Results 8,601-8,620 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: This is a facility that provides a competitive advantage for Shannon. Its cost of €20 million has to be paid in some way. The Dublin Airport Authority will pay the initial capital cost. The costs will be recouped from the people who use it, in return for the convenience of being precleared. Such people will not be delayed at the far side when they arrive in the United States. It is an...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Shannon Airport will have the advantage for the next 15 months. The Deputies have spoken about the need to market the airport.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: That is a job for the airport. It is doing that job and should be encouraged to continue to do it, in conjunction with Shannon Development and the tourism bodies. I am not at all dismissive of the report mentioned by Deputy O'Donnell. The Government has invested €4.5 million in the mid-west region. If the Deputy can give me an example of another region of this country that has €4.5...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I have covered many of the points that have been made. It is a question of recouping the capital cost of €20 million.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I do not know what the charge is in Dublin Airport at the moment. The United States charges $5 for post-clearance or preclearance as part of the ticket price. That is not going to change. At the moment, the pre-inspection charge is €1.50. As a result of all the changes being made, the charge for preclearance will increase to €10.50. If one does not want to pay €10.50 for...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I cannot give such an example, which proves that all the propaganda from the Opposition, which claims that the region in question has been neglected by the Government, is total nonsense.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I apologise. I should have answered the Deputy's question instead of making that remark. No number is specified. A Deputy spoke earlier about the concern that the US side might pull back as a result of the announcement made by Delta Air Lines and Aer Lingus. I was reminded before my meeting with the US Secretary for Homeland Security to raise that specific issue. When I raised it during...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: When the Deputy has been in government for a while, he will know that preclearance is not needed very often.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Deputies for the interest they have shown in this important Bill and the contributions they have made to the debate on it. This legislation represents a landmark development in Irish aviation. I am confident that when the current recession passes, the Government's policy on preclearance will help Ireland to make progress on the road to economic recovery. I thank those Deputies and...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am concerned and disappointed at the suspension of these services. I recognise the harsh realities of the marketplace at present and the impact that reduced demand has had on long-haul operations globally in the past few months. I am particularly concerned, from both a business and tourism perspective, at the impact on connectivity of Ireland arising from decisions to reduce flights to...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In view of the severe constraints on Exchequer finances, it was found necessary to reduce the provision for regional and local road improvements by €150 million in the 7 April Supplementary Budget. As a consequence, road grants already allocated for regional and local roads in February were reviewed, and revised road grants totalling €447.7 million were allocated to local authorities on...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Value for Money Reviews completed by this Department since 2006 are set out in tabular form below. Name of Review Year completed Road Safety 2006 CIE Subvention 2007 The DTO Traffic Management Grants Scheme 2008 Strategic Non National Roads 2008 Railway Safety Programme 2008 The finding of each review can be found on the Department's website at www.transport.ie (under Publications).

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The amount of interest paid by my Department in respect of the late payments for goods or services for the past five years and to date in 2009 is as follows: Year â'¬ 2005 103 2006 893 2007 734 2008 284 2009 to date 418 In response to a recent Government decision in relation to prompt payments, my Department is committed to paying suppliers within 15 days of receipt of valid...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together. Under the Railway Safety Act 2005, random testing of safety critical workers on the railways in relation to intoxicants is a matter for the relevant railway undertaking, and not for the Railway Safety Commission. I refer the Deputy to the Annual Report 2008 of the Railway Safety Commission, where details of Iarnród Éireann's...

Written Answers — Rail Safety: Rail Safety (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 260 together. The Deputy is referring to comments made by the Railway Safety Commission in its Annual Report 2008. The Railway Safety Commission is the independent safety regulator for railways and the details of the items raised by the Deputy are therefore a matter for the Commission which may be raised directly with it.

Written Answers — Aviation Safety: Aviation Safety (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together. The Irish Aviation Authority was established by the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993. The principal functions of the Authority are the safety oversight of civil aviation activities and the provision of air navigation services in the State. Prior to enactment of the 1993 Act, these functions were carried out by the Department of...

Written Answers — Aviation Safety: Aviation Safety (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together. The Irish Aviation Authority was established by the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993. The principal functions of the Authority are the safety oversight of civil aviation activities and the provision of air navigation services in the State. Section 32 of the Act requires me "to appoint a person to carry out an examination of...

Written Answers — Aviation Safety: Aviation Safety (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together. On 19 September, 2008 I received the Irish Aviation Authority's report on the radar malfunction at Dublin airport on 9 July, 2008. The report was also made publicly available on the Authority's website www.iaa.ie. As set out in the report, the measures being implemented by the IAA and THALES ATM were intended to minimise the effect of a...

Written Answers — Rural Transport Services: Rural Transport Services (1 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Thirty seven rural community transport groups are being funded under my Department's Rural Transport Programme (RTP) which is now operational in every county. These groups are working towards maximising coverage in their operational areas having regard to local public transport service needs and the availability of resources. Arrangements for the provision of services funded under the...

Written Answers — Transport Manager Policy: Transport Manager Policy (1 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: A consultation paper was issued to all licensed Road Transport Operators (approximately 7,500) in March 2009 proposing a number of changes to the current Transport Manager Policy. The document was also placed on my Department's Website (www.transport.ie) and sent to a number of representative bodies and agencies. Currently, Transport Managers employed by firms are not allowed to engage in any...