Results 9,121-9,140 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Responsibility for marketing the Preclearance Service at Shannon Airport is a matter for the Shannon Airport Authority and I have no statutory function in that regard.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 129 together. Commercial arrangements of this nature are entirely a matter for Aer Lingus. However, the issues raised by the Association have been brought to the attention of Aer Lingus management. I understand the airline is engaging with the Association on the issue in order to explain the rationale for their policy relating to group bookings and to...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In 2007 the European Commission commenced a consultation process for the review of the Package Holiday Directive (Council Directive No. 90/314/EEC), which sets out consumer rights in the package travel, package holiday and package tour sectors. My Department recently attended a workshop on the review for Member States, which was held by the Directorate General for Consumers in the European...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The expenditure incurred, including legal fees, on Metro North, to end September 2009 is €133.5m.

Written Answers — Rail Network Property: Rail Network Property (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The manner of disposal of railway sleepers by Irish Rail is a day to day matter for the company.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Act 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The Exchequer funding provided to the National...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 273 answered on 17 February 2009. The position remains the same.

Written Answers — Airport Charges: Airport Charges (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) regulates airport charges levied at Dublin Airport. Charges at Cork and Shannon are set by the airport authority. Passenger charges levied at the six regional airports, which are owned and operated independently, are a matter for each airport concerned. In relation to comparative charges at other European Airports, I have been informed by the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No 477 of 2006) this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.

Written Answers — Transport 21: Transport 21 (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my reply to similar Question No. 7 of today's date.

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As set out in Transport 21 and the National Development Plan, the next augmentation of commuter rail services will be the Kildare Route Project which entails the quadrupling of a critical section of track between Cherry Orchard and Hazelhatch on the Heuston to Kildare line. New or relocated stations have already been opened at Adamstown in 2007, Fonthill and Park West in 2008 and an expanded...

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: " — welcomes the sustained commitment of the Government under Transport 21 and earlier transport investment programmes to upgrading transport infrastructure and services and the good results obtained from this investment including reduced journey times for road passenger and freight traffic...

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Thanks to this Fine Gael motion, I have the opportunity to report on the progress made by agencies including the NRA and CIE in upgrading our transport infrastructure and on the beneficial impact of the sustained high level of investment in transport; on the arrangements to evaluate and monitor Exchequer funded capital and current expenditure by the NRA and CIE; and on the arrangements to...

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: To clarify to the House, the Baker Tilly report was handed to a named official in the Houses at 2.30 p.m. on that Friday. I do not know why it took until 6 p.m. for people here to get it.

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I got it on the Tuesday or Wednesday of that week.

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am entitled to read it.

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Minister would be entitled-----

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: -----to read it before the Opposition spokespersons-----

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: -----as a matter of course. Striking the right balance between giving State agencies the freedom to get on with the job and putting in place adequate arrangements to ensure that they account for their stewardship of public funds is difficult. We have created a range of public bodies to carry out important tasks on behalf of the State and the taxpayer. The job of the Government and the...

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I stress that I am accountable for my statutory functions, while the NRA and CIE are accountable for theirs. The Fine Gael motion seems to suggest that the Minister and the Department should be answerable for all and every aspect of the activities of the NRA and CIE. This is neither reasonable nor practicable and if followed to its logical conclusion would result in every detail finishing...