Results 8,161-8,180 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

State Airports. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: They had the distinct impression that Aer Rianta and its successor——

State Airports. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: ——were completely Dublin-centred and were initiating and following policies that suited Dublin Airport, rather than all three airports. There was a strong perception to that effect——

State Airports. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: ——on which I will not comment one way or the other. Agreement had been reached. Part of Mr. Peter Cassells's remit regarding Cork was to come forward with proposals for a final resolution of the discussions regarding debt levels for Cork. My recollection is the net debt Cork Airport would be obliged to meet was just under €100 million.

State Airports. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports and, as such, the preparation of a contingency plan in the event of a strike is a matter for the DAA. In fulfilling its remit, the DAA seeks to ensure that the maintenance of continuity of service across the wide range of services it provides to airlines and...

State Airports. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Like the Deputy, I welcome that this strike did not go ahead. However, I also accept his comments to the effect that even the threat of an industrial dispute that might close the airport has a disruptive effect. It causes both uncertainty and people to change plans and perhaps to make alternative arrangements. It is not something that I like to observe and I agree with the Deputy in this...

State Airports. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: While I will try to remain within Standing Orders in this regard, the Deputy can be assured that anything the Government can do, through the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in respect of SR Technics, will be done.

State Airports. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Last Friday, a deputation, which I was unable to meet, asked for a postponement of the sale of some tooling equipment and so on. My Department immediately passed on that request to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the sale subsequently was deferred. Anything the Government can do and that is within its power certainly will be done to try to ensure that as many jobs as...

Light Rail Project. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Enabling works on rail projects, such as ground clearance and utility diversions, generally follow the granting of a railway order and are incorporated into the overall cost of projects. No Exchequer funds are currently being spent on enabling works in respect of rail projects, other than metro north, which have not yet secured an enforceable railway order and are, as a consequence, not yet...

Light Rail Project. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: There are a number of reasons why costs are not disclosed in advance. One is to ensure that estimated costs do not become the floor rather than the ceiling, as happened in so many projects.

Light Rail Project. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Once we have the railway order, the preferred tenderers will be asked to submit the final tender once they know the route and the works involved. Once that is submitted a full capital appraisal will be undertaken, independently of my Department, by the Department of Finance.

Light Rail Project. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: That will take place at the final stage and the overall cost will be published. A number of assessments have been done on the rate of return from metro north and all proved positive. Either the current Oireachtas joint committee or the previous one carried out an appraisal of the cost-benefit analysis and professed itself satisfied with the good rate of return and recommended that the...

Light Rail Project. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I do not know what they mean. I have put figures in the public domain previously.

Light Rail Project. (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: While it has nothing to do with the question, some €1.44 billion is contractually committed out of a total of approximately €1.9 billion. Of a further €500-600 million for local authorities, some €126 million has been committed, accounting for another €300 million. The bulk of the national roads funding is committed, all except the €50 million. We did not cancel any of the...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: There is substantial ongoing current and capital Exchequer investment in the development and operation of the Irish railway network. Total Exchequer funding allocated to Iarnród Éireann for 2008 amounted to more than €720 million and freight services benefit from this investment also. I propose to establish in the coming months a forum on the movement of goods as set out in Smarter...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 19 together. The Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to reform bus licensing to facilitate the optimum provision of services by providing a level playing field for all market participants. The legislative framework to support the authorisation and provision of improved public bus services in the Greater Dublin Area was updated last...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) is, in line with Transport 21, continuing with planning and design to facilitate the preparation of an application for a railway order to An Bórd Pleanála for the Metro West project. Up to the end of February, the RPA has spent €5.8m to progress planning and design. The start and completion dates for this project will be determined by the outcome of...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 41, 47 and 62 together. The response to any widescale disruption of public transport services due to strike action will be based on the optimisation of other travel modes such as cars, private bus services, taxi and hackney services, walking and cycling. It is premature to speculate on contingency plans when talks are continuing between the parties...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 45 together. The Deloitte Report, the recommendations of which I accept in full, sets out a series of measures which are designed to enhance the role of the bus. In my statement accompanying the release of the report on 26th January, I indicated areas where the report had identified considerable scope within Dublin Bus to improve its services to...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 23 together. The integrated ticketing system in the Greater Dublin Area is being introduced on a phased basis, based on smart card technology, over the period to the end of 2010. A progressive approach is being adopted to allow customers to familiarise themselves with using the new system and to permit transport operators to undertake the necessary...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Proposals in relation to the development of Dublin Airport are, in the first instance, a matter for the DAA, which has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop the airport and to provide such facilities and services as it considers necessary for aircraft and passengers. Accordingly, any proposals for the postponement of the second runway or for the provision of a longer runway...