Results 4,121-4,140 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Bill states that the authority "has" such functions in respect of certificates. As such, they are already vested in the authority.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take all the questions together. I extend my sincere sympathy to Michael and Martina White on the tragic death of their only son, Michael, in yesterday's bus accident. I also offer my sympathy to Ciara on the loss of her brother. Our priority in the immediate aftermath of this tragic accident is to look after and support the bereaved family, the injured and traumatised children...

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: It is important to understand that the authorities involved in issuing licences have specific responsibilities in so doing. Moreover, they co-operate closely in this respect. The Garda Síochána and the testing authorities are responsible for roadworthiness. As far as this bus was concerned, I am happy to state that this was done properly. Before a bus can be taxed, its owner must present a...

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: That is not correct.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: Slightly. I must be precise and I stated this in a precise fashion.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: He had an operator's licence from my Department.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: For clarity, as this is an important issue, the vehicle registered on his licence is not the vehicle that was involved in the accident. The vehicle that was involved in the accident was not registered on the operator's licence.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: This is a technical issue and I do not want to build it into a more extraordinary matter. There could be legitimate reasons, in terms of contractual arrangements with other companies, which may overcome this issue. I do not know. Obviously, this will form part of the investigation. However, I need to get clarity in that respect. I am not in a position to resolve this.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: It was not registered under this operator's licence.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: I have not seen any report from the previous accident last year. The matter is with the Director of Public Prosecutions, out of which many issues arise. I made clear to the House that I cannot comment on that matter. The 1932 Act is being redrafted. Over the past 15 years, the Act has been referred to by almost every political party in the House. I am determined to introduce a new Bill this...

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: On the last point, my colleagues in the House have been involved in an enormous amount of work in this regard. The decision we made is based on EU standards and expert advice. I set this out in the note I made available to Members. In the interests of clarity, this vehicle was not part of the school transport system. It is important to discern the difference between the two issues. The school...

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Transport Act 1932 governs occasional or scheduled services. This is not the case in this instance. As it is just a private hire arrangement, it does not form part of the licensing scheme whereby a bus which is licensed to travel from Cork to Dublin regularly is considered a daily schedule.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: I spoke about the legislation earlier.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: I said there were issues of free trade, of which I gave an example earlier. I clarified the issue further when I said that we would be required to notify every country within the EU that we were taking this step and they would have to agree that we could do so.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: It is worth repeating what has been said by my colleagues, namely, that in the school transport system we will have a seat per child, with a seat belt, by December of this year.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: No. I will not over-complicate the matter. The Department of Education and Science is a contracting authority. As such, it is permitted to set the standards of vehicles which it requires to deliver a particular service for it. Long before last year's accident, much work was being done to move on from three seats for two pupils and to investigate the safety belt issue. In fairness to the...

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: No, I am not. We are not here to be argumentative on the issue. I am saying what the law is. There is EU law governing this and I am subject to it just as the Deputy is. I am giving her the sequence. As it stands, the school bus system is operated and contracted through the Department of Education and Science, and Bus Éireann and the subcontracted private bus operators are being obliged by...

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: I was doing my best to explain the reasons to the Deputy.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am not patronising the Deputy. Why would the Deputy start a row with me on a very important issue? The Deputy asked me a question. Can I, here in the House, or tomorrow morning if I feel like it, say that every bus must have safety belts? The answer is "No".

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: Buses are licensed to carry a certain number of people. If possible, I would like to get to the point where all buses have safety belts when carrying schoolchildren or any children anywhere. That is what I am dealing with.