Results 661-680 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: Action 15 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011 proposes a requirement for all holders of small public service vehicles (SPSV) vehicles to also be the registered owner of the vehicle to which the licence relates, with certain limited exclusions permitted to deal with vehicles operating under long term leases. The aim of this proposal is to ensure responsibility is taken by the vehicle...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The regulation of the taxi industry, including issues pertaining to vehicle age limit, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003. The NTA is the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011. I am informed by the NTA that proposals to limit the age of operation of...

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Motion (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: When the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and I were appointed to the portfolio of transport, tourism and sport in March 2011, we made the aviation sector one of our key priorities. One of the issues that needed to be addressed was the unusual relationship between the three State airports since the enactment of the State Airports Act 2004. This Act provided for the establishment of two new public...

Seanad: Shannon Airport: Motion (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank Senators for their contributions on this debate on the future of Shannon Airport. I am glad there has been so much interest in the debate as the airport is vital for the mid-west. As someone who comes from that region, I know that only too well. Even though I am a Tipperary man, I live quite close to the airport on the Clare border near Killaloe. I am therefore very passionate...

Seanad: Credit Union Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (12 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The Government already has memorandums of understanding for 850 jobs and is considering the potential for 3,500 jobs. I do not envisage any Member of either House having an issue with that. This is about using Shannon's assets as leverage. Shannon is a unique airport with the longest runway in western Europe. It has preclearance and lands that simply are not available to any other airport...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: This Bill allows for an increase in the borrowing level of CIE. All the political parties and the Independents have indicated they will support this Bill. I have taken on board their general comments on CIE during the discussion of the earlier Stages of the Bill. I welcome comments from members. This Bill will increase the borrowing level of CIE to €300 million, which will allow...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (18 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: Overall the thrust of the reforms arising from the Taxi Regulation Review will mean better services for consumers and improvements to the operating environment for taxi drivers generally. The Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 will support measures to ensure that operators and drivers can operate under a robust regulatory framework that is supported by an effective...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Policy (18 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The table attached sets out details of funding made available by my Department for the development of cycling and walking routes during 2009, 2010 and 2011. Almost €34m has been allocated in 2012 for investment between 2012 and 2016 in respect of similar projects details of which can be made available to the Deputy when the funding has been...

Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. When I first came into office, one of my key priorities was to tackle rogue operators in the taxi sector. There has been unfair competition in the taxi market to date as those full-time professional drivers who do their business well have been obliged to compete with those who consistently flout the rules. The system of regulation needed to...

Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: That started as a compliment but I do not know how it ended.

Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The last thing the Irish taxi industry needs is more time. Nobody has consulted more with the taxi industry and its drivers than I have. I get taxis all the time and I have met representatives of all the groups on multiple occasions. The taxi industry has many great people working in it but it is not an homogeneous group, and nothing I say will completely satisfy the entire group. We have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Services (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The question relates to the Minister's intentions concerning the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus. This shareholding is one of the assets included in the State asset disposal programme and the Government has agreed that the shareholding is to be sold at an appropriate time but only when market conditions are favourable and at an acceptable price to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Services (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I am glad the Deputy welcomes the Government's decision, which was correct. In one sense the Government very much needed to consider the case and make the decision and there was no delay in making the announcement. No information is available on how the Commission will act and I would not have expected the Deputy to believe such information is available. We know there is a defined time for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I met with the Garda Commissioner as recently as last month on the matter of enforcement. To enforce the taxi regulations, including pursuit of the offences mentioned in the Deputy’s question, the role of the Garda Síochána is critical to support the work of the enforcement officers of the National Transport Authority, NTA, who have responsibility for nationwide...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank Deputy Ellis for his contribution. I note from previous contributions he has made and conversations I have had with him that he has a strong interest in the issue of taxis. The taxi Bill to be introduced in the Seanad early in the new year is the most comprehensive legislation on taxis in the history of the State. I hope everyone will support the Bill as it offers the only way...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: It is coming up to Christmas and we are all feeling flaithiúlach.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Regional Airports (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: In the first instance, there is not a support package in place for Shannon Airport. The Deputy will recall that the Minister for Finance announced in his recent budget speech that he will put in place measures to facilitate the construction of hangars and ancillary facilities that will be key to attracting additional aviation sector organisations. However, these are based on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Regional Airports (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy for his comments. He has spoken on this issue previously and he holds his opinion passionately. Knock airport is not under threat. It is a fine, successful airport, a fact that must be acknowledged. The Deputy's references to statements by my colleague, the Minister, should be taken in context. Those comments were more a reflection on Shannon's situation than on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Regional Airports (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I will take that message to him.

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: This year marks the tenth anniversary of the introduction of a system of penalty point offences in this country.  Earlier this year, the Department undertook a review of the system to determine whether any changes would be appropriate.  The finalised review was forwarded to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and...