Results 61-80 of 193 for speaker:Jim McDaid

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: That is exactly what we are trying to do. As Members will be aware, the Luas system consists of two light rail lines. It is the first major piece of public infrastructure to be constructed in Dublin since the DART some 20 years ago. I have no doubt it will prove to be as popular and attractive to Dubliners as the DART. As the Minister, Deputy Brennan, has said, Senators in the greater Dublin...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: Inevitably there has been and will be some disruption during the construction phase, particularly where on-street work is involved. In the case of Luas, every effort has been made to ensure that such disruption is kept to a minimum.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: Of course.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: The DART works have hit the headlines in the past week as regards consumers being told of the weekend closures at such a late stage. There was a great deal of hysteria involved, however, because the Opposition suddenly found something to jump onto again.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: Exactly and that is what we are going to do.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: Senator Browne asked why the Luas work could not be done during the night. I do not wish to be condescending but one cannot build station platforms out of bran flakes. Can Senators imagine trying to lay concrete platforms after midnight? The last DART finishes at midnight when one would have to switch off all the power and begin the work but when would the concrete set? These are ludicrous...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: Some people consider what is happening with the DART to be a necessary evil. It does not matter, however, if we upgraded the system – adding extra carriages and extending the platforms – in 1984, 2014 or 2024 because the same discomfiture would occur. We have to deal with it now because the long-term benefits of upgrading the system will be great. The Department has gone into all the...

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: It is not that simple. There are some complex issues. We have looked at some international experience in relation to park and ride facilities. It is not as easy as Senator O'Toole pointed out. Some of our research has shown that people are unwilling to break their car journey to avail of the park and ride facilities. It is not the be all and end all of the system.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: It is not a disgrace. I am not ruling out the issue but creating a park and ride facility does not mean everything will be all right. If we built park and ride facilities which did not work, the Senator would be tabling another motion asking why we did not take issues into account.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: Given the opportunity provided by the Labour Party tonight, I am happy to put the Government's point of view. I hope Senators will take some time before tabling another motion on transport. They should stop flogging a dead horse.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: There are more important issues to discuss. Perhaps a motion might be tabled in 2005 when we will consider the situation.

Seanad: Public Transport: Motion. (15 Oct 2003)

Jim McDaid: I look forward to 2005 when all the Opposition Senators, Deputies and critics in the media and elsewhere see what has happened in regard to the Luas, the port tunnel and all the other infrastructural projects. It will be a marvellous country in 2005 and 2006. People should stop concentrating on just the Red Cow roundabout. They should look at all the other projects which have been completed...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - School Accommodation. (13 Nov 2003)

Jim McDaid: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, the current position on the construction of a new school building for the Christian Brothers national school in New Ross in County Wexford. In 2001, the board of management of the Christian Brothers school in New Ross submitted an...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - School Accommodation. (13 Nov 2003)

Jim McDaid: I thank Senator Scanlon for raising this matter. He explained that the school in question applied for a new building in 1972, that in 1985 the project was at its current stage in the school building programme and that the school has six classrooms, 131 children, some of whom have various problems, and 15 staff. I am glad to have an opportunity of outlining to the House the current position of...

Seanad: Services for Victims of Domestic Violence: Statements. (28 Jan 2004)

Jim McDaid: I thank Senators for their contributions. It is important that the issue of domestic violence was raised in this House. Statistics have shown that because they are afraid, abused children will run to the abuser when a social worker approaches him or her. I regard myself as a supporter of the ideas propounded by John Waters. I accept all the statistics that have been raised today. However, the...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (3 Feb 2004)

Jim McDaid: Active cruise control is a new technology with variants available on relatively few new vehicles. I am aware of the claims that such equipment may interfere with certain speed detection equipment used by the Garda Síochána and have decided to ask the Garda authorities for a report on the matter. Under the Road Traffic (Speed Meter Detectors) Regulations 1991 it is an offence to import,...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Feb 2004)

Jim McDaid: The speed at which a speed limiter device is to be set in a vehicle is laid down in Directive 92/6/EEC. Under this directive goods vehicles with a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes are required to be fitted with a speed limiter so that the speed of the vehicle may not exceed 90 kilometres per hour. Directive 2002/85/EC extends the requirement to have a speed limiter fitted to include goods...

Seanad: Public Transport. (4 Feb 2004)

Jim McDaid: I thank Senator Morrissey for tabling this motion. Private operators are required under the Road Transport Act 1932 to apply to the Department of Transport for a licence to operate a passenger road service or to amend an existing licence. All applications for new licensed services or amendments to existing licensed services are considered on an individual basis. The mechanisms and procedures...

Written Answers — Motoring Schools: Motoring Schools (10 Feb 2004)

Jim McDaid: Proposals being developed by my Department for the regulation and quality assurance of driving instruction will involve a test of the competence of individual instructors. A working group comprising representatives of my Department and of instruction interests has formulated the design of the standards that a driving instructor must meet. I am considering what arrangements will be put in...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (10 Feb 2004)

Jim McDaid: The fitting and use of speed limitation devices on goods vehicles over 12,000kg and buses over 10,000kg is governed by the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 1993. Under these regulations such vehicles shall, at all times when used in a public place, be equipped with a speed limitation device the set speed of which does not exceed 85 kilometres...