Results 2,021-2,040 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Road Safety. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I reiterate that I would be deeply concerned if such practices occurred in any State companies, as I am sure all of us would be. I would like to see evidence of such practices, however. That needs to be established. The day-to-day operation of the companies is a matter for the companies themselves. As Minister, I do not have a role in interfering with the daily operation of any of the...

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department is preparing a ten-year transport investment framework. The draft framework takes account of the work done on investment priorities under the current capital envelope to the end of 2009. It also takes account of the various strategic studies completed by the Department and its agencies, including A Platform for Change which recommended, among other things, the development of a...

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I will not get into the detail of individual projects in the House in advance of publication of the plan, despite the many of my colleagues who have been pressing me on various projects.

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The RPA is charged with the roll-out of the Luas. It has been talking to all of the local authorities and has assessed the cost effectiveness of many different options throughout Dublin. Some, obviously, appear far more cost effective than others. There is a great willingness on the part of the private sector to invest substantially in Luas lines in different areas, which is extremely helpful...

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Many of the Deputy's constituents, from all parties, have been on to me about how valuable is this project. The RPA is carrying out its assessments on a myriad of projects on the Luas lines in Dublin, some of which we have asked specifically about. It must cost some of them and ensure they stand up and are deliverable. In advance of the final decisions being taken in Dublin, I will not...

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: That proposal would not be adequate now to meet the needs of what is required for Dublin. I am in the process of substantially enhancing some of the projects outlined on that map. The two Luas lines are up and running with substantial passenger numbers. The public sees Luas as very successful and wants more. We are trying to finalise the marrying of Luas, possibly metro, DART, intercity...

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I congratulate the Deputy, as she certainly knows what she is talking about. That is one of the key issues. It regards segregation and non-segregation and how the two can work together or whether they can work cohesively. I am happy that the evidence presented to me is that they can, and we have good examples of that from Germany. The Deputy is right. We can get greater capacity on metro type...

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I am trying to indicate by my answer that I am engaged on this. I have learnt much in recent few weeks. I have listened to Deputies Olivia Mitchell and Shortall, who lead on these issues more than others, but their questions are not easily answered. The Deputy knows that as well as I. The transport budget for the country is not limitless. No matter what substantial projects we carry out over...

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: It was an honest assessment. I am damned if I do and damned if I do not.

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I doubt that day will ever come. However, I look forward to seeing how the different approaches between the three parties will be resolved in the area of public transport. To answer the question, I have asked all of the bodies that have proposed projects to do assessments for me. On a number of routes there were proposals for DART, metro and other conflicting modes of transport. Obviously, we...

Decentralisation Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: A number of posts, including 40 posts in the road haulage division of the Department of Transport and ten posts in the National Safety Council, have been identified as early movers under the decentralisation programme. The 50 posts in question are being relocated to Loughrea. I am satisfied with the progress being made in this regard. Nineteen people in the Department of Transport have...

Decentralisation Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The answer to the Deputy's final question is "No". I am committed to the decentralisation programme. Like many Deputies, I can cite examples of the successful operation of the previous decentralisation programme throughout the country. When it was proposed to decentralise the Land Registry to Waterford, which is in my constituency, everyone said it was not possible to transfer a large number...

Decentralisation Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The early movers have been identified and the details in that regard will be finalised in a report that is due in August. The Office of Public Works has made great efforts to identify and acquire sites throughout the country, often with the assistance of local authorities. I know that many sites have been identified. This issue will become clearer when the report, which will deal with a...

Decentralisation Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: It will have relevance throughout the system, as I understand it. I am interpreting the documentation I have read about the matter in good faith.

Decentralisation Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: That is what the company says.

Decentralisation Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy is right. I have stated clearly that there is a particular issue with the plan to decentralise Bus Éireann to Mitchelstown. I do not deny that. The Government has announced that it intends to move 200 jobs to Mitchelstown and it intends to see that plan through.

Decentralisation Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I was not involved in the collation of the information at that time. I will not take the blame for it. I was not directly involved in the collation of the figure in question.

Decentralisation Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: It was. Most of the figures which were specified when the Government announced that it planned to decentralise jobs to various locations throughout the country were spot on. There is a particular issue in the case of the plan to decentralise Bus Éireann posts to Mitchelstown. The company has said that just 86 posts are suitable for decentralisation. The Department has asked it to re-examine...

Decentralisation Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I want the management of Bus Éireann to be certain that it has applied correctly the criteria which were specified.

Decentralisation Programme. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: We must work on the problem. I do not deny that we need to bring clarity to this matter. I would not like to colour the entire decentralisation programme on the basis of this issue.