Results 3,821-3,840 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (24 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: Policy in relation to the Regional Harbours, as published in the Ports Policy Statement in 2005, is that the continued operation of the regional harbours under the outdated provisions of the Harbours Act 1946 is unsustainable on the grounds of good governance. The Policy Statement reiterated the view that most of these harbours would best achieve their potential through their transfer to...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (24 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) publication highlights just how at risk older road users are as a result of road collisions across Europe as a whole. However, the report from the ETSC is based on the ten years 1997 — 2006 and does not reflect the significant improvement in Ireland's road safety performance in 2007 and to date in 2008. Ireland has now entered the top ten EU best...

Dublin Port Tunnel (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: The National Roads Authority would not allow the tunnel to be operated in circumstances that would compromise the safety of the public. As the Deputies will know, the Minister for Transport is responsible for policy and funding matters relating to the national road element of Transport 21. However, the detailed planning, design and implementation of all aspects of individual road...

Dublin Port Tunnel (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: The information was known to the NRA. While the report offered the view that the Scada system should be replaced, all parties, including EGIS Tunnels, which prepared the report, agreed subsequently that suitable and adequate measures could be taken to address the problems with the existing system, and those measures have been taken. A critical assessment was given at the time. It got...

Dublin Port Tunnel (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: The "Prime Time" programme also raised again the question of temporary blockages of the access doors. As this was mentioned in a previous "Prime Time" broadcast, it is important the programme now has acknowledged that the doors in question are access doors, not safety doors as originally alleged. These doors are designed for use by the tunnel operator to be used after, and not during, an...

Dublin Port Tunnel (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: The people——

Dublin Port Tunnel (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: The people who came in were independent. They were asked to be as critical as possible.

Dublin Port Tunnel (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: They were asked to throw the book at everything, which is the reason the report was so critical. However, those who produced such a critical assessment have agreed that on foot of the changes that have been made, any concerns they had at that time no longer exist.

Defence Forces Property. (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I will speak from notes supplied by the Department of Defence. Defence Forces married quarters are provided to serving members until their retirement or resignation and Defence Forces regulations state that quarters must be vacated within 15 days of leaving the service. The current position has arisen as a result of a failure to vacate these...

Water Quality. (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government who regrets that he cannot be present. The Minister is very disappointed that this problem should be visited on the people of Galway who went through a very difficult summer in 2007 with cryptosporidium in their public water supply. He is conscious of the difficulties and inconvenience...

Water Quality. (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: In the past year, radically improved supervisory structures for water supplies have been put in place by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Local authority drinking water supplies are now subject to direct supervision by the Environmental Protection Agency. The agency has been given extensive powers of direction and intervention for this purpose and the...

Written Answers — Parking Regulations: Parking Regulations (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: The amendment to the Road Traffic Acts that is included in the Roads Acts 2007 enables road authorities to make bye-laws to apply a restriction on parking in respect of specified events at a specified venue or venue. The making of such bye-laws is at the discretion of each road authority and is a reserved function, i.e. the bye-laws are made by the elected members of the local city council or...

Written Answers — Parking Regulations: Parking Regulations (25 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: I currently have no plans to increase the level of fines for illegal parking in a designated disabled person's parking bay. Such illegal parking has been included in the fixed charge system since April 2006 and attracts a fixed charge in lieu of prosecution of €80 if paid within 28 days or €120 if paid within the following 28 days. The fines payable on conviction in court were increased...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (30 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: Consultants have been engaged to carry out a study including the potential acquisition of an Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV). The study is underway and the Minister for Transport expects to review the overall position by early 2009.

Written Answers — Marine Accidents: Marine Accidents (30 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) is currently investigating the circumstances that led to the sinking of the Strath Marie. The role of the MCIB, which is an independent body, is to investigate casualties such as this and to publish their findings. The MCIB will investigate all relevant matters pertaining to the sinking of the vessel. You will appreciate that it would be...

Seanad: County Development Plans (30 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: I thank Senator O'Sullivan for raising this matter. I am taking this Adjournment on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, who is busy with the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill in the Dáil. Local authorities have a duty, when making development plans, to ensure that the future development of their areas is based on sound...

Seanad: Water Quality (30 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: I thank Senator Bradford for raising this Adjournment matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, who I understand is speaking in the Dáil on the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill at present. The Minister regrets this issue has arisen with a small number of public water supplies, namely, 23 out of a total...

Seanad: Ferry Services (30 Sep 2008)

Noel Ahern: I thank Senator Denis O'Donovan for raising the matter. I know he has a deep interest in this ferry service and has spoken about it before. The Swansea Cork Ferries Company suspended its service in 2007. I can fully appreciate the concerns that have been expressed in the region in response to this development. I understand a number of interested parties and stakeholders have been in...

Driver Licensing Regulations. (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: The driver licensing regulations, which were made in October 2007, represented the first step in the fundamental reform of the arrangements for the formation and licensing of learner drivers. The replacement of the provisional licence with the learner permit was designed to emphasise the fact that extra caution and supervision are required when drivers are in the learning phase of driving....

Driver Licensing Regulations. (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: I thank Deputy McEntee for his favourable comments. I am sure those in the Road Safety Authority and the Department who have been dealing with this matter for some years will be heartened by the Deputy's comments. While a single fatality is one too many, the reduction of 32 in this year's number of fatalities is great. We would like to think we could achieve a similar reduction every year,...