Results 3,801-3,820 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 144 together. The Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2002 prohibit the use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle. The Attorney General has advised that these regulations, in so far as they deal with the mobile phone issue, are open to challenge in the courts on the grounds that...

Written Answers — Road Accidents: Road Accidents (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 80 and 114 together. Information available regarding causes of fatal road collisions is prepared by the National Roads Authority, NRA, based on reports from the Garda Síochána and is published by the authority in its annual Road Accident Facts reports. The most recent report is in respect of 2004 and that report is available in the Oireachtas Library and...

Written Answers — Aviation Safety Regulation: Aviation Safety Regulation (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, has, since its establishment in 1994, been responsible for the regulation of aviation safety, including that of helicopters, in accordance with internationally agreed standards. The authority has informed me that, because the helicopter was carrying passengers as well as the woman in labour it was not permitted to land at an unapproved landing site. When a...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Government in its decision of 18 May 2005 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 myself and the Minister for Finance are satisfied that this level of disposal is warranted on foot of the analysis prepared by the Departments' advisers for the transaction. The advisers...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: In line with commitments given in the Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 it is my intention that a requirement that motorcyclists with provisional licences must display L-plates will be introduced. The necessary provisions are currently under consideration in the context of a wider revision of driver licensing regulations.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 109 together. My Department is currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the Rules of the Road booklet. It is the intention that a draft of the new booklet will be published on the Department's website in the coming weeks and that comments and submissions will be invited from the public and interested parties. The new booklet will be finalised...

Written Answers — Park and Ride Facilities: Park and Ride Facilities (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 390 together. The development of public transport park and ride facilities is primarily a matter for transport providers, local authorities and private developers, either separately or in appropriate conjunction. However, since the provision of such facilities is significant in promoting a more integrated approach to public transport, and in making it a...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Government's Strategy for Road Safety 2004 to 2006 identified speed, seat-belt wearing, driving while intoxicated, engineering measures and vulnerable road users as being the key priority areas to be addressed over the years of the strategy in terms of yielding road safety benefits. As regards legal changes to enhance road safety, the strategy states that driver licensing regulations will...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: An NRA study relating to the number of vehicle kilometres of travel in Ireland in 2001 indicates that the average number of kilometres travelled by goods vehicles is significantly higher than other vehicle types. There is no evidence, however, that heavy goods vehicles are significantly involved in road collisions. It is unfortunately the case that the consequences resulting from a collision...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: On 21 February 2006, Iarnród Éireann submitted to my Department a business case relating to the reopening of the Ennis to Athenry railway line as phase one of the western rail corridor. My Department is currently examining this proposal and I will make a decision once this process is completed.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Regulations: Road Traffic Regulations (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: Directive 92/6/EEC requires speed limiters to be fitted to goods vehicles having a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 12,000 kg and passenger vehicles with more than eight passenger seats having a design gross vehicle weight exceeding 10,000 kg so that their speed may not exceed 90 km/h and 100 km/h, respectively. This directive was transposed into Irish law by means of the Road Traffic...

Written Answers — Great Southern Hotels Group: Great Southern Hotels Group (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 131 together. The Great Southern Hotels Group, GSH, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA. In the view of the DAA, the orderly disposal of the GSH hotels, offers the best opportunity for the hotels to reach their full potential in the niche markets to which they are best suited. I share the view of the DAA that this decision...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: When developing the metro proposals for Dublin, the Railway Procurement Agency investigated the feasibility of a physical connection between metro north and the Luas green line and concluded that such a connection is feasible. While Transport 21 involves a very large commitment of financial resources, those resources are also finite. It was therefore necessary to prioritise the investments to...

Written Answers — Road Accidents: Road Accidents (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 130 together. Commentary on the information available regarding causes of fatal road collisions is prepared by the National Roads Authority, NRA, based on reports from the Garda Síochána and published by the authority in its annual Road Accident Facts reports. The most recent report is in respect of 2004 and that report is available in the Oireachtas...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The PSO passenger numbers at each of the regional airports from July 2004 to date, based on figures supplied by the regional airports, are as follows: 2004-2005 PSO Passenger Numbers Jul 04 Aug 04 Sep 04 Oct 04 Nov 04 Dec 04 Jan 05 Feb 05 Mar 05 Apr 05 May 05 Jun 05 Donegal 3,974 4,191 3,603 3,092 2,474 2,431 1,880 2,031 2,253 2,373 3,190 3,745 Sligo 3,546...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 101 and 125 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Question No. 113, which I answered in the House on 1 February 2006. As I have already indicated, the delay in providing driving tests is a matter of regret to me. I believe it not only represents a poor service to the public but it is also hampering the development of initiatives which I wish to...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 81 together. The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, is the statutory body responsible for the delivery of a multi-operator system of integrated public transport ticketing using smartcard technology. The proposed system is, in line with international experience, being introduced on a phased basis, initially in the Dublin area. As part of the phased...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 stated that compulsory initial practical training for motorcyclists would be introduced. A working group comprising motorcycle interests has been considering the appropriate standards that will apply in this area and the standards with which instructors must comply. Overseeing the introduction of such training will be the responsibility of the proposed Road...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 82 and 132 together. The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws, and to 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. Tolling the M50, therefore, is a matter...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (7 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The new Maritime Labour Convention was adopted on 23 February 2006 at the 94th International Labour Organisation in Geneva. Ireland fully supports the new convention and voted in favour of the proposal. At a national level Ireland has consistently supported the International Labour Organisation in its efforts to promote decent global labour standards for seafarers and was represented at the...