Results 81-100 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Public Transport Regulation. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I cannot see that the legislation can be brought before the House within the next couple of weeks that remain to the end of June. I am determined that it will be put through in the course of 2004. The Deputy will be aware that I have been very consistent in the policy on grandfather rights. There have been a number of national stoppages. I have been asked by the Deputies opposite to engage in...

Public Transport Regulation. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: On the one hand the Deputy regrets that legislation is not in place in order to open up the market and that is my wish also. On the other hand he is worrying about the loss of financial income to the State by virtue of the fact that it has not happened yet. I am not sure where the Deputy is coming from on this matter.

Public Transport Regulation. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I have been very clear in what I want to do. I am seeking to have the legislation completed and put before the House.

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a metro with a link to Dublin Airport. I have received the revised outline business case for line 1 of a metro from the Railway Procurement Agency, which involves a line from Dublin Airport to the city centre. I am finalising my proposals on a metro in the context of the wider transport needs of the greater Dublin area and I expect...

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I agree with the Deputy and want levies to be used to help fund a metro. I intend to ask the Railway Procurement Agency to engage with Dublin City Council and the county councils to use levies to the full in the development of a metro. The Deputy will be aware that a levy has been proposed to raise funds with regard to the development of Luas at Cherryfield. In addition, Cork County Council...

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: One of these days I will be right. As regards the question on the choice between a metro and Irish Rail's proposal, having examined both options I fully support the metro option. That is the Department's position. Iarnród Éireann has made some interesting proposals, some of which we have acted on, including upgrading the DART, developing double and quadruple tracking and resignalling parts...

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I am not saying levies will be used for current purposes as they have to be used for capital purposes. I take the point the Deputy made. If the capital cost is to be met initially by the private sector, then where does that levy go? The RPA claimed that it would acquire much of the land by using these levies initially before it signs off on the PPP.

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The Deputy obviously knows the site very well. The nearer part of the route from DCU to the Mater hospital to Tara Street to O'Connell Street to Stephen's Green is heavily populated. I am not sure if there is much open space between the Mater hospital and O'Connell Street.

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The road building programme will cost approximately €8 billion over the next five years. The public transport programme will cost €3.5 billion. That is still a very——

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I have the figure of €3.5 billion, which includes the CIE subvention. That is all taxpayers' funds.

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I have not got that information.

Road Traffic Offences. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The penalty points system currently applies in respect of the offences of breaching a speed limit, motor insurance and the failure of a driver to wear a seat belt or to ensure that a passenger under 17 years of age is appropriately restrained in a mechanically propelled vehicle. The system was first introduced in October 2002 in respect of speed limit offences. In the intervening period some...

Road Traffic Offences. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has discussed the strategy of tackling speeding with the Garda Commissioner on many occasions. The question of when and where the Garda does its speed checks is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner but he knows my views, which are not too dissimilar to those of the Deputy. To be truly effective, the Garda must start targeting the...

Rail Safety. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I intend to make the necessary order formally establishing the railway safety commission as soon as possible following the enactment of the Railway Safety Bill. With the co-operation of the Houses of the Oireachtas, I expect the Bill, which completed Committee Stage in the Dáil on 7 May 2003, to be enacted before the summer recess. I am satisfied that the implementation of the provisions of...

Rail Safety. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I am working to have Report Stage of the relevant legislation taken in the House this session. The Deputy will be aware of why it was delayed. We had a considerable discussion on the inclusion of the intoxicants provision in the legislation.

Rail Safety. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I have now cleared this with Government and will soon have proposals for the House on the matter. I look forward to discussing it with the Deputy when it is before the House. I do not have an interim inspectorate appointed. What I do have is a railway safety inspector, who serves as the interim inspectorate——

Rail Safety. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: There is no formal commission.

Rail Safety. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: No, but the chief railway inspecting officer of the Department of Transport has legal powers which are quite strong and serious. I take the Deputy's point that they are not strong enough, which is why the Railway Safety Bill is on the Order Paper. I agree with the Deputy that CIE should not investigate itself, nor should the RPA. The Railway Safety Bill, of which Second and Committee Stages...

Rail Safety. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I heard the Deputy make that point also. All those dangers exist and everybody should be aware that there can be dangers attached to any public transport system. I have asked the RPA to promote safety regarding the Luas. People must exercise caution and be aware of the safety regulations that apply to any new public transport system. I encourage them to do so in the case of the Luas.

Rail Safety. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: That is not the case. The chief railway inspecting officer is fully entitled to carry out a statutory inquiry in accordance with section 7 of the Regulation of Railways Act 1871. Whenever the chief railway inspecting officer——