communication leads and other key stakeholders to ensure co-ordination across upcoming campaigns and programmes of work for 2025. I echo the remarks made by the Minister. Road safety is a concern for all of society and there is no room for complacency in pursuing our Vision Zero ambition. Every fatality on our roads is one too many.”
“I also acknowledge the support and collaboration of the Department of Education, the Minister for Education, IPB Insurance, the RSA and my own officials in realising this new programme. As well as expanding the TY programme into more schools this year, work is under way on the primary level Be Safe programme. The RSA will be working closely with An Garda Síochána to ensure an aligned lesson plan for its team to bolster this programme. In 2024, my Department commissioned an external independent review of the Road Safety Authority and, on 5 November, the Government approved publication of this review and noted the proposal to reform the Road Safety Authority into two independent external bodies.”
“I am pleased to report to the House that the revised transition year programme, Road Safety Matters, which launched in September 2024, has been a great success, having already surpassed the targets for its initial roll-out. In phase 1, 149 teachers representing 138 schools attended in-person professional learning in Swinford, Athlone, Portlaoise, Dublin, Cork, Galway and Donegal. The aim of the programme is to provide transition year, TY, students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be safe road users. They are given information about other basic road safety matters such as the two-second rule for maintaining a safe distance between cars, how alcohol is detected in more than one third of drivers killed in collisions and how to speak up if you are a passenger in a car that is being driven too quickly.”
“This increases the total permanent sanction for testers to 200, representing a doubling of permanent posts since June 2022. I understand that recruitment is well under way and that additional capacity will enter the service in the coming months, helping it to progressively reduce waiting times. Once the service level agreement waiting time of ten weeks is restored, it will also establish the basis for us to take further action on the multiple learner permit issue whereby drivers have historically been able to continuously renew learner permits without ever sitting a driving test. An additional priority for 2025 is to progress work on the review and update the national driver testing curriculum to ensure it is fit for purpose, future-proofed and responsive to changes in vehicle technology.”
“With regard to the motoring services we provide to our citizens, there is no doubt that the driver testing service and the national car testing service have both experienced challenges in managing unprecedented demand in recent years. In 2024, 1.7 million national car tests were completed, the highest in the history of the service by a considerable margin. While this demand led to lengthy and unacceptable waiting times for customers at points, I am pleased to report the service was back to its service level target in the final months of last year and is expected to remain so during 2025 aside from seasonal peaks that are already built into the capacity planning. To address the issue of excessive driver testing waiting times, in September 2024, my Department sanctioned an additional 70 permanent positions for the driver testing service.”
“Two of the additional average speed zones came into operation in counties Mayo and Cavan in late 2024 and I understand the third is expected to enter operation in County Meath in the coming days. This technology has proven to be a great deterrent to excessive speed wherever it is deployed, both in Ireland and internationally. In addition to these immediate camera measures, TII is leading the development of a comprehensive national safety camera strategy for publication later this year. This will establish the framework for the future investment, deployment and development of our camera enforcement capacity. This strategy will also consider the use of cameras for purposes beyond speeding, such as identifying mobile phone use and non-wearing of seat belts.”
“Since April 2024 there has been increased visibility of An Garda Síochána at the roadside with the introduction of 30 minutes of road policing per shift for all uniformed members. This measure, which follows similar practices deployed by police forces elsewhere in the EU seems to have made a positive contribution to the number of collisions and fatalities in the second half of last year. I also welcome the 20% increase in the hours of deployment of GoSafe vans which was first announced in September 2023. That has now been extended to October 2025. This means the hours of activity per month will continue at the elevated level of 9,000 compared with 7,500 before the uplift. An Garda Síochána is also in the process of deploying three new average speed zones and nine static cameras across the country.”
“Locations of interest are notified to each local authority and the Department invites applications for low-cost safety schemes towards the end of each year for targeted funding and implementation in the following year. While final figures for last year are still pending, in 2023, approximately 5,000 km of local roads were strengthened and maintained on the basis of Exchequer investment of €334 million. This vital investment assists in maintaining and improving safety on the local road network, which comprises the majority of roads across the country. Last year an additional €30 million was made available to local authorities for rehabilitation of the regional and local road network in response to prolonged rainfall that adversely affected the network.”
