Results 7,701-7,720 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: They have no idea.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Another leader in the Fine Gael-Labour benches.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Another Mayo leader.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: We heard Deputy Ring was moving to the Labour Party.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy speaks out of both sides of his mouth.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Eamon in Wonderland.

Leaders' Questions. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Deputy Gilmore has asked the questions, so let the Taoiseach answer.

Air Services. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 60 together. I wish to bring to the attention of the Deputies the fact that under the applicable takeover rules there are constraints on any comments I can make about the matter at this stage. The reply is given in that context. Ireland's aviation policy, as set out in my Department's current statement of strategy, is to promote regular, safe,...

Air Services. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: As I indicated at the outset, I must be careful in what I say until such time as the Government makes a final decision on the issue. To try to be helpful to the Deputy, I repeat that it is Irish aviation policy to have maximum connectivity and competition. We have pursued a two-airline policy for many years, in the sense that we believe two airlines is the minimum number that should fly in...

Air Services. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Deputy for his contribution and his statement of Labour Party policy. I trust he will appreciate that Fianna Fáil has a party policy on the matter also but I cannot act on the basis of party policy. I have a particular role as adviser to the Government and to the shareholder, who is the Minister for Finance. I am somewhat constrained in what I can say. On aviation policy,...

Air Services. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I do not know whether I can add much. However, Aer Lingus has done well in very difficult circumstances this year and the agreement reached with the trade unions and workers will help it to do even better, into the future. I do not agree with knocking Ryanair, however. Ryanair employs a good many Irish people as well. It is a very successful Irish company, and we should bear that in mind,...

Departmental Agencies. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Since my appointment as Minister for Transport, my practice has been to keep open lines of communication with the agencies operating under the aegis of my Department, primarily by maintaining regular and appropriate levels of contact with the chairpersons of the boards of the agencies, or their equivalents in the case of certain regulatory bodies. Communication takes place in several ways...

Departmental Agencies. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: If the Deputy spoke to some of those people, they would probably say I take too great an interest in their activities — to ensure I know what is happening. That has always been my style. It was for that reason we initiated the review of the relationship between the State bodies and the Department earlier this year. I did the same in the last Department I was in, the Department of...

Departmental Agencies. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I am accountable for what I do in this regard and for ensuring my Department keeps in close contact with the various agencies.

Departmental Agencies. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I have met with all of the major agencies of the Department, at CEO, chairman or board level, since I became Minister.

Departmental Agencies. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: If I was in here in other circumstances and interfering in the day-to-day operation of the companies in question, the Deputy would make another complaint. He asked about the various bodies I had met. I have met with all the major ones since joining the Department. I met with Aer Lingus, Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann, the Cork Airport Authority, CIE, the Commission for Aviation Regulation,...

Public Transport. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The 2009 Exchequer subvention to CIE will be €313.279 million, an increase of 1.5% on the 2008 figure. During the course of the Estimates discussion, my Department had discussions with the Department of Finance and with CIE on the overall financial position of the CIE operating companies, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann. The chairman and chief executive of each of the...

Public Transport. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The country is in the financial situation it is in and no amount of burying one's head in the sand with regard to reality will help anybody. CIE is suffering as a result of the economic recession, just as is everybody else. Fewer people are using buses and trains and coming into towns to shop and fewer people are working. In that kind of environment, it is inevitable that services will end...

Public Transport. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I am somewhat confused by the Deputy. I am not sure what he wants me to do on this matter.

Public Transport. (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: He is telling me I should cut fares. I would be delighted not to approve a request for higher fares. The original request was for a 20% fare increase. I would be delighted to be able to say to CIE that I was going to get it to cut its fares. If the Deputy thinks that is a wise policy to pursue, that is okay. I will do that. The Deputy cannot complain, on the one hand, that CIE will not...