Results 4,241-4,260 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Seanad: State Airports: Motion. (26 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am not lecturing.

Seanad: State Airports: Motion. (26 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am only putting the facts forward. One of the first meetings I had after being appointed Minister for Transport was with the board of Cork Airport. I made the facts and the demands clear at that meeting and have not changed my position. That board has been in no doubt of its position and responsibilities since the first day I met it on taking office. I have quoted what that position was as...

Seanad: State Airports: Motion. (26 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: Another point made here tonight reflects a perception that Dublin Airport Authority holds sizeable assets worth large sums of money. That is not true. All of those assets must be cashed in but they will not go near providing for the separation of Cork and Shannon, the pension issues and the development of Dublin Airport. There are few of them. The Great Southern Hotels group is being sold but...

Seanad: State Airports: Motion. (26 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: This development will impact not just on the airport and the general Cork area but also on the regional economy in which it will be a major driver of growth. The new terminal should be seen as a key component in delivering on Cork's status as a gateway city under the national spatial strategy. This airport investment complements the other major transport infrastructural projects that the...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (27 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: I have been informed by Dublin Bus that the average age of its bus fleet is 6.5 years and that 207 of its 1,082 buses entered service prior to 1997. Dublin Bus has purchased 895 new buses since 1997.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (27 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: Very significant progress has been made to date in transforming Ireland's major inter-urban network to motorway and high-quality dual carriageway standard. The National Roads Authority, NRA, which has statutory responsibility for the implementation of the national roads programme, has informed me that on the five major inter-urban routes, namely, Dublin to Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford...

Written Answers — Vehicle Regulations: Vehicle Regulations (27 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: The correspondence in question refers to issues relating to the operation of small public service vehicles in Athlone. The investigation of complaints concerning non-compliance with the provisions of the public service vehicles regulations, which relate to the licensing, control and operation of small public service vehicles generally and the enforcement of those regulations are matters for...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (27 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: My Department approved, in August 2005, funding of €2 million to establish a project design office for the city centre resignalling project.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (27 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: Two consultancies have been awarded in connection with the restructuring of the three State airports. Both consultancies were awarded following public tender processes, in accordance with EU public procedures, and the details are as follows: Consortium Nature of Consultancy Commenced Status Cost to date (including VAT) Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Matheson Ormsby Prentice and Steer...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (27 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: Earlier this week, I signed into effect regulations to implement EU Directive 2004/54/EC (Minimum Safety Requirements for Tunnels in the Trans-European Network). The regulations provide for levels of technical provision that must be attained in all tunnels falling within the ambit of the directive and the establishment of procedures and processes to govern the design, construction and...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (27 Apr 2006)

Martin Cullen: The question as to whether the requirement for photographic evidence by certain aviation companies represents a restraint of trade is a matter that should be raised with my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I understand that airlines' requirements in respect of the forms of identification acceptable to them are clearly set down in the terms and conditions provided...

Public Transport. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together. The Department of Transport is considering an application from Dublin Bus for funding for 200 additional buses to be delivered in 2006 and 2007. The application is being considered in the context of Transport 21, the bus network review completed recently by Dublin Bus and the bus market reform process. I expect to make a decision shortly on...

Public Transport. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: I have no plans to privatise, or even part-privatise, Dublin Bus. I agree with the Deputy that there are opportunities with the orbital and other routes into Dublin city centre. Transport 21 provides for a 60% increase in the number of buses operating in Dublin. Other factors feeding into that are all different parties to the delivery of bus transport as a passenger mode in and around Dublin....

Public Transport. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy is right about the number of buses but capacity in Dublin Bus has increased by over 40% in the past few years. The type of bus the company is now using has a much greater capacity than those that were used eight or nine years ago. While the numbers have increased marginally, the capacity to deliver passengers around Dublin has increased by over 40%. The second point is valid. All...

Public Transport. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: While I agree with the Deputy I do not want all the new services to be provided on the basis that they will operate only on quality bus corridors. That would leave a huge proportion of the population of an expanding Dublin without a good quality bus service. I would expect and demand of Dublin Bus that it service the market, as it has always done, in a general sense. The private sector, in...

Public Transport. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: The plan is to provide 100 additional buses in 2006 and a further 100 buses in 2007. I hope we can deliver. I agree with much of what the Deputy said. I have a view on this but it is not something I have discussed at any length. There should be a new national bus terminus on the perimeter of Dublin. All inter-city connectivity coming to Dublin should go to a major new terminus outside Dublin...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: The decision to dispose of a majority shareholding in Aer Lingus was made following detailed and comprehensive consideration of the issue by me and my colleagues in Government. The Government agreed in its decision that the strategic development of the State airports and Aer Lingus was essential to underpin Ireland's competitiveness, industry and tourism. Furthermore, its consideration was...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy is trying to put words in my mouth as usual. I never used the term "golden share" in this debate over the past 12 months.

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: I never used the phrase "golden share" from the start to the finish of this debate. I have not used the term "blocking share" in this debate. Those are the Deputy's words, not mine. I have spoken about the State keeping a shareholding in a company that is very substantial, the same as any other company or investor keeps a shareholding of substance in a company, and the public is well aware of...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: Does the Deputy want me to answer the question? I have made it clear that the minimum the State will hold onto is 25.1%. It could be somewhat more than that; we will have to await the outcome. As far as the Government is concerned at this stage, the State is quite clear in that we will retain that share in Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus is now on a path for growth. We are not going for a trade sale,...