“This involves carrying out extensive analysis of the network to identify high-risk locations through analysis of collision data and through inspections. In 2024, increased funding of approximately €30 million was made available from within protection and renewal to support safety improvement schemes such as junction improvements and road segregation on national roads. In addition, TII funds road safety training for local authorities and An Garda Síochána. On our regional and local roads, collision analysis by the Department of Transport on behalf of the local authorities is continuing, using data sets received from the Road Safety Authority.”
“Road safety is a matter that affects all of us. Every citizen is entitled to feel safe on our roads. The Minister set out the key contributors to collisions and touched upon some of the measures introduced in recent years to help restore Ireland's long-term progress in the area of road safety. I will use the balance of my time to focus on some more specific interventions. On the national roads network, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, continues to have full access to collision data under the road infrastructure safety management directive and uses this information to conduct detailed analysis of the national road network to prioritise safety investment. A priority for TII is the maintenance of the existing national roads network to ensure it is kept to a safe and robust standard.”
“As I mentioned earlier, I have been advised that the NTA is working closely with Go-Ahead Ireland to identify steps that can be taken to improve service delivery on the impacted routes, and that some improvements have already taken place. Further, through initiatives like the capacity improvement programme and the implementation of ticketing technologies, we are taking steps to enhance capacity and improve the overall travel experience for passengers. On behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this important issue.”
“The programme has led to a substantial increase in service levels, and customer satisfaction research carried out earlier this year shows that phases 1 to 4 of the network redesign project are positively rated by users. The research shows that 80% of users are satisfied with the service and 49% reported that the service is now better. It is important from my point of view that anybody who uses public transport has a good experience so that they will continue to use it. When issues arise, they have to be treated seriously. That is why I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The NTA and the Department of Transport will continue collaborating with operators and customers to enhance the punctuality and reliability of services throughout the network redesign.”
“I assure the Deputy that I fully recognise that transport connectivity is hugely important for people who live, work and study in Ireland and it is key to revitalising our villages, towns and urban centres. We need to expand the public transport network and increase service levels as outlined in policies like Connecting Ireland and BusConnects. We aim to achieve more balanced regional development and greater connectivity for all public transport. BusConnects has already achieved significant success in transforming Dublin’s public transport network. In the latest progress report, published in July 2024, comparisons were made between network redesign phases 1 to 5a before launch, from quarter 4 of 2019, and after launch, from quarter 4 of 2023.”
“The Minister for Transport understands the importance of maintaining connectivity for all users and I assure the Deputy that I have been advised that the NTA is closely monitoring the situation with regard to service delivery on these routes and is receiving daily reports from Go-Ahead Ireland on service availability by route and progress with resolving these issues. I have been advised that the operator has indicated to the NTA that there have been significant improvements in dealing with these issues, and that the services will continue to improve over the coming days. I have been further advised that the NTA has requested that a remedial plan be supplied from Go-Ahead Ireland, outlining details of when services are expected to return to a full timetable on each of the affected routes.”
“The Department has been advised that Go-Ahead Ireland is currently experiencing fleet reliability issues across its network of services due to a shortfall of the availability of mechanics to carry out essential maintenance works. This is unfortunately having a knock-on effect on the delivery of services, resulting in reduced availability of vehicles and a disruption to service levels. These fleet reliability issues are primarily affecting routes S4, from Liffey Valley to UCD, and S6, The Square Tallaght to Blackrock, as well as some of the routes in the Bray and Greystones area, which were launched on 26 January as part of the roll-out of the latest phase of BusConnects Dublin. I acknowledge the concerns that the Deputy has raised about these services and fully appreciate how frustrating it is for users.”
“Funding has also been secured to extend free child fares on PSO services to include those aged between five and eight years and to support the roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services under programmes such as BusConnects and Connecting Ireland. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently commitment to improving public transport under the new programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, and is backing up that commitment with significant investments across the bus and rail network. I understand that the Department of Transport is engaging with the NTA regarding the issues concerning particular bus services operated by Go-Ahead Ireland across some of the greater Dublin area routes.”
“That said, I reassure the Deputy that the Department is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. To support this objective, in budget 2025 the Department of Transport secured €658 million of funding for public service obligation, PSO, and Transport for Ireland, TFI, Local Link services, which was an increase from €618 million in 2024. That includes funding for the continuation of the 20% fare reduction on PSO services, the young adult card on both PSO and commercial bus services and the 90-minute fare until the end of 2025.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. From the outset, I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in respect of public transport but neither the Minister nor his officials is involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the NTA. The NTA works in conjunction with the public transport operators that deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters, in this case Go-Ahead Ireland.”