Results 9,281-9,300 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Harbour Authorities. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: That is not really the solution to everything and the Comptroller and Auditor General is busy enough as it is. These are commercial State companies. This company in particular had difficulties. They were not operated on a commercial basis previously but this has changed by legislation. As long as such companies are left in a situation where they would be bailed out by taxpayers and where...

Aviation Industry. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The aviation sector has been cyclical in nature and in the past decade or so, has been significantly adversely affected by events such as the September 2001 terrorist attacks, the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the record peak in oil prices in 2008. The current global recession is the latest crisis to hit the sector which historically, has had low profitability and is also known to be...

Aviation Industry. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Any loss of employment is bad for the country and the individuals affected. Anything that can be done to avoid job losses should be done. However, it would be an even worse outcome if we were to end up with one airline operating in and out of Ireland. Competition and connectivity are cornerstones of aviation policy. The former must be supplied by at least two airlines. If one airline...

Aviation Industry. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I did not do the cost benefit analysis; it was done by the airlines. Obviously, they are trying their best to have the €10 airport departure tax removed. If the tax is causing such grief, perhaps they will examine some of their own charges, for instance, the on-line check in charge of €10 for each leg of a journey, the €5 administration fee for credit cards, priority boarding fees of...

Local Authority Funding. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Since 1997, the Exchequer has provided €5.6 billion for regional and local roads. This major investment, coupled with spending from their own resources, has enabled local authorities to make major improvements in the condition and safety of these roads. When Exchequer grants for regional and local roads are allocated each year my Department does not hold back a reserve allocation at...

Local Authority Funding. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: While the overall amount allocated for local and regional roads was reduced last year, I maintained the level of grant aid to local authorities in the specific area of road safety. Despite the more straitened financial circumstances, about which we will hear later, I hope to be able to maintain the amount provided for accident blackspots, etc., in this year's allocation. The allocation is...

Local Authority Funding. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As I stated, local authorities are told at the beginning of the year, when they receive their allocation, that they should make provision for weather conditions, including the requirement to grit roads when there is frost. The local authorities should have done this. The role of the Minister for Transport is not to finance local authorities but to supplement the grants they use on roads....

Rail Services. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The 2010 provision for the funding of public transport PSO, public service obligation, services provided by the CIE companies will be published shortly as part of the budget. It will then be a matter for the national transport authority to determine, in the context of the direct award public service contracts recently concluded with the companies, the allocation of this funding across the...

Rail Services. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy frequently conveys various powers on me but I do not draw up the timetable.

Rail Services. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Every now and again I examine the timetable to see the services available at various times. Iarnród Éireann is trying to make more efficient use of the capacity in place and there have been changes to services in various areas. The change is based on passenger usage and on trying to ensure in the tightened financial circumstances that it runs the trains at the times sought most by...

Rail Services. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy is unduly pessimistic. As Members are aware, we have added the Midleton line and the western rail corridor will be opened shortly. The Navan line will be opened by the end of next year. We are moving and we will get more rolling stock in 2011. Irish Rail has a very modern fleet and it is not a case of all doom and gloom. However, in the current circumstances there is a...

Rail Services. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Iarnród Éireann has a good record in this regard.

Rail Services. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am unsure if a question was put.

Rail Network. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Some €13 million has been allocated to Iarnród Éireann under the EU TEN-T, trans-European transport network, programme since 2000. Some €3 million was provided towards safety and upgrade works on the Cork to Dublin to Belfast rail line under the 2000 to 2006 TEN-T multi-annual indicative programme. Of this, approximately €100,000 was spent on the Dublin to Belfast section of the...

Rail Network. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy indicated, it is one that can be considered in the context of 2013. The TEN-T funding is not solely for projects across international boundaries or cross-Border in the Irish context. The goal is the better use of existing networks and the completion of missing links, both of which apply to the DART underground project, as do other goals such as crossing natural barriers, for...

Rail Network. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Again, I am not sure whether a question was asked but, in so far as there was one about long-term thinking, I welcome the Deputy's support for measures that will incentivise people to move from cars to public transport.

Railway Procurement Processes. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Following receipt of the report referred to by the Deputy, I discussed the matter with the chairman of CIE on 22 October and expressed my concern to him on the weaknesses identified and the fact that neither I nor my Department had been informed. The chairman briefed me on the background to the report and indicated that the actual loss was limited to €2.6 million. He informed me that...

Railway Procurement Processes. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The assurance I have received from the company is that the loss was limited to €2.6 million. I am aware of the speculation on a higher amount, which I have been informed was based on earlier drafts of the Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon report. It is precisely because I wished to ascertain the full facts in that regard that I asked the chairman and the board to provide me with a full report to...

Railway Procurement Processes. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware there was a delay but we got the ten-----

Railway Procurement Processes. (9 Dec 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I will make that information available to Deputy Broughan as well.