Results 3,521-3,540 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, make toll by-laws and enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the National Roads Authority, NRA, under Part V of the Roads Act 1993, as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000. I am aware of no agreement between the NRA and NTR which would allow motorists to pass free of charge...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 195 together. As the Deputies will be aware, in its decision of 18 May the Government agreed to the State disposing of a majority shareholding in Aer Lingus and retaining a stake of at least 25% to protect strategic interests provided that both the Minister for Finance and I are satisfied that this level of disposal is warranted on foot of the analysis...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 196 together. The McCann report recommended a phased approach to the construction of the western rail corridor. Following the launch of Transport 21, I asked Iarnród Éireann to commence the design and planning stages of the western rail corridor from Ennis to Claremorris. The line between Ennis and Athenry will be the first section to be developed....

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am currently considering whether to reintroduce a statutory height restriction for vehicles and I hope to take a decision in the matter shortly. In the event that it is decided to reintroduce a statutory height restriction for vehicles, it will be necessary to submit the draft regulations to the European Commission for consideration and for referral to other member states in accordance with...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: In January 2005, when responsibility for ports policy was in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine launched the Government's ports policy statement. The policy statement aims to better equip the port sector and its stakeholders to meet national and regional capacity and service needs. One of the key challenges...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167, 171 and 193 together. My Department is working on proposals for legislative amendments to the Roads Act 1993 to strengthen the enforcement provisions relating to non-payment of tolls in a barrier free tolling environment. I anticipate, subject to the other priorities on the legislative programme, that the draft legislation will be introduced by mid-2006.

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, is at present preparing a detailed implementation plan for the metro north line. This will include public consultation which is expected to commence shortly and this consultation will outline the RPA's proposals for surface, underground and elevated alignments. The final alignment will be defined through this public consultation and the statutory approval...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The main purpose of the Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) Bill 2005 is to give effect to the international convention on co-operation for the safety of air navigation. The convention is the result of negotiations on a revision of the original convention signed in 1960 to take into account developments since then relating to the provision of air navigation services. I am aware of the concerns of...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The consensus of public authorities concerned with road safety has been that the wearing of reflective armbands is best promoted on a voluntary basis by way of educational and publicity campaigns such as those undertaken by the National Safety Council, rather than through legislation. The safety of all road users is generally a matter of personal responsibility. In that context, the Rules of...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Government's Road Safety Strategy 2004-06 sets a primary target of a 25% reduction in road collision fatalities by the end of 2006 over the average annual number of fatalities in the 1998-2003 period. Achievement of the target would result in no more than 300 deaths per annum by the end of the period of the strategy. This is an ambitious target and one which will require the continued...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Safety Strategy 2004-06 acknowledges that there are significant difficulties in establishing a benchmark from which to set a target for the achievement of a reduction in the number of serious injuries. For that reason, the central target established for the strategy was focused on the realisation of a reduction in the number of road deaths. The strategy included a commitment to the...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Proposals developed by my Department for the regulation and quality assurance of driving instruction will involve a test of the competence of individual instructors. A working group comprising representatives of my Department and of instruction interests has formulated the design of the standards that a driving instructor must meet. The standard will set out criteria for entry to the driving...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The enforcement of offences established under the Road Traffic Acts generally, including those that attract penalty points, is the responsibility of the Garda Síochána. My Department has no direct role in the enforcement of the offences.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic Act 1994 provides that a member of the Garda Síochána may, where he or she is of the opinion that a person in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place is under the influence of a drug or drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of that vehicle, require that person to go to a Garda station and further require that person to...

Written Answers — Park and Ride Facilities: Park and Ride Facilities (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Provision of park and ride facilities has been incorporated in Transport 21, as one of the ways of attracting more people onto public transport. In the case of the greater Dublin area, my Department last year approved the Dublin Transportation Office's strategy for rail-based park and ride facilities in that area, while plans in other cities, such as the Cork area strategic plan, also...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 3 on 24 November 2005. The Driver Testing and Standards Authority Bill 2004 has completed Second Stage in the Dáil. Amendments to the Bill are being drafted to give effect to the wider functions being assigned to the authority. I understand Committee Stage is to be scheduled in the coming weeks and I will introduce those amendments to...

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am aware that consultants have carried out a study of the cost of congestion for Dublin Bus. The impact of congestion and other factors on the cost base of Dublin Bus are the subject of ongoing discussions between my Department and the company. In this context, I have recently granted Dublin Bus an average 4% increase in bus fares, together with an increase of 5% in Exchequer subvention for...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Question No. 193 on 3 November 2005 and Question No. 96 on 24 November 2005. The framework for the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications imposed in Great Britain or Northern Ireland and this State is contained in the European Union Convention on Driving Disqualifications. Legislation to support the application of the convention is contained in the...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: In August 2005, my Department received a submission from Iarnród Éireann for Exchequer funding to carry out planning and design work for the redesign of Kent Station. An allocation of €170,000 was approved to allow the detailed planning and design to be undertaken. Iarnród Éireann has informed my Department that the scheme will substantially upgrade and extend the passenger concourse...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Section 36 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, as amended by section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, provides for a system of automatic disqualification from applying for or holding a small public service vehicle driver licence or vehicle licence in respect of persons who have been convicted of one of a range of very serious offences, including murder, manslaughter and various sexual, drug...