Results 1,561-1,580 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I assume the Deputy is referring to the National Emergency Response Co-ordinating Committee that sat daily during the severe weather period from 8 to 15 January 2010 and again on 21 January 2010. My Department was represented by an Assistant Secretary, supported by the Principal Advisor (engineering), a Principal Officer and other Departmental staff.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my earlier response to Priority Question 75.

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: EC Regulation 1371/2007 on rail passenger rights and obligations entered into force on 3 December 2009. Articles 9, 11, 12, 19, 20(1) and 26 of the regulation, now apply to all rail passenger services throughout the Community including all Irish Rail passenger services. Domestic rail services, have, under S.I. No 473 of 2009 of 1 December 2009, been exempted from the application of the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 is being successfully implemented across a range of agencies. The core objective of the Road Safety Strategy is to reduce road deaths to no greater than 60 fatalities per million population by the end of 2012. This is an average of 21 road deaths per month or 252 deaths per annum. 2009 saw the lowest number of road deaths on record at 239. This is an...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I consider that the air traffic controller (ATC) dispute which closed the three State airports for 4 hours on 20th January last raises concerns about existing arrangements to protect the provision of essential public services in the event of industrial action. The Labour Relations Commission Code of Practice for Dispute Procedures including Procedures in Essential Services was made in 1992....

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) matters relating to vehicle standards and vehicle safety are the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. However, in instances where vehicle defects present potential danger to road users, ownership particulars of vehicles can be provided to the manufacturer from the National Vehicle and...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Any cost cutting plans are operational matters for the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and I have no statutory function in this regard. I have been informed however by the DAA that after months of discussions with union representatives and following the involvement of the Labour Relations Commission, agreement has now been reached on a cost recovery programme that will assist the DAA in...

Written Answers — Security at Ports: Security at Ports (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I wish to refer the Deputy to the reply to a similar Parliamentary Question I gave in the House on Thursday 5th November 2009 (Dail Question No 22). To clarify the matter, the seizing of contraband cigarettes in Ireland is the responsibility of the Customs and An Garda Síochána. The role of my Department is that it is responsible for the implementation of International and EU security...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 131 together. I am currently awaiting return of the Bill to the Dáil for Second Stage consideration. The Bill includes a provision for the mandatory testing for alcohol of drivers involved in road traffic collisions, where an injury is caused to another person that requires medical assistance. That provision meets a commitment I have made on a number...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: On 25 January 2010 I announced the appointment of Ms. Lucy McCaffrey as a director and the new chairperson of Dublin Port Company. The new chairperson has a highly regarded track record at a senior level in business management in Ireland over many years. She is also familiar with the port and the port sector through her previous term as a director of Dublin Port Company from 1997.

Written Answers — Travel Trade Sector: Travel Trade Sector (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I am fully aware of the negative impact that the difficult economic situation is having on the travel trade sector and I am closely monitoring developments, particularly in relation to the aviation sector. 2009 was an exceptionally difficult year and the demand for air travel fell dramatically due to the global recession; however there is evidence across Europe that the decline in passenger...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the increasing trend in the number of detections of drug driving. Indeed, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, who carry out analyses of specimens of blood, urine and breath provided for the Gardaí by people suspected of intoxicated driving offences, recorded an increase of over 68% in 2008 in the number of Garda requests for drug analysis of specimens submitted. Currently,...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Bilateral arrangements between the UK and Ireland, under Article 15.4 of the 1998 EU Convention on driving disqualifications, came into operation on 28th January 2010. Those arrangements relate to disqualifications arising from a range of traffic offences as follows :- · Reckless or dangerous driving (whether or not resulting in death, injury or serious risk). · Wilful failure to carry out...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Traffic throughput at the State's commercial seaports is an obvious barometer of economic activity as a whole. The Dublin Port Study carried out last year under the National Development Plan concluded that national port throughput would continue to decline in 2009 and into 2010 and that traffic throughput will not return to 2007 levels until post 2011. The Irish Maritime Development Office's...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. The carrying out of works on these roads is a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Road Safety Strategy 2007 – 2012 outlines a range of measures to be considered in relation to a Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS). The driver licensing regulations made in October 2007, which provided for the introduction of a learner permit to replace the provisional licence and for some other measures, were the first step in the introduction of a GDLS. The Road Safety Authority...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Ten staff members in the Department of Transport have signed up for the cycle to work scheme since its introduction last year. These individuals purchased cycle and cycle accessories with an aggregate cost of €7,746.46, which is being recouped from the individuals concerned as a salary sacrifice under the terms of the scheme. Tax, PRSI or income levies is not payable on this sacrificed...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Programme for Government made a commitment to conduct feasibility studies into Luas-type light rail systems in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. I subsequently asked the local authorities in these cities to see that the feasibility of Bus Rapid Transit systems was simultaneously taken into account. These studies, which are being carried out by consultants appointed by the relevant...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: These are operational matters for Bus Éireann and not matters in which I have any role.

Written Answers — Weather Emergencies: Weather Emergencies (10 Feb 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 123 together. By and large during the 24-day severe weather conditions we recently experienced, our national roads, other key strategic roads and public transport routes (14,000 kms) were kept open for traffic. These carry over 60% of all traffic (80% of commercial). It is acknowledged that driving conditions were sometimes difficult but this is a...