Results 5,201-5,220 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Carbon Emissions: Carbon Emissions (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The tabular statement below is compiled from non-authenticated CO2 emission data on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) for currently taxed private cars registered as new since May 2004 when collection of CO2 data for such vehicles commenced. A total of 1,882,901 private cars were currently taxed at 31 December, 2007 and this statement covers 525,273 (28%) of that total. The data has...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department had discussions recently with the EU Commission about air connectivity from the West of Ireland and in particular about the possible imposition of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) on the Shannon-Heathrow route. The Commission's position, as clarified as a result of those discussions, is that the relevant Regulation is an exception to the general rule of free provision of air...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: It is not the case that my Department instructed Dublin Bus to reduce the number of buses servicing the Route 25X route to Lucan on foot of a complaint from a private bus operator. My Department has made no demand on Dublin Bus to cease any of its authorised services. The initiation or alteration of a bus service by Dublin Bus is subject to compliance with the requirement of giving advance...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: There is substantial ongoing current and capital Exchequer funding in the development and operation of the railway network. Total Exchequer funding allocated to Iarnród Éireann for 2008 amounts to more than €720 million. While I have no proposals to introduce a rail freight subsidy on a per tonne basis for materials transferred from road freight to rail freight, the potential to expand...

Written Answers — Carbon Emissions: Carbon Emissions (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 175 together. The growth in emissions from transport is an indication of the economic success and growth in population in Ireland. Ireland has a single target under the Kyoto Protocol and individual targets are not set for each sector. Nevertheless, the National Climate Change Strategy projects emissions from the transport sector to grow as per the...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: In March 2002 the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) was given statutory responsibility for the delivery of an integrated ticketing scheme under S.I. No. 84 of 2002. The total payments by the Exchequer on the integrated ticketing scheme since March 2002 is €12.5 million.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 181 together. Responsibility for driver testing and licensing was transferred to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006. The arrangements in relation to testing, numbers of candidates and licences are therefore a matter for the RSA.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has prepared the heads of a Harbours Bill to support further implementation of national ports policy and to update existing legislation, the main body of which dates from 1996. The Bill will, inter alia, facilitate development of a proposed new port facility at Bremore in Fingal County. This week I have received Government approval for the drafting of the Bill, which will now...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The number of specimens tested for the presence of a drug or drugs by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety for the years 2002 to 2006 is as follows: 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (Provisional) 388 416 569 747 1,000 Details in respect of 2007 are not available at this time. The number of motorists charged with driving under the influence of drugs in each year since 2002 is a matter for the Garda...

Written Answers — Motorway Service Areas: Motorway Service Areas (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The National Roads Authority (NRA) are not required to submit applications to me or my Department in relation to motorway service areas. My involvement in the provision of service areas on the national road network relates to ensuring that the necessary legislative framework is in place to facilitate this provision. This was achieved last year with the enactment of the Roads Act 2007....

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which owns Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports, has overall borrowings of just under €500 million as at the end of 2007. Just over €200 million of the DAA's borrowings relates to Cork airport, almost €70 million relates to Shannon airport and the remainder relates to Dublin airport. Following recent disposals of Great Southern Hotels and the DAA's...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149, 158, 161 and 163 together. Transport 21 provides for the construction of the Navan Rail Line in two phases: Phase 1: Clonsilla to Dunboyne by 2010, and Phase 2: Dunboyne to Navan by 2015, subject to studies. The current position on Phase 1 is that Iarnród Éireann has applied to An Bord Pleanála for a Railway Order in respect of the Clonsilla-Dunboyne...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Section 88 of the Railway Safety Act 2005 requires rail companies to draw up a code of conduct for safety critical workers in relation to intoxicants (i.e. drugs and alcohol) and including sampling procedures in that regard. Veolia (as operator of the Luas) has a code of conduct in place and the Railway Safety Commission has accepted this as part of the approval of the Safety Case for Luas....

Written Answers — Rail Safety: Rail Safety (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The procedures for dealing with railway incidents and accidents is a matter for the Railway Safety Commission as part of its role in approving railway operators' safety management systems. However, for the purposes of reporting to the Office of Emergency Planning, my Department maintains an ongoing liaison with Iarnród Éireann and the other public transport agencies under my aegis in...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Exchequer does not provide funding for any of the three State airports. Accordingly, the issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Shannon and Dublin Airport Authorities in which I have no statutory function.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The most recent published data on vehicle speeds on Irish roads is contained in the 2005 Survey of Free Speeds (Urban and Rural) published by the National Roads Authority. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is now responsible for the conduct of these surveys, since its establishment in September 2006, and I understand that it intends to publish the results of the 2006 survey shortly. One of...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The market for air services in the Community was liberalized in the 1990s. The internal market has removed all commercial restrictions for airlines flying within the EU, such as restrictions on the routes, the number of flights or the setting of fares. Under the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2409/92 Community air carriers can freely set their air fares. The broader issue of...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Since 10 January 2001, Bus Éireann is required by Ministerial direction to notify my Department of any proposed new services, or proposed changes to existing services, at least four weeks prior to their introduction. Where there is no competition from services provided by a licensed private operator, Bus Éireann is advised that the Department has noted their proposed service change and...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 160 together. All drivers are subject to road traffic law and enforcement is a matter for An Garda Síochána. The realisation of any fines or penalties imposed by the Courts is a matter for the Courts Service. While foreign licence holders do not have an Irish driving licence record, a separate record of any penalty points incurred by them in this...

Written Answers — Coast Guard Service: Coast Guard Service (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 170, 352 and 353 together. It is my intention that the Irish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration will be strengthened on an ongoing basis over the coming years. My ambition is to put in place a service that will fully meet the needs of this country well in the 21st century. The recent decisions have been taken to reflect the future optimal...