Results 3,921-3,940 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: They are probably listed as having been published.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (22 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: The relevant Oireachtas committee can consider such reports. However, it is not the case that the companies send them to the Oireachtas Library out of the goodness of their hearts; it is a requirement that they must be laid before the Houses. I understand the committee is considering examining these reports and inviting representatives of the different boards to come before it to discuss...

Order of Business (23 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin is out of order.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: The EU Sulphur Directive, 1999/32/EC as amended by 2005/33/EC, was transposed into Irish law under the Sulphur Content of Heavy Fuel Oil, Gas Oil, and Marine Fuels Regulations, 2008 which were made earlier this year by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. With regard to marine fuels these Regulations prohibit the use or marketing of fuels of sulphur content above...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: We had a reasonable discussion on this amendment. It instructs port companies to furnish a statement annually regarding the current or expected number of employees. The amendment will change the requirement from six months to four months after the end of the financial year.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: While I thank Members for their comments, they are reading something into the provision that is not there. The amendment has been proposed so that the number of full-time employees working at or expected to work at the port can be known for the purpose of worker director elections. If the amendments are passed, a worker director must be elected to the board if there are more than 30...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: No. We are discussing full-time workers directly employed by the port, not subcontracted employees. The amendments set out the different methods to elect or nominate the worker director, namely, an election if there are more than 30 workers or a nomination or an appointment if there are fewer than 30 workers.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: This issue was touched on previously. A couple of expert reports produced during the past seven or eight years have recommended that local authority members do not serve on the boards of commercial port companies. Senator O'Donovan spoke about harbour commissioners rather than commercial ports. It is true that the boards of both were in the past made up of a broad spectrum of groups and...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: It is not but it is a political commitment.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: It is a political commitment and my boss, the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, has made that clear as well. It is not in the Bill but an intention is there.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: Like the rest of us, I have many. That is the way life is. It is a political commitment that is not in the Bill. The fundamental reason for the change is that ports are now commercial companies and we equate them with the airport companies, which do not have councillors. We do not believe councillors should be involved with the ports.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: It is not the intention to include such a provision in the Bill. I will see what guarantee can be made or how we can firm up what we are saying to help the Senator believe our commitment. I can reflect on the Senator's comments in that regard. Somebody mentioned this would not save money but it is not being done to do so. The money saved would neither be here nor there. It is being done...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: This technical amendment revoking a statutory instrument is consequential to amendment No. 4.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (29 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: The marine survey office has advised that Norway and Iceland should be included in this provision as they implement EU legislation in this area.

Written Answers — Marine Rescue Service: Marine Rescue Service (30 Oct 2008)

Noel Ahern: There are fifty-five Irish Coast Guard Stations, housing local Coastal Units, at strategic locations around the coast. The rescue services are delivered by volunteers both male and female and each station has a capability and range of equipment depending on location. Equipment includes radio communications, cliff rescue equipment, rescue boats and vehicles. The direct local expenditure by...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (4 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No 477 of 2006) vehicle standards are a matter for the Road Safety Authority. Enforcement of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations 1963, is a matter for the Garda Síochána.

Written Answers — Marine Casualty Investigation Board: Marine Casualty Investigation Board (4 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) was established on 5 June 2002. Since its establishment, the MCIB has published over 100 reports containing in excess of 400 recommendations. The majority of these recommendations have been implemented. Where measures have yet to be implemented they provide a valuable input into the ongoing development of the maritime safety agenda and are...

Written Answers — Marine Casualty Investigation Board: Marine Casualty Investigation Board (4 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: When the Marine Casualty Board (MCIB) publishes a report into an incident it forwards a copy of it to my Department. As soon as possible after receiving it, my Department undertakes an initial assessment of the recommendations of the report relevant to the Department. The report is then submitted to me with the preliminary views of my Department on the relevant recommendations. Some...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: Section 18 provides an enabling power for a ministerial order to be made which could permit the transfer of responsibility for Bantry Bay to the port of Cork and the transfer of responsibility for Tralee and Fenit harbours to the Shannon Foynes company. The amendment seeks to insert a provision to ensure that any ministerial order relating to Bantry or Tralee must be subject to public...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: The Senator is going back over the whole thing. We cannot go around in circles.