Latest news with #DavidHickey
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
Man takes case against Ryanair after flight took off without his family
Almost 100 people missed a Ryanair flight from Bordeaux to Cork last July because of an Microsoft IT outage which forced the airline to revert to manual check-ins, a small claims court hearing in Balbriggan, Co Dublin was told. Some passengers who were at the airport hours before departure were classified as no-shows with Ryanair telling the court it had no obligation to cover the costs of those who made alternate arrangements to get home. The case was taken by David Hickey from Cork who told District Court Judge Stepanie Coggins that on July 19th, 2024 his family of five were due to travel from Bordeaux to Cork on a Ryanair flight departing at 9.05 am. He said they checked in online but could not check in their luggage in at the airport as a result of the IT outage which impacted airlines globally. READ MORE The flight subsequently took off leaving the Hickey family and dozens of others in the departures hall. The family made their way back to Cork via London and Mr Hickeywanted the airline to cover the cost of their return travel amounting to just under €2,000. Today was his third time travelling up from his home for the case. 'I was here on February 21st and the case was settled pending payment,' Mr Hickey told Judge Coggins. However, he subsequently received correspondence from Ryanair that - contrary to what its solicitor told him in court - it would not be settling the case. It cited concerns that his wife was also considering a claim which would take the total claim over the €2,000 limit set for the small claims court. Judge Coggins asked Mr Hickey if he could give assurances that no further claim from his wife would be lodged allowing the case to be concluded on the basis of the previously agreed settlement. Mr Hickey was given time to consult with her. When he returned to the stand he said the couple would forgo any future claim and Judge Coggins was on the verge of confirming a settlement when Ryanair's barrister Jennifer Goode JC said she had been instructed to defend the claim. 'That is not what you said earlier,' Judge Coggins said. 'I am very disappointed,' the judge continued, stressing that it was 'categorically not' the basis on which she had instructed Mr Hickey to consult with his wife. Outlining Ryanair's defence Ms Goode highlighted the airline's 'delicate' ecosystem which could be thrown off if departures were delayed to accommodate late arriving passengers or baggage. Giving evidence via video link from France, Bertram Moulet Delpech of Bordaux Airport outlined what happened last July when aviation systems crashed. He said the Cork-bound plane had taken off with only 87 of the passengers on the fully booked flight on board. Judge Coggins expressed incredulity that over 90 people 'don't get to board a flight and Ryanair think that is okay?' Ms Goode expressed sympathy to impacted passengers describing it as a 'horrible situation' but pointed to EU rules governing flights and case law highlighting the limits to which airlines can be held responsible if passengers don't get to board flights. Judge Coggins asked if there was any specific case law governing the circumstances the Hickey family were in and Ms Goode conceded there was not. 'I wouldn't like to be quoted as describing it as nit-picking but this is what is going on,' Judge Coggins said. 'This flight took off half full and people were not able to board because of software issues,' she said. She added, that people had 'incurred costs [and] the airline is saying that has nothing to do with them.' She expressed the view that 'there has to be some obligation on behalf of Ryanair' and concluded the hearing by saying she would need time to consider a ruling.
