Results 761-780 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Services (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: As the Deputy is aware, last year we put an extra €36 million into CIE, which will mean that in 2012, some €166 million went to Irish Rail and €126 million is budgeted for in 2013. Further financing was required in 2012 to fund the voluntary severance scheme and the sale of non-core assets such as a Spencer Dock property, which was central to that. The issue of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Services (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: NewERA has considered the business plan in great detail, the Department has considered the various components of it in great detail and the Government has signed off on it. Access to banking facilities in 2013 is important. The Deputy will be aware that the legislation dealing with borrowings by CIE was recently passed by this House, which legislation provided additional elasticity in this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 141 together. Along with Minister Varadkar, I meet regularly with the Chairpersons of CIÉ and its subsidiaries in relation to the current and future financial situation of the group. My Department, supported by NewEra, have also engaged extensively with CIÉ on its financial and business planning. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 153 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Priority Question No. 4 which I answered earlier.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Since becoming Minister for Public and Commuter Transport the developments I have initiated have been aimed at ensuring that into the future we have a more complete and cost effective transport service offering in rural areas that better meets the transport needs of all users. To this end national responsibility for local and rural transport services integration,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I am advised by the National Transport Authority that funding dispersed to Seirbhís Iompair Tuaithe Teoranta (SITT) Rural Transport Programme (RTP) for 2007 to 2012 inclusive and an indicative amount for 2013, is set out in the table below.  Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta (MFG) went into liquidation in September 2011 and SITT stepped into the role of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: The regulation of the taxi industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. The skills development programme, including the area knowledge test, for the purposes of SPSV driver licensing is administered by the NTA. The NTA also administers the SPSV vehicle licensing application process with regard to...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I appreciate them as well.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I cannot agree to amendment No. 9, which seeks to amend section 7(4), which allows the NTA to make regulations setting different requirements and conditions with regard to different categories and classes of vehicle, small public service vehicles, drivers and licences, and, under paragraphs (b) and (c), for different circumstances and different areas of the State, respectively. Paragraph (b)...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: It does not arise under this section and that is the reason I did not respond.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: There is an issue in this regard. It is obviously clear to most people that the Senator and I come from different philosophical backgrounds with regard to this issue. As has been reported in a number of reviews, there is an over-supply in many areas. However, we simply do not have enough taxis in some areas and we will have to consider how we can license vehicles in certain areas to meet...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I believe I accidentally answered this on the previous amendment. I cannot agree to this amendment. The existing paragraph (b) in section 8(1), to which the amendment refers, relates to a regulation concerning the assessment of area knowledge of a licence applicant with regard to the area in respect of which the licence is being sought. Section 8 of the Bill provides for the NTA to make...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Section 8 contains a requirement under subsection (5) for applicants to disclose information to the licensing authority relating to the assessment of their physical or mental capacity to hold a licence to drive an SPSV, and the NTA may issue guidelines in this regard, as provided for under subsection (6). To acknowledge the Senator's comments, we do share some common ground on this issue.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I will agree to amendment No. 12 but with the following text change, which I hope he will support.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Section 9 of the Bill provides for the licensing authority, subject to its assessment of suitability under section 10, to grant or not to grant an application for a licence. Section 9(10) provides that when granting a licence, the licensing authority may attach such terms and conditions to it as it sees fit. This seems to be an integral part of the functioning of a licensing authority....

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: These are technical agreements concerning cross-referencing in sections 10 and 12 of the Bill. The amendments do not change the substance of the sections. Section 10(1) states that the licensing authority shall not grant a licence and this is now clarified by reference to section 9, which is the relevant section of the Bill under which the licensing authority can grant a licence or not....

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Senator for highlighting this matter. There is joined-up thinking on the part of the Government on this matter. We are involved in discussions. Section 10 of the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill expressly provides that the general effect of section 5 of that legislation which relates to the right of non-disclosure of certain convictions shall not apply to applications...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Amendment No. 17 introduces a new section to the Bill that places an obligation on an applicant for or holder of a licence to drive a special public service vehicle, SPSV, to inform the licensing authority of any other occupation of his or hers involving driving vehicles and so on. This amendment derives from a recommendation under action 3 of the taxi regulation review report 2011 which aims...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: The amendment will not be withdrawn. No issue arises over privacy, nor does one arise over contracts of employment. This legislation has been examined by the legal advisers in the Office of the Attorney General. What we are doing is addressing an issue of safety. It is quite clear that if somebody?s job requires driving for a long time, his driving a taxi after work - which would involve...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Despite what Senator Barrett has said on numerous occasions, the Department does not have all encompassing powers in regard to all bus operators. That would be a matter between them and their employees. From a legal point of view, the Attorney General is quite happy with this. This empowers the National Transport Authority. I want to re-emphasise that it is not a draconian move but it is...