Results 4,541-4,560 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Air Services. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: My reply to the Deputy was clear. I described a significant shareholding as a minimum of 25.1%. The exact figure has not been decided, so it will be a minimum of 25.1%. It may well be more than that but I am obviously waiting for the final analysis from the advisers with regard to that position. That is of some significance. I have had discussions with the company, trade unions etc., in...

Air Services. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: It certainly is not part of an exit strategy. Obviously, the Deputy is anticipating that we may be in power after the next election. In that event, the position will not change and we will retain 25.1% of the company. That shareholding could be more, in the initial stages, and this would provide us with some headroom.

Air Services. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy can be absolutely certain there will not be another flotation of the company during the lifetime of the Government. I know where she is going with her questioning. I can only speak on behalf of this Government. The position is that we will retain a minimum shareholding of 25.1% in the company. That is absolute.

Air Services. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: There is. The Deputy is trying to put words in my mouth.

Air Services. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The intention is clear. The Deputy knows how proscribed I am at this stage.

Air Services. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I wonder why the legal people keep telling me about this.

Air Services. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: There is no lack of clarity. I do not want to be argumentative about this — I cannot nor do I want to put myself in that position. The position is absolutely clear. The Government has decided to retain a minimum stake of 25.1% in Aer Lingus and it may well be higher than that. I am waiting for the final——

Air Services. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: We will retain a 25.1% minimum shareholding in Aer Lingus. The shareholding may well be considerably higher than that. That remains to be seen. There will, however, certainly not be another flotation of the company in the lifetime of this Government.

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: As I have consistently indicated, the delay in providing driving tests is a matter of regret to me. It not only represents a poor service to the public but it also hampers the development of initiatives which I wish to pursue and which will contribute further to road safety. The driving test and those who deliver it are a key element in the road safety strategy. It is my objective to...

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I and the House in general are ad idem with almost everything the Deputy has said. The Deputy is right in identifying the system as being out of date and incapable of handling the demands of modern living as much as the modern requirements for good testing. Many tests are lost each year due to people not turning up. When we go through the system it will be interesting to find the real bubble....

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I was not trying to stall. I thought the Deputy was going to speak again. I will proceed more quickly. I am sorry about that misunderstanding.

Dublin Transport Authority. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together. In November 2005 I appointed a Dublin transport authority establishment team to make recommendations on the establishment of a transport authority for the greater Dublin area, addressing the remit of the authority, its powers, structure, organisation and human and other resource requirements and such other matters as the team considered...

Dublin Transport Authority. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy is right in principle. The Dublin transport authority must have substantial legal powers to be able to pull together all the elements, whether fixed rail, light rail, commuter or bus traffic etc., to develop a general public transport network in Dublin and regulate the entire market. There are good examples from other capital cities as to how a regulatory authority works and it is...

Dublin Transport Authority. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Anybody who looks at my record since I came into the Department of Transport will see that decisions have been taken on many of the issues that were around for many years. As far as I am concerned, the Deputy may take it for certain that the decisions on the Dublin bus market will be taken also.

Dublin Transport Authority. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Taoiseach has been fully supportive of everything I have pursued in this regard.

Dublin Transport Authority. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: It was not.

Dublin Transport Authority. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I disagree with much of what the Deputy has said. I am pleased that we are ahead of schedule, according to the timeframe I set out under Transport 21, particularly in Dublin but also in the rest of the country. The four Luas——

Dublin Transport Authority. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Sorry, it is up to me to answer the questions asked by the Deputy.

Dublin Transport Authority. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy. I have pronounced——

Dublin Transport Authority. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I suppose the Deputy has a magic wand to sort that out. The reality is that any fair assessment of Transport 21, including the assessment of the Deputy's colleagues on all sides of the House who tend to want to meet me every time we are out, which is about twice a week, opening or starting new projects——