Results 941-960 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences Renewals (30 Apr 2013)

Alan Kelly: The  taxi check smartphone  App, which was introduced this year in line with Action 32 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, is intended primarily as a safety and security measure for customers to verify taxi drivers. However, it also has benefits in terms of compliance monitoring. The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (30 Apr 2013)

Alan Kelly: The introduction of taxi branding this year was in line with Action 31 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011. The roll-out of the taxi branding by the NTA requires that at the next renewal of a taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi licence the vehicle must have the semi-permanent decal affixed to it. The aim of the branding is to provide greater recognition of taxis,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities (7 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: The 48km Great Western Greenway was delivered at a cost of €5,568,000 million and was completed in 2011.  The sources of funding for this investment are set out as follows. Funding source € Dept of Transport, Tourism & Sport 3,030,000 Fáilte Ireland 1,910,000 Dept of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 160,000...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (8 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address this issue. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for overall policy and funding regarding the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007, in conjunction with the local...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (8 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: I appreciate Deputy Neville's concerns. I know Adare well and pass through it frequently. I admit it has serious traffic issues. I wish the NRA and the local authorities well in their endeavours to find a new route and look forward to progress on that. However, there are restrictions with regard to funding. The timeframe on that is not within my gift nor of that of the Department at this...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (8 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: I support calls by Senators Landy and Whelan on narcolepsy. Like both of them, this morning I met the families that are suffering from narcolepsy, and it is clear that not enough is being done for these people and that they are being frustrated in their efforts to achieve what they need to achieve. Although narcolepsy is accepted by the Department as a long-term illness, it is not listed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: There are no regulatory constraints over the use of rickshaws for hire at present. The offence under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (inserted by the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009) arising from the carriage of persons for reward without a licence only applies where the vehicle being used is licensed or capable of being licensed as a small public service vehicle. A rickshaw...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: The National Transport Authority anticipates initiating, within the next few months, a tender process to procure a company to supply, install, operate and maintain the Regional Cities Bike Schemes.  It is hoped that this contract can be awarded before the end of the year with construction to commence early in 2014. The National Transport Authority anticipates...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: Further consideration has been given to this matter by the Office of the Attorney General. On foot of advice from that office I am withdrawing the amendment to section 11, as tabled, and I intend to make the necessary amendment to the section at the next available opportunity on Committee Stage in the Dáil. Obviously Senators will have a chance to come back to the issue again. I will...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: This is a minor drafting amendment relating to the cross-reference in section 14 of the Bill.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: The introduction of a prohibition of transfer of the SPSV licence is a recommendation under action 14 of the taxi regulation review report 2011. The underlying principle for this proposal is that a licence should determine a person's suitability to carry out the function and should have no monetary value or be traded in the open market. The Senator and I are in agreement on that point. I...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: I am cognisant of the High Court ruling concerning the constitutionality of imposing controls on entry to the taxi market. Therefore, I have had the matter examined by a senior counsel at the Office of the Attorney General. I conclude from that advice that the underlying policy principle for this decision is sound. Furthermore, as there has been a gradual move towards full prohibition of...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: This is a minor drafting amendment to provide more precise text in section 17.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: This amendment provides that the register of licences maintained by the National Transport Authority under section 17 includes details of the revocation of a licence also.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: As the Acting Chairman has said, the amendment was discussed earlier so I shall not go over old ground. We have had a comprehensive debate. I know where Senator Barrett is coming from because he has relayed his comments on numerous occasions. As he is well aware, the Bill proposes to create a regulatory framework. There is a capacity for new entrants. It was unfair of him to say that...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: No. The amendment was discussed with amendment No. 17.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: Usually an amendment is pressed rather than discussed again.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: We have been down this road. The rental market needs to be completely changed. A certain television programme highlighted that not long ago.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: It has not obsessed the Minister at all.

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (14 May 2013)

Alan Kelly: What the Senator has said is ridiculous and inappropriate. For the general public it exemplified the laissez-faire approach to the rental market, which was unacceptable and needed to be regulated. The Senator does not believe in proper regulation. I believe in proper regulation. I believe the taxi industry as currently constituted needed to be completely changed, hence the changes made...