Results 5,141-5,160 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 40 and 68 together. Dangerous driving and drink driving are amongst the most serious road traffic offences and as such lead to a direct court summons rather than coming within the administrative option of paying a fixed charge and accepting penalty points. In the case of dangerous driving, where a person is convicted of the offence, he/she faces a fine of...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: The planning and design of the Navan Rail Link is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. I understand that the old Navan rail line will be re-opened in two phases with the first phase running off the Maynooth line, at Clonsilla, to the M3 interchange at Pace, near Dunboyne. There will be a major Park and Ride facility at Pace on the M3 interchange. The current position...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 32, 55 and 100 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 5 of today.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 75 together. The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads, including the M50, is vested in the National Roads Authority (NRA) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000). As the Deputy is aware,...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 64, 71 and 106 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...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 43, 58, 74 and 86 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 5 today. Furthermore I have no proposals to privatise Dublin Bus.

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I announced the findings of the mid-term review of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) on 30th July 2006 and made arrangements for the full report of the independent review completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers to be placed on my Department's website. The table set out below provides a summary of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report recommendations and the action taken to date concerning...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25 and 29 together. I have indicated on previous occasions that I am not happy with the current driving licence system and that I am anxious to bring in reforms to the system. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the oversight of the operation...

Written Answers — Aer Lingus Flotation: Aer Lingus Flotation (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 52, 82, 101 and 254 together. In its decisions of 18 May 2005 and 4 April 2006, the Government agreed to the State reducing its shareholding in Aer Lingus, whilst retaining a significant stake, by way of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and on 6 July 2006, the general principles of the sale of shares in Aer Lingus were approved by Dáil Éireann. The...

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: Oversight arrangements for the National Car Testing scheme are now vested in the Road Safety Authority since 13th September 2006 as a consequence of the Road Safety Authority (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006. I understand from the Authority that the remit of the national car test (NCT) scheme is to determine periodically the roadworthiness condition of passenger cars and small public...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 35 together. Following a wide-ranging consultation process involving users, statutory authorities and other interested parties, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) recently published its proposals for a second terminal at Dublin Airport (T2). A detailed planning application for the terminal and related facilities was submitted to Fingal County Council...

Written Answers — Driving Instructors: Driving Instructors (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: The registration of driving instructors will be the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. On the 19 June last I launched a document entitled "Consultation on the Regulation of Driving Instruction in Ireland" which was prepared by my Department in consultation with the Road Safety Authority. Submissions from stakeholders were sought by the 8 September 2006. Submissions have been...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 67 together. The level of Exchequer funding for capital expenditure at Ireland West Airport Knock and at the other regional airports in the years ahead will be determined within the framework of a new scheme recently introduced by my Department to ensure that such funding is in compliance with the legally-binding EU guidelines on financing of airports...

Written Answers — Aviation Regulations: Aviation Regulations (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: The regulation of flight time limitations is an operational matter for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). I am advised by the IAA that they rigorously enforce the relevant regulations through ongoing surveillance of Irish airlines. The IAA conducts a series of audits on flight time limitations in all Irish airlines to ensure compliance with current regulations and approved flight time...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: Since 13 September 2006 as a consequence of the Road Safety Authority (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 responsibility for matters relating to vehicle standards, including requirements in relation to mirrors on vehicles, has passed to the Road Safety Authority. Prior to the Road Safety Authority taking over the responsibility for these matters, I had made considerable progress on the issue...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I have asked the Road Safety Authority to examine this matter as a priority. The Authority will be seeking the views of the Technical Advisory Forum for the National Car Test (NCT) on the matter. The establishment of an Advisory Forum body to consider and make recommendations to the RSA in relation to vehicle technical matters associated with the NCT regime was recommended in the report of...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 53 and 56 together. It is my objective to eliminate the backlog of driving tests by mid-2007. That means having a waiting list of no more than about 50,000 that can be scheduled in a 10 to 12 week period. The Road Safety Authority now has responsibility for the delivery of driving tests and will be working towards this objective. The measures I have put...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 42 together. The development of the Western Rail Corridor from Ennis to Claremorris was included as a priority project under Transport 21, with provision also for the preservation of the line from Claremorris to Collooney. This was confirmed recently in Towards 2016, the new Partnership Agreement. Transport 21 provides for the re-opening of the...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I have no direct responsibility in relation to setting of motor insurance premiums. Insurance cover is provided based on actuarial or statistical data or other underwriting or commercial factors. It would be important to recognise at the outset that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board award compensation at the same level as the Courts. However the legal costs are substantially lower than...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy is aware, last January, the National Roads Authority (NRA) decided to terminate discussions with National Toll Roads plc (NTR) in relation to the upgrading of the West-Link toll facility. Instead the NRA is separately procuring a barrier free toll system, which will become operational in 2008. NTR will be compensated in accordance with the existing West-Link Agreement. The...