Results 4,661-4,680 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Phoenix Park Tunnel is an existing railway line connecting Heuston Station with Connolly Station and North Wall Freight Yard. I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that the line is in good condition and is in regular use for freight services and transfer of rolling stock. The line is also occasionally used for passenger trains for major sporting events at Croke Park e.g. football and hurling...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 149 and 150 together. Proposals in relation to the development of Dublin Airport, including the planning and provision of runway capacity, are in the first instance a matter for the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) which has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop the airport and to provide such facilities and services as it considers...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 137 together. Transport 21 includes two Metro lines — Metro North from St. Stephen's Green to the north of Swords, in the vicinity of Lissenhall, to be completed in 2012 and an orbital line, Metro West, linking Tallaght with Ballymun and serving Clondalkin, Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown which is scheduled for completion, on a phased basis, by...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Iarnród Éireann has informed me that planning permission for the Docklands Station was granted by Dublin City Council on 9th May 2006, with 11 conditions attached. Iarnród Éireann is planning to have the station complete and in operation in Summer 2007.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: At the launch of Transport 21, in November last, and many times since, I indicated that an important feature of the overall rail plans under the programme was the development of an integrated network that would enable passengers to transfer between suburban rail, Luas and DART at a number of interchange stations. All of the relevant rail projects within Transport 21 will provide the optimal...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: As I have stated in previous Questions the text of a first-phase EU-US Open Skies agreement was unanimously endorsed at the December 2005 Transport Council subject to sufficient progress by the US side on opening up ownership and control of US airlines to EU investors. It had been expected that the US would have completed the process of changing the ownership and control rules early in 2006...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. A new speed limit policy framework is provided in the Road Traffic Act 2004 that gives greater flexibility to city councils and county councils in the application of special speed limits in lieu of a default speed limit. It is a matter for each council to assess the position in relation to the speed limits that apply on public roads in...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The major investment in the upgrade of the national roads network (almost €1.5 billion in 2006) is delivering major road safety dividends, for example in that motorways and dual carriageways almost eliminate the possibility of head-on collisions. Safety is of paramount importance in the design of national roads as new roads, constructed to best practice standards, help to reduce road...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: In November 2005 I announced the commencement of public consultation for Line BX the city centre link between the Red and the Green lines of the Luas system. Since then a comprehensive review of the five route options put forward for consideration has been undertaken by RPA and this is now nearing completion. The route options for Line BX, in common with all other major transport proposals,...

Written Answers — Road Accidents: Road Accidents (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Statistics relating to road accidents are based on information provided by the Garda Siochana, and are currently published by the National Roads Authority (NRA) in their annual Road Accident Facts reports. The most recent report, now entitled "Road Collision Facts", relates to 2004 and is available in the Oireachtas Library and on the NRA website. Statistics relating to 2005 are not yet fully...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Park and Ride facilities have an important role in making it easier for people to access and transfer to public transport. As the Deputy will be aware, last Summer I approved a Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) strategy for rail-based Park and Ride facilities, which envisages facilities at 22 locations on the existing and proposed rail network within the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). I have...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: A working group, including motorcycle interests, has been considering the appropriate standards that will apply to compulsory initial practical training for motorcyclists. Overseeing the introduction of such training will be the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. Primary legislation is necessary to facilitate the introduction of compulsory initial practical training for...

Written Answers — Aer Lingus: Aer Lingus (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 125 and 157 together. In May 2005, the Government agreed to the State reducing its shareholding in Aer Lingus whilst retaining a significant stake. The Government mandated myself and the Minister for Finance to appoint advisors to advise on the nature, scale and timing of an investment transaction and to revert to the Government with proposals for the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 155 together. The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port Tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the local authorities concerned, in this case, Dublin City Council. I understand that the civil engineering work within the tunnels has now been largely completed and that...

Written Answers — Rail Freight: Rail Freight (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 292 together. The Strategic Rail Review, commissioned by my Department, contained a comprehensive examination of the rail freight business and its realistic potential to support economic development and contribute to sustainable development. Iarnród Éireann, in responding to the challenges contained in the Review, developed a business plan with...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: In the context of the planned initial public offering (IPO) of shares in Aer Lingus, I have said that the Minister for Finance and I are open to considering the question of the company using part of the proceeds from issuing new shares to address the funding position in the company's pension scheme in the context of an overall solution involving increased employer and employee contributions...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Section 54 of the Railway Safety Act 2005 provides for staff of a railway undertaking or a person working under contract of services with a railway undertaking to inform the Railway Safety Commission of any information relevant to an investigation of a railway incident or of any risk to the railway in terms of its staff and passengers arising from the operations of the undertaking. The Act...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The individuals that I have appointed to the interim board of the Road Safety Authority have a wide variety of skills, experience and professional commitment whom I am confident will represent the concerns of all sectors in society. Advisory panels, comprising of a broad range of road safety stakeholders, whose function will be to advise the Board on policy, its implementation and impact will...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Dublin Bus has advised me that the company is in the process of evaluating a trial of bio-diesel and until this trial is complete and a full evaluation takes place, no further decision regarding the extension of the trial will be made.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Report of the Working Group on the Review of Speed Limits contained a recommendation that a default speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) be introduced for non-national roads. I can confirm that this recommendation was taken on board in the new speed limit structures contained in the Road Traffic Act 2004. From 20 January 2005 a default speed limit of 80 km/h (replacing the previous limit of 60...