Results 6,601-6,620 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Dail question Nos 70, 59 and 19 of today's date. At the launch of Transport 21, the Government identified the programmes and projects in the national roads, public transport and regional airports sectors that it wishes to see prioritised for implementation in the ten-year period from 2006 to 2015 within an overall capital provision of €34 billion. That...

Written Answers — Railway Stations: Railway Stations (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 to 245, inclusive, together. The day to day operation of railway services and the upgrade of same including on the Kildare and Maynooth lines is an operational matter for Iarnród Eireann. I understand that in response to a previous Parliamentary Question from the Deputy on the 18th October 2007, Iarnród Éireann provided information to the Deputy in...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. The sustained high levels of capital investment in the railway network since 1997 — totalling over €2 billion in the period 1997-2007, has facilitated a substantial expansion in services across InterCity and Commuter railway services. Capacity, for example, on the Kildare and Maynooth lines has increased by 125% and 250% respectively...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The aviation sector in Europe is fully liberalised and European Community airlines are free to operate services on intra-community routes on a fully commercial basis in response to consumer demand, without any restrictions or barriers. In the transatlantic market, the First Stage EU-US Open Skies Agreement is now being provisionally applied and the way is now clear for all European Community...

Written Answers — Railway Stations: Railway Stations (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Transport 21 provides for major upgrading of railway infrastructure and rolling stock including projects to re-open sections of the network between Ennis and Athenry, Cork and Midleton and Clonee and Navan, and to provide new or additional stations such as those at Docklands, Adamstown, Phoenix Park and the new stations on the Kildare Line and on the proposed inter-connector linking the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: These are matters for the Garda Síochána and the Courts Service.

Written Answers — Road Signage: Road Signage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Under section 95 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 the provision of traffic signs on the public roads is a matter for each road authority. I have given directions and guidance to road authorities in the Traffic Signs Manual on the provision and use of traffic signs. It is a matter for the road authority to determine the location of traffic signs to ensure that clear and effective signing is in...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 May 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. As the Deputy is aware, the implementation of individual national road projects, including the maintenance of those national roads, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the local...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: These are matters for the Garda Síochána and the Courts Service.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The total non-capital expenditure to date is €31,343, in respect of Travel and Subsistence costs connected with the move of the Road Safety Authority and my Department's Road Haulage functions to Loughrea. Costs amounting to €6,598 were also incurred in respect of the induction training of staff in the Road Haulage Division in Loughrea. Costs of approx €46,000 were incurred in respect...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Thank you very much. Amendment No. 1 is one of a series of technical amendments relating to how the National Roads Authority is referred to in the Bill. Current drafting preference is to shorten any multi-word title of a body, if it appears in several places in a Bill. We did that with CIE and the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA. This amendment inserts a definition of "National Roads...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: There is a provision in section 3(c) to extend the geographical area of the greater Dublin area, GDA, by order of the Minister. The Dublin transport authority can make recommendations to me in that regard, as can other bodies such as local authorities and so on. The reason the Bill is drafted in its current form is that the GDA is a clearly defined area. It is useful to maintain the...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The amendment proposes to replace the word "sustains" in section 10(a) with "promotes". While I would prefer to retain the current wording, I am prepared to examine the amendment before Report Stage to determine whether the proposed change would have legal implications. Pending that decision, I ask the Senator to withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: In regard to amendment No. 5, as Senator Norris indicated, it is presumed when passing legislation that it is for everybody and that it does not need to be explicitly stated. The Senator made the point well and I do not need to elaborate on that. Nevertheless, it does not do any great damage to the Bill to include the phrase "for all users". I have no objection to that and I accept the...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I thank all the Senators who contributed on this. I accept the point being made with regard to the importance of cycling and walking. It is important we keep both issues together. I accept the principle of Senator Donohoe's proposal with regard to cycling, but we need to include both issues. Section 71(7) makes provisions with regard to cycling and walking and we will consider...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Senator Norris misinterpreted what I said about not burdening the DTA with a huge number of strategies. This does not mean I think there should not be a cycling and walking strategy, but I have reservations about including separate cycling, walking and QBC strategies and so on. If the Senator looks at section 71(1) he will see that provision is being made for agreements between local...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: It is section 71(7).

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: We will have it in the Bill, although possibly in some other suitable section.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Senators for their contributions to this debate. To a certain extent I echo what Senator Ryan said. Under Transport 21 we have included in the programme for Government a commitment to improving bus services by reforming the bus licensing provisions under the Road Transport Act 1932. We aim to facilitate optimum provision of services by providing a level playing field for all...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: That is the difference in their profit. It is something against which I want to guard. I ask the Senator to withdraw the amendment. It is not particularly appropriate at this stage, but I assure him that the general intent is to provide a public transport system of which we can all be proud. Where it is possible, we should provide commercial routes and competition on those routes.