Results 4,581-4,600 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I disagree with the Deputy. She knows well that I have made all the decisions and will make the decision on Cork and Dublin airports. I would prefer if people on both sides of this argument took the political baloney out of this. I choose my words carefully. It would be easier to resolve if they did, but some people chose to make a political football of this——

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: ——and this was to the detriment of good, sound, financial business decisions being made. I have met Cork Airport management on every occasion on which they have sought to meet me. I have had numerous meetings with them. I made arrangements for them to go to London recently, where they met people who are analysing their future. That was a successful meeting. They asked me to facilitate it...

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I said it will be finished in days.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am glad the Fine Gael position is clear. It wants to ladle all the debt from Cork Airport on to the passengers at Dublin Airport.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Fine Gael wants to ride every horse in every constituency around the country with no accountability for anything.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I wish Deputy Allen good luck with that. The truth of it will emerge in time.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Cork Airport wants a debt in excess of €200 million to be landed exclusively at the door of the Dublin Airport Authority. I do not know what the north Dublin Fine Gael Deputies or hopeful Deputies feel about that.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: It is not Fianna Fáil's position to do that. We want a balanced outcome for the development of all the airports and we will get it.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The game-playing that goes on with Fine Gael trying to play off both is unsustainable, as Deputy Allen knows. We will have a conclusion on this in the next few weeks. I told Deputy Allen the terminal will be completed in the next few days. I did not say when it would be opened.

State Airports. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: That is a matter for the Cork Airport Authority. If it cannot open the terminal after getting €200 million for it, that is a poor look-out for the future.

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 81, 117, 141, 147, 151 and 285 together. This question should have been taken earlier as it is repetitive. I refer to Priority Question No. 55 which I answered earlier. 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...

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I do not agree with Deputy Shortall's assertion that the proposals, which I hope will be agreed this week, will not have an impact. They will have a substantial impact.

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: They will have a substantial impact on the backlog. Both sides agree this. I have agreed to review the process and the achievements later. We need to radically overhaul the driver testing system from two points of view — the system of delivering tests, and the criteria for someone driving on the road and the licensing system that should be in place. The new chief executive and the board of...

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The chief executive is examining the requirements.

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Safety Authority has plans to do so and the funding is available.

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: If the Deputy tables a question I will seek the answer from the chief executive.

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I responded directly to what the Deputy asked. The new chief executive, the board and over 300 members of staff of the Road Safety Authority have been put in place. It is their job to run the authority and they are well paid to do so. I will deal with the policy area. I have agreed that the systems are not capable and that more modern systems are needed. I have agreed our policies are poor in...

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I made proposals that were blocked by the union, supported by Deputy Shortall. I do not want to hear a load of baloney. I have answered the question three times.

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I have not.

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I hope we will carry out 180,000 tests this year. I agree the system as it was would not eliminate the backlog. In spite of every effort to thwart my plans to outsource tests, I stuck to my guns. I was successful at every level in terms of resolving this issue but I wish I had received better co-operation. Despite people telling me to abandon the matter and to give up, I did not do so. There...