Results 9,041-9,060 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Rail Network. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The role of the Minister in this matter is to ensure that legislation is in place and that finance is available to implement the railway safety programme. The first railway safety programme, which covered the period 1999 to 2003, benefited from an investment of €600 million. Four hundred miles of track were renewed and 220 miles of fencing was erected. From 2004 to 2008, the total...

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I have included provision for the mandatory testing for alcohol of drivers involved in road traffic collisions in the new Road Traffic Bill, which was published on 30 October 2009. The proposal is that mandatory testing of a driver at a collision will be undertaken by a member of the Garda Síochána where an injury is caused to another person that requires medical assistance. This...

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In recent years, in line with a commitment made by this and previous Governments, the number of members of the Garda traffic corps, which was specifically set up to target road traffic offences, has been increased. The commitment was made to 1,200 members and that level has been reached. The members are dedicated primarily to road traffic duties. The effects of that change are clear to...

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Given the current economic circumstances the Garda overtime bill, which is not a matter for me - so I will not comment on it - has been reduced. There is no doubt about that. In the current circumstances, there is a general acceptance that we must reduce or adjust our expenditure to the tune of approximately €4 billion in this year's budget. That cannot be done without changing work...

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006, SI No. 477 of 2006, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, has responsibility for matters relating to vehicle testing, including commercial vehicles. One of the early tasks for the RSA was to undertake a comprehensive review of the arrangements for the roadworthiness testing of commercial vehicles in Ireland. In 2008, I...

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: That is not correct. Ministers are not supposed to get involved in industrial relations, IR, issues within Departments. The report was presented to and was approved by the Government. It was considered that the best and most effective way of doing this was to transfer responsibility for it to the RSA. That was agreed by Government. I also secured funding through an increase in fees and...

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy is being rather unfair. I was talking about the administration of this system. The Deputy is conveying the impression that no testing is taking place or there is a lack of testing.

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: That would be unfair. It is illegal for somebody to retrospectively change vehicle testing certificates. If the Deputy has knowledge of that-----

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: If he has personal knowledge of that, he should report it to the Garda or to me, and I will report it.

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy should give me the details.

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Those are cases that were detected. Deputy O'Dowd is making the case that this is still happening-----

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The RSA vehicle inspectorate participated in 225 roadside checks in 2008, an increase of more than 100% on 2007. Roadside checks were completed on 3,252 vehicles. These checks revealed that 1,350 of the vehicles had some defects. The RSA vehicle inspectorate made 280 vehicle testing network test centre visits in 2008 to ensure compliance with commercial vehicle test centre standards and...

Road Safety. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The RSA is very diligent in ensuring both the roadside testing and the visits to centres continue.

Departmental Expenditure. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 12 and 16 together. The report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes recommended full year savings of €127 million in my Department's current expenditure provision. The proposed expenditure reductions included a saving of €2.9 million on administrative expenditure, pay and non-pay; a reduction of €36.2 million on...

Departmental Expenditure. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: It is obvious Deputy Bannon did not listen to my initial reply. I was asked specifically about the recommendations and I outlined the nature sof those recommendations. I concluded by stating that discussions were taking place, that the matter had been referred to the committee and that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any specific savings that might happen in advance of the...

Departmental Expenditure. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: This is typical of what we are obliged to deal with.

Departmental Expenditure. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Government is continually castigated by the Opposition for not taking the necessary actions to restore the economy. For the past five to ten years we have been criticised in respect of all the money we spent, etc. It is being stated now that the circumstances in which we currently find ourselves reflect the way that money was spent.

Departmental Expenditure. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: That is despite the fact that the Opposition called on us to spend even more money. No area of Government expenditure will escape cuts or will not have changes made to it. The Department of Transport will be no more exempt than any other Department. In the context of what Deputy Broughan said, I will try to ensure that the commitment contained in the renewed programme for Government in...

Departmental Expenditure. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: That is what Deloitte-----

Departmental Expenditure. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am not.