Results 6,001-6,020 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has prepared the heads of a Harbours Bill to support further implementation of national ports policy and to update existing legislation, the main body of which dates from 1996. The Bill will, inter alia, facilitate development of a proposed new port facility at Bremore in Fingal County. This week I have received Government approval for the drafting of the Bill, which will now...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The number of specimens tested for the presence of a drug or drugs by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety for the years 2002 to 2006 is as follows: 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (Provisional) 388 416 569 747 1,000 Details in respect of 2007 are not available at this time. The number of motorists charged with driving under the influence of drugs in each year since 2002 is a matter for the Garda...

Written Answers — Motorway Service Areas: Motorway Service Areas (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The National Roads Authority (NRA) are not required to submit applications to me or my Department in relation to motorway service areas. My involvement in the provision of service areas on the national road network relates to ensuring that the necessary legislative framework is in place to facilitate this provision. This was achieved last year with the enactment of the Roads Act 2007....

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which owns Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports, has overall borrowings of just under €500 million as at the end of 2007. Just over €200 million of the DAA's borrowings relates to Cork airport, almost €70 million relates to Shannon airport and the remainder relates to Dublin airport. Following recent disposals of Great Southern Hotels and the DAA's...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149, 158, 161 and 163 together. Transport 21 provides for the construction of the Navan Rail Line in two phases: Phase 1: Clonsilla to Dunboyne by 2010, and Phase 2: Dunboyne to Navan by 2015, subject to studies. The current position on Phase 1 is that Iarnród Éireann has applied to An Bord Pleanála for a Railway Order in respect of the Clonsilla-Dunboyne...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Section 88 of the Railway Safety Act 2005 requires rail companies to draw up a code of conduct for safety critical workers in relation to intoxicants (i.e. drugs and alcohol) and including sampling procedures in that regard. Veolia (as operator of the Luas) has a code of conduct in place and the Railway Safety Commission has accepted this as part of the approval of the Safety Case for Luas....

Written Answers — Rail Safety: Rail Safety (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The procedures for dealing with railway incidents and accidents is a matter for the Railway Safety Commission as part of its role in approving railway operators' safety management systems. However, for the purposes of reporting to the Office of Emergency Planning, my Department maintains an ongoing liaison with Iarnród Éireann and the other public transport agencies under my aegis in...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Exchequer does not provide funding for any of the three State airports. Accordingly, the issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Shannon and Dublin Airport Authorities in which I have no statutory function.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The most recent published data on vehicle speeds on Irish roads is contained in the 2005 Survey of Free Speeds (Urban and Rural) published by the National Roads Authority. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is now responsible for the conduct of these surveys, since its establishment in September 2006, and I understand that it intends to publish the results of the 2006 survey shortly. One of...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The market for air services in the Community was liberalized in the 1990s. The internal market has removed all commercial restrictions for airlines flying within the EU, such as restrictions on the routes, the number of flights or the setting of fares. Under the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2409/92 Community air carriers can freely set their air fares. The broader issue of...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Since 10 January 2001, Bus Éireann is required by Ministerial direction to notify my Department of any proposed new services, or proposed changes to existing services, at least four weeks prior to their introduction. Where there is no competition from services provided by a licensed private operator, Bus Éireann is advised that the Department has noted their proposed service change and...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 160 together. All drivers are subject to road traffic law and enforcement is a matter for An Garda Síochána. The realisation of any fines or penalties imposed by the Courts is a matter for the Courts Service. While foreign licence holders do not have an Irish driving licence record, a separate record of any penalty points incurred by them in this...

Written Answers — Coast Guard Service: Coast Guard Service (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 170, 352 and 353 together. It is my intention that the Irish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration will be strengthened on an ongoing basis over the coming years. My ambition is to put in place a service that will fully meet the needs of this country well in the 21st century. The recent decisions have been taken to reflect the future optimal...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 164 together. The funding made available to the Board since it was established in 2002 is as follows: Year â'¬ 2002 123,000 2003 220,000 2004 290,000 2005 292,000 2006 300,000 2007 300,000 The figures are consistent with the Estimates for the specified years. The Board has a staff of one Higher Executive Officer and...

Written Answers — Carbon Emissions: Carbon Emissions (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 180 together. Figures in respect of carbon emissions from aviation can be got from the following websites:The Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.ie Sustainable Energy Ireland: http://www.sei.ie Sustainable Energy Ireland estimate that aviation in Ireland accounted for 2,953.4 kilotonnes CO2 or 18.3% of total transport emissions in 2006....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Press cuttings that are relevant to the remit of the Department of Transport are posted on the Department's Intranet system and this is accessible electronically to all staff. While this system has considerable benefits, the availability of some hard copies of the national dailies to the Minister's Office and Senior Management provides additional flexibility and easier perusal of all current...

Written Answers — Small Craft Register: Small Craft Register (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Mercantile Marine Act 1955 sets out the requirements for registering vessels in Ireland. Irish owned vessels over 15 net tons are required to be registered under the Act. However, for vessels under 15 net tons, registration is voluntary and owners may register such a craft if they so wish. Small leisure craft would fall into this category. The 1955 Act and the system of registration in...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: In October 2007 Dublin City Council published for public consultation a wide-ranging study of economic, amenity, recreational and environmental issues linked to Dublin Bay, including the port area. I understand that the outcome of the consultation will be reported back to the Council shortly. As part of the preparation of the study my Department made a submission to the consultants carrying...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The circumstances surrounding the Aer Lingus decision to withdraw the Shannon-Heathrow air service, and the circumstances and sequence of events which led to me not being informed before end July 2007 of that possibility, are set out in the Secretary-General's Report on the matter. That report and the inclusion of the material referred to by the Deputy in a draft note prepared in my...

Written Answers — Small Craft Register: Small Craft Register (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Mercantile Marine Act 1955 sets out the requirements for registering vessels in Ireland. Irish owned vessels over 15 net tons are required to be registered under the Act. However, for vessels under 15 net tons, registration is voluntary and owners may register such a craft if they so wish. Small leisure craft would fall into this category. The 1955 Act and the system of registration in...