Results 10,761-10,780 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (5 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Statistical information requested by the Deputy is available from the Commission for Taxi Regulation directly. As part of the Commission for Taxi Regulation's (CTR) continuing reforms for the small public service vehicle industry one of the key objectives for 2010 to 2011 is to improve accessibility of taxis and hackneys. The CTR has introduced a new category of wheelchair accessible...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (5 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The development of safety regulations for fishing vessels dates back to the Fishing Vessel Safety Review group, which reported in 1996. One key recommendation made by that group was for the establishment of a safety regime for fishing vessels covering stability, strength, hull and machinery. Such a scheme was introduced in 1999 for fishing vessels greater than 24 m in length. A further scheme...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: It may be small change to Deputy Ring but it is not to me.

Clamping Industry (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I take the opportunity of welcoming Deputy Simon Coveney as transport spokesperson. I did not have the opportunity to do so before the summer recess. I welcome Deputy Tom Hayes as spokesperson on road safety and road matters generally. I look forward to what no doubt will be robust exchanges but also the level of co-operation that we have, particularly in regard to road safety matters.

Clamping Industry (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the vehicle immobilisation regulation Bill 2010 published in August by Fine Gael. The road traffic legislative code provides for clamping by local authorities or by companies under contract to local authorities as an enforcement tool in respect of parking on the public road or in local authority car parks. However, a fundamental principle under road traffic law is that...

Clamping Industry (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware that some other countries in Europe had such legislation but not under the road traffic Acts. The United Kingdom Home Office, which is probably the equivalent of our Department of Justice and Law Reform, introduced it and it was used as part of a licensing system along the lines the Deputy is talking about. It must be noted, however, that the current UK coalition Government...

Clamping Industry (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I do not want to start off on a bad note with the Deputy but I do not regard clamping on private property as a traffic management issue and neither do I regard it as a priority for the National Transport Authority, eager and all as the Deputy might say it is to take on this issue. It will have enough regulation to implement when it takes on board taxi regulation, the regulation of bus...

Regional Airports (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together. The core airport management operational subvention scheme provides for an annual subvention to regional airports. The amount payable is based on projected losses by the airports in providing core services, after taking account of any surpluses from commercial activities or other income. This is in line with the view underlying the...

Regional Airports (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The figures I provided refer to the operational subvention and capital expenditure, which was the area referred to in the question. I will get the information on the PSO for the Deputy.

Regional Airports (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I will get the figures for the capital expenditure, CapEx, the operational expenditure, OpEx, and the PSO. With regard to the PSO, the airports are not dependent on the PSO alone. The PSO to which the Deputy referred is paid directly to the airlines rather than the airports. Obviously, it is a help to the airports because once there are passengers flying in and out, there is an income from...

Regional Airports (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy is right. However, I am sure it has not escaped his notice that there were severe cuts in the two budgets in 2008, the budget in 2009 and that we will have severe cuts in 2010. The transport budget was cut by €60 million last year and while some of that cut fell on the regional airports, I tried to protect them as best I could. A major portion of the cut was applied to local...

Regional Airports (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy asked whether the money provided is all that is available. At the moment, that is all I have available for the airports. We try in so far as we can to pay it out as early as possible to assist the airports in meeting payments. Like in every other area, we must cut our cloth to suit our measure.

Regional Airports (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: We have replied to Ryanair's letter about withdrawing and breaching its contract at Kerry airport. I do not want to elaborate on the basis that it may have to go further but we have made our views known on this. There is a procedure in the contract whereby six months' notice should be given by either side and that has not been respected in this case.

Regional Airports (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I can only spend money that I have or that I get. If I do not have it, I cannot give it to airports or other bodies. I have to divide the cake I have among the various areas of responsibility.

Regional Airports (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: No, it is not.

Regional Airports (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: We have conducted a value for money review of the regional airports. We took all their values and otherwise into account and recommendations, which have yet to be considered by the Government, were made on foot of that. I assure both Deputies that all aspects of the value of such airports and what they mean to local areas were fully analysed, as they were in the provision of greatly...

Taxi Regulations (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I understand that the Commission for Taxi Regulation's new reform programme seeks to achieve a 10% target of wheelchair accessible taxis and hackneys. Since June 2010 new small public service vehicle, SPSV, licences are issued only in respect of wheelchair accessible vehicles and a new category of wheelchair accessible hackney was introduced. I have been advised by the commission that...

Taxi Regulations (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: This matter comes under the remit of the Commission on Taxi Regulation. The recently announced regulations in this regard provide for the 10% target and provide that new licences will only be issued for taxis that are wheelchair accessible. This will increase the percentage of wheelchair accessible taxis. In addition, the taxi regulator made a proposal for a scheme to assist those who want...

Taxi Regulations (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I accept that the Commission on Taxi Regulation has endeavoured to put a scheme in place. The first scheme it put forward was not acceptable or workable and the second is being considered. I will consider it as urgently as I can in light of the finances available over the next few months.

Light Rail Project (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Since 1 December 2009, the implementation of metro north has been a matter for the National Transport Authority. However, as the business case will inform the final Government approval for the project, it is appropriate to address this issue. My Department's policy on the release of cost and economic information on transport projects is designed to protect the taxpayers' interest but a...