Results 4,141-4,160 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: Obviously the Garda is responsible for the enforcement of all traffic law and that includes every vehicles on our roads. There is a test on the structure, rust, chassis, brakes, suspension, glazing and so on. Everything comes into the test and the standard of testing is quite rigorous. All I was trying to explain to the House was the legal procedure I have to go through if we want to proceed...

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy makes the point for me. I am simply saying my preference is that any bus used to carry children for whatever reason should have safety belts on it. We are all agreed on that. I laid out for the House what procedures I have to go through under EU law to get to that point. I point out that there are huge operational implications for the industry if we do this. I am minded to do it...

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: Of course.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: The operator's licence stems from the Roads Act 1999.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: We should be careful in what we say because the implication of some comments is that buses of a certain age are unsafe. That is untrue here and throughout the world. All buses, old and new, must meet the same rigorous standards to get a roadworthiness certificate.

Road Safety. (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: One cannot assume that because a bus is old, ergo it is unsafe. We all want a younger fleet of public buses and Bus Éireann and the Department are achieving this by acquiring new buses and relatively new second-hand buses of no more than three or four years of age. The key question is whether we have good and rigorous safety and testing standards which deliver. The evidence to date is that...

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

Martin Cullen: We already discussed this issue on which I do not disagree with the Deputy. As I explained, however, there are a range of reasons for the manner in which the vehicle file is used and the complexities involved. If we move to a new licensing regime, including the introduction of a smart card type licence, central distribution will be necessary. Should such circumstances arise, they may provide...

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

Martin Cullen: I move amendment No. 22: In page 9, line 27, to delete "in" and substitute "in the". The purpose of the amendment is to correct a grammatical error.

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

Martin Cullen: I move amendment No. 23: In page 9, to delete lines 49 and 50.

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

Martin Cullen: With regard to amendment No. 25, under section 5.3 of Sustaining Progress, the Government has outlined its commitment to greater female representation on State boards. Gender balance on State boards will be reviewed with a view to establishing how best to secure a minimum of 40% representation on such boards. I support the Government's commitment to securing greater female representation on...

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

Martin Cullen: I move amendment No. 28: In page 15, to delete lines 1 to 4. This amendment was proposed by Deputy Shortall on Committee Stage and on further consideration I decided to accept it. The effect of the amendment is to remove the restriction on the chief executive officer commenting on or criticising Government policy while giving evidence to committees of the Dáil. We should all be big enough...

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

Martin Cullen: Under section 26(5) the road safety authority will be designated under the Freedom of Information Act 1997. Section 6(1) of that Act provides for access to records. It states: Subject to the provisions of this Act, every person has a right to and shall, on a request therefor, be offered access to any record held by a public body and the right so conferred is referred to in this Act as the...

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

Martin Cullen: I thank my colleagues for their support and for the great effort they put into the Bill. I hope I have gone some way to meeting the requirements expressed by amendments. We hope this Bill will be a substantive contribution to road safety. I appreciate the interest shown by the Members and thank them for their warm encouragement to the chairman of the new road safety authority. He feels it is...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: As indicated in the reply given on 28 March 2006, a "public place"for the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts means any public road and any street, road or other place to which the public has access with vehicles, whether as of right or by permission and whether subject to, or free of, charge. I have no proposals to extend the definition of a public place for the purposes of the Road Traffic...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: The table below sets out the number of applicants waiting each test centre, and the corresponding average waiting time for each test centre, at 27th March 2006. Included in the table is the pass rate for each centre at 31st December 2005. Waiting times and Numbers on hands as at 27 March 2006 — Pass rate year ending 31 December 2005 Centre Number Waiting Average Weeks Waiting Pass...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (5 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: Iarnród Éireann has undertaken extensive engagement with industry and transporters around the country to try to identify long-term, sustainable rail freight business opportunities. Despite recent setbacks, the company has made progress in growing the rail freight business in areas where it holds a competitive advantage over road haulage, including mineral ore and pulpwood. Iarnród Éireann...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (6 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: It is regrettable that driving tests cannot be conducted in the town of Ballina at present. I am informed this is due to streets being closed off in the centre of the town for the installation of a sewerage scheme. The work has affected all driving test routes. My officials have been in regular contact with both Mayo County Council and the supervisory tester is assessing the situation with a...

Written Answers — Railway Stations: Railway Stations (6 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: The new rail station in the Docklands will connect to the existing Maynooth line and will allow Irish Rail to run two additional peak services from Maynooth into the station when it becomes operational at the end of 2007. The proposed Clonsilla to Dunboyne line is expected to reopen in 2009 and at that point all services from Dunboyne will also serve the Docklands station. The station will...

Written Answers — Railway Stations: Railway Stations (6 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: I understand from Iarnród Éireann that the preparation of tender documents for the construction of the new Docklands station is underway and that it hopes to invite tenders for construction in May 2006.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (6 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: The public inquiry into the Kildare route project was held from 24 January to 2 February this year. I am now awaiting the inspector's report of the inquiry. Under the provisions of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001, the inspector acts in an independent capacity and therefore, it is a matter for him as to when he submits his report. In making my decision on granting the railway...