Results 6,241-6,260 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Park and Ride Facilities. (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 12 together. It is my Department's policy to strongly support the role of park and ride facilities in encouraging people to transfer from private cars to public transport. In 2002, a DTO study on bus-based park and ride concluded that it has only a limited role to play in Dublin because of the city's size and consequent distances. Nonetheless, where...

Park and Ride Facilities. (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I agree with Deputy D'Arcy. I have been disappointed with the lack of progress on precisely the kind of park and ride facilities he mentioned. I am not sure that the study completed in 2002, which seemed to pour a little cold water on the idea of bus-based park and rides, still holds true at this stage and I have asked officials in the Department to examine this matter. We all come from...

Park and Ride Facilities. (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: An Bord Pleanála must take into account and have regard for Government policy but it cannot ignore a local development plan which was the problem in this case.

Park and Ride Facilities. (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: It cannot do so. I will take up the matter with An Bord Pleanála although in a general sense only and not in terms of specifics. On Deputy Broughan's point, I agree that some councils on the periphery of Dublin and some of the Dublin councils have been playing pass the parcel a little in respect of this issue being one for the transport company rather than them. However, that has changed....

Air Services. (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Government policy on industrial relations is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Industrial relations are primarily a matter for the parties involved and I have no function in this regard. There is a well-established structure for resolution of industrial relations disputes between employers and employees through the Labour Relations Commission and...

Air Services. (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: On the latter point, the two Government nominees to the board of Aer Lingus were appointed approximately three or four weeks ago. They are Mr. Colin Hunt and Mr. Chris Wall.

Air Services. (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I believe everybody should abide, in letter and spirit, to negotiated agreements. Any disagreement should be resolved through the established channels. That applies to Aer Lingus, air traffic controllers and the IAA. On the specific question raised by Deputy O'Dowd, I agree that it would be useful if, when dealing with something as essential as the air traffic control system, a genuine no...

Road Traffic Offences. (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The suggestions for consideration that the Courts Service sets out in its submission to my Department are predicated on a fixed charge sum having the same legal status as a monetary fine imposed by a court following conviction of an offence. This is not the case. Therefore, on those grounds, most of the suggestions made are not legally feasible. It must be borne in mind that the fixed...

Road Traffic Offences. (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: On the last question posed by Deputy Broughan, I am not sure if I reported to the House since I met my counterpart in the United Kingdom. We have since met at the North-South Ministerial Council. The matter was discussed at each of those meetings. A tripartite meeting with my counterpart in the United Kingdom, Mr. Jim Fitzpatrick, and Ms Arlene Foster will probably take place in early...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: In answering this question I would like to draw a distinction between passenger boats and passenger ships. A passenger boat is a vessel, which carries less than twelve passengers for hire or reward or which carries passengers to or from their place of work. All passenger boats are engaged on domestic voyages within the State either on inland lakes or rivers or to sea. Passenger boats are...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I understand that, according to the recent report on motorway deaths published by the European Transport Safety Council, Ireland is ranked seventh of nineteen European countries surveyed. The survey shows that in Ireland the deaths per billion vehicle-kilometres for 2006 at 2.39 was better than the EU average, which was 4 deaths per billion vehicle-kilometres. This is, of course, a welcome...

Written Answers — : (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The statutory position in relation to this matter is as follows. The obligations of persons on the occurrence of an accident involving a vehicle where injury is caused to person or property are set out in section 106 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. These outline requirements to keep a vehicle at the scene and in relation to the reporting of the accident. There are no proposals under...

Written Answers — : (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The implementation of the Interconnector is matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. Transport 21 provides for completion of the Interconnector by 2015. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that it has completed the preliminary design of the project, including public consultation in July 2007 on route options and is now proceeding to detailed design and the preparation of an...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The detailed planning, design and implementation of national road projects, including the possible provision of service and/or rest areas on or near these routes, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act 1993, as...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (6 Mar 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 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. Iarnród...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 was prepared by the Road Safety Authority, and one of the actions in the Strategy is for that agency to report to me in the second quarter of each year on the implementation of the 126 actions in the Strategy, all of which identify the agency responsible for implementation and a target implementation date. I expect to have the first report in the second...

Written Answers — Coast Guard Service: Coast Guard Service (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos.19, 21, 45, 49 and 68 together. It is my intention that the Irish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration will be strengthened to meet the needs of this country well in the 21st century. I have confirmed that investment in a new Integrated Communications System equipment should proceed as quickly as possible. There has been some delay in recent years in...

Written Answers — Congestion Charges: Congestion Charges (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I recently restated my position in relation to the introduction of congestion charges, on the occasion of the launch of the public consultation on my Department's sustainable travel and transport document — '2020 Vision: Sustainable Travel and Transport'. As part of my announcement, I made it clear that I see congestion charging as part of a package of traffic management measures to...

Written Answers — Transport Action Plan: Transport Action Plan (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 27, 42 and 67 together. On 25 February 2008, I commenced a public consultation exercise that will lead, during 2008, to the adoption by Government of a sustainable travel and transport action plan. Pending completion of the consultation exercise, I am open to suggestions from all quarters in relation to the content of the proposed action plan....

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (6 Mar 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) was established on 5 June 2002. Since its establishment the MCIB has published 74 reports, which contain approximately 300 recommendations. These recommendations have made a significant contribution to the development of a range of maritime safety measures. The measures cover safety at sea for all those who venture on to the water, most...