CBC
12-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Auditor general's assessment of public housing 'no surprise' for minister
Social Sharing Housing Minister David Hickey said his department isn't surprised the auditor general found "significant deficiencies" with public housing. "This report is no surprise to anyone around my table. It is no surprise to me. We knew the state of public housing and we knew that it was in crisis. We knew it when we came into government," said Hickey. The auditor general's report, which was released this week, found delays in repairs and incomplete inspections, which left units vacant and more people on the waitlist. During the review period from April 1, 2023, to Dec. 31, 2024, there was a list of 13,129 households waiting to get into one of the province's 4,630 public housing units. "We are in the midst of an infrastructure crisis with the amount of public housing we have," Hickey said, adding that the issue is a "significant priority" for him. The average wait to turn around vacant units to new occupants was 140 days, and three per cent took more than a year. The target is 30 days, yet only four per cent of units hit that target. Hickey said maintenance teams are "massively overwhelmed with the amount of units they need to support." The department plans to hire an additional 15 people, including six new inspectors. Hickey said the New Brunswick Housing Corporation will get a budget increase of 18.6 per cent. Adam Bowie, a spokesperson for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, said the increase is $36.6 million but $21.1 million will be used for the expansion of the province's direct-to-tenant rental benefit, which was announced last month. Hickey said his department will receive a $7.8-million increase for maintenance and capital improvements. The auditor general's report said mitigation work for issues like pests, mould and fire safety were completed on time only 36 per cent of the time, and that annual interior inspection requirements were not met in 85 per cent of regions with four not conducting any annual inspections. Hickey couldn't say whether any units should be closed, but that "it's not much to be proud of." Housing expert also not surprised Julia Woodhall-Melnik isn't surprised by the auditor general's report either. "We're constantly receiving emails and calls from folks who are living in public housing, who are living with things like pests, mould, uninhabitable conditions that can make themselves sick, their children sick," said Woodhall-Melnik, an associate professor in social sciences at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John and the co-director of the Housing, Mobilization, Engagement and Resiliency Lab. Her social science lab studies housing insecurity and social inclusion to share their findings with the public and all levels of government. The lab is currently going through their findings of people's well-being while living in public housing. Woodhall-Melnik said one problem is that those living in public housing are not covered by the Residential Tenancies Act. "With the province not being held to account by the Residential Tenancies Act. Really, they are invisible, they are forgotten." She is recommending that Hickey's department creates a "system of accountability" to make sure their goals are met. Both Hickey and Woodhall-Melnik agree that the breakdown in New Brunswick public housing began in the '90s. That was when the federal government handed the responsibility over to the province and funding dried up. "A commitment of around $2 million a year in operational funding to support the maintenance of 4,600 units — it doesn't go very far and it's led us into the situation where we are now," said Hickey. Solutions from Hickey The report also found the budget was "not available to spending approvers" and that a financial plan was not established, assessed or monitored. Hickey said he wants to be "as transparent as possible" going forward and be clear about where money is being spent and what the outcome is. He said he'd also like to work with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to utilize the equity in public housing — approximately $400 million.
CBC
05-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
A rent cap in N.B. gets one-year extension ahead of fall review
A three per cent rent cap brought in during the winter will continue for the 2025-2026 fiscal year but will be reviewed this fall with the Residential Tenancies Act, Housing Minister David Hickey says.
Global News
05-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
New Brunswick's 3% rent cap to remain through end of fiscal year: housing minister
New Brunswick's housing minister says the province's three per cent rent cap will remain throughout this fiscal year after going into effect in February. Noting its importance, Minister David Hickey said, 'we're offering that stability for renters, while at the same time committing to review the Residential Tenancies Act.' At an economic policy meeting last December, housing researchers and a tenants' advocate asked for a unit-based cap. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy At the time, Hickey said the province wouldn't have enough time to create unit-based caps before the rent cap took effect. On Wednesday, he clarified that basing the cap on the unit is not a priority at this time. 'It's largely not on the table, and not something we're considering now, as was consistent with what we had said throughout the winter,' he said. Story continues below advertisement It's something Green MLA Megan Mitton wants to see in the future. 'Linking (the rent) to the unit would be a way to again keep rents more affordable,' said Mitton. However, she's praising the continuation of the cap as it is now. 'I'm hoping that it does remain permanent because I think it's still necessary to preserve what affordable housing we do have left,' she said. For more on this story, watch the video above.
CTV News
04-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
N.B. holds rent cap increase at 3 per cent amid ‘affordability issues'
David Hickey, minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation, makes an announcement on May 20, 2025. (New Brunswick government) The government of New Brunswick will keep its rent cap increase at three per cent for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The rent control measure took effect in February after being announced in late 2024. The province said it is meant to prevent the displacement of tenants by limiting spikes in rental prices. 'While we have seen a recent increase in the number of rental units in New Brunswick, tenants are still encountering low vacancy rates and rising rent prices,' said David Hickey, the minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation. 'We're keeping the rent cap in place for this fiscal year to help provide stability and to give us more time to address the issues driving these challenges in the market.' The cap limits the amount the price of a rental can be increased each year to three per cent. It is subject to an annual review. It is also being considered as part of the current review of the Residential Tenancies Act, said a news release from the province. Hickey said the cap provides stability for renters after a 40 per cent increase in rent over the past six years. 'This follows other supports we've introduced to help landlords and developers,' he said. The province introduced a rebate on the provincial portion of the HST for new rental builds that started after Nov. 15, 2024. It has proposed legislation that would freeze property assessments for homeowners, landlords and businesses for one year as it reforms its property tax system. The next review of the rental cap is in May 2026. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
