Results 1,721-1,740 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Public Transport. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: In March 2002, the Railway Procurement Agency was given statutory responsibility for the delivery of an integrated ticketing system. The proposed contactless smartcard-based integrated ticketing system will enable a passenger to use a ticket on one or more scheduled public transport services, by road and rail, irrespective of the transport operator involved. It will be introduced on a phased...

Public Transport. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I want the system to be available to everybody who provides a public transport service here. That is the way the customer wants the system to work, namely, to facilitate ease of movement in terms of whatever mode of transport the customer chooses to use. I wish to clarify that the timeframe for the introduction of this system is four years. That 2002-06 timeframe is the best in terms of the...

Public Transport. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: We rolled out the Luas this year.

Public Transport. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I know that. It took six years for a similar development to be put in place in London.

Public Transport. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The timeframe for the introduction of this system is 2002-06. I am happy that the system is on schedule. Hong Kong has the most successful such system in the world and it took four years for it to be rolled out. We have started to roll out our system. We have it in place in the private sector and the public sector. I hope that Bus Éireann, the DART and all the other public transport...

Public Transport. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: We will meet that timeframe — it is as simple as that.

Road Network. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department has not, to date, carried out an analysis on the future tolling of the M50. The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads and to enter toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the National Roads Authority under Part VI of the Roads Act 1993, as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000. Tolling of the M50, therefore, and any...

Road Network. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I set out the legal responsibilities in this regard. Under various Acts, the National Roads Authority is charged with these responsibilities. I have a view which I expressed directly to National Toll Roads and the NRA. I want to move to barrier-free tolling on the M50 as quickly as is humanly possible. I have asked for that.

Road Network. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: Let me move to my second point. We are increasing the capacity of the M50 by 50%, which is substantial. It will be of great benefit to road users in that area. There is no doubt that we will have to move to demand management of traffic in Dublin. However, before moving fully to that position, I want to give people in Dublin and those who visit the capital city a choice of public transport...

Road Network. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I already answered the Deputy's question twice, but obviously he does not agree with my reply. I agree that there must be demand management in the future. There are many different ways of doing so; it does not necessarily mean tolling all the exits and entrances on the M50. This is one of the options which is suggested. I agree with the Deputy that there should not be traffic lights which...

Road Network. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The income streams from the toll bridge are used by the State for the upgrading of the M50, which is extremely important and much warranted. I welcome the project which has been approved by An Bord Pleanála and is now under way.

Road Network. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy is missing my point. I have already spoken to the NRA and NTR, two commercial operations. The NRA operates independently but on behalf of the State. It must negotiate with NTR. It is exploring many options with regard to substantial improvements and tolling on the M50. I look forward to the conclusion of the discussions and to the NRA coming back to me with proposals. I have a very...

State Airports. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 17, 57, 65 and 72 together. In keeping with the provisions of the State Airports Act 2004, the board of the Dublin Airport Authority has a statutory mandate to do everything necessary to give effect to the restructuring of the State airports. The Shannon and Cork airport authorities were incorporated in October 2004 and in line with the framework provided...

State Airports. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I fully understand the importance of the Great Southern Hotels group, about which I have spoken to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. While I do not wish to pre-empt the business plans, I have met the people in Cork, Shannon and Dublin and there is great enthusiasm for what is happening. The opportunities that independence will bring to Shannon and Cork have been well greeted and they...

State Airports. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: One of the benefits of our current position is that we engage in serious business planning. It is difficult to answer the Deputy's question in that I have not got the business plan. However, Dublin Airport Authority has made is absolutely clear that, in the business planning process, all the issues concerning the subsidiaries of the authority, which formerly existed in the guise of Aer...

State Airports. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The history of the Great Southern Hotels group is clear. I have no objection to maintaining Great Southern Hotels in State ownership, if it remains profitable. However, the hotels must be run efficiently and well in terms of the mix in the tourism market and the hotel business, which is very competitive. There is no reason the group should not remain in State ownership. I am in the difficult...

State Airports. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: There has been much general discussion. The Government, including the Taoiseach, is anxious to see the business plans produced. The Taoiseach has been very clear that he believes the Great Southern Hotels group is an important element in the public sector and would like to see it remain in that sector.

State Airports. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: He said that publicly on numerous occasions.

State Airports. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The transfer of assets to Shannon and Cork airport authorities could not have taken place earlier than April of this year. For the company to distribute its assets, it must have the cash reserves to match the distributive value of those assets. The early indications were that Shannon Airport would be dealt with first and that it might take some time to deal with Cork Airport. However, it is...

State Airports. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I know of no business that does not have some debt attaching to it. There were many interpretations of some of the comments made at an early phase. I had meetings with representatives of Cork, Shannon and Dublin airports and there is no question but that everybody wants the airports to become independent as quickly as possible. People want Cork and Shannon airports to operate on the most...