Results 1,761-1,780 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Airport Security. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: We need the terminal capacity by 2009 or 2010. Not only will that have an impact on a new terminal or the new pier D and contact stands that will be created, it will allow us to reconfigure the operation into a much more cohesive one. Deputy Mitchell raised an important point regarding transiting through Dublin Airport. It will have to be made easier for passengers to transit and this is...

Airport Security. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy has picked up on an issue that colleagues have raised with me during the past week, that is, that there should be at least one access point in the security system for those with no hand luggage. We agree with the Deputy on that point. I do not regard a ten or 15 minute wait as excessive. All Members have had the experience of travelling through airports throughout the world. I have...

Airport Security. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The key people on the committee hold high public office whether in the Garda or elsewhere, and I am not in a position to remove them from office. They are the best people.

Airport Security. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: We should be more balanced with regard to the issue on the day. By and large the security system was excellent. A few issues were pointed out. From my reading of the issue, the more serious failures were with the airlines, not within the airport. I say that without fear or favour. There are specific areas in aeroplanes that must be checked every time. Objects were placed in those areas that...

Airport Security. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I have spoken to the officials in my Department who were taken aback because they had been carrying out regular checks and did not see these flaws. The flaws have been corrected in a way that will make it virtually impossible for those types of issues to occur again.

Airport Security. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: No, but put in context, by and large all the security issues worked extremely well.

Rail Network. (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I thank Deputy Cowley for raising this issue. Deputies will recall that in June 2004 the then Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, set up the western rail corridor working group under the chairmanship of Mr. Pat McCann, chief executive, Jurys Doyle Hotel Group. The establishment of the working group was primarily intended to provide a forum where those individuals and organisations who had...

Written Answers — Rail Accidents: Rail Accidents (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I assume the Deputy is referring to an incident which took place on 6 April 2005. The Interim Railway Safety Commission has already been in contact with Iarnród Éireann about this incident and will monitor closely the company's internal inquiry. If this monitoring reveals issues of importance to railway safety, the Interim Railway Safety Commission will take appropriate action. In the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: Since taking office I have met the chairman of CIE on a number of occasions to discuss major developments affecting the CIE Group. Matters raised during the course of these meetings would include issues of a general strategic and financial nature. I also have regular informal conversations with the chairman. A meeting with the full board of CIE is scheduled for the 1 June 2005. In addition,...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 20, 51 and 139 to 142, inclusive, together. I have already dealt in detail with the position in regard to the provision of additional terminal capacity at Dublin Airport in my earlier reply today to Priority Questions Nos. 2 and 4. With regard to Aer Lingus, as one of the main customers of Dublin Airport, Aer Lingus operational requirements will have to be...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: In total my Department provided some €214.12 million to Iarnród Éireann for the purchase of rolling stock in the period 1999-2004 as follows: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m 15.41 23.56 4.4 62.52 88.28 19.94 No funding was provided to Iarnród Éireann for this purpose...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The report by consultants Farrell Grant Sparks, FGS, concerned the organisational structure for the proposed driver testing and standards authority. The report will assist in the process of setting up the authority as the establishment of the authority will require detailed consultation and negotiations with staff representatives and the report's recommendations are an important input into...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 41 together. The working group to examine the proposal to reopen the western rail corridor was established by my predecessor, Deputy Séamus Brennan, in June last year. The chairman of the group, Mr. Pat McCann, chief executive of Jurys Doyle Hotel Group, submitted a report to me within the last 48 hours. In the time available I have not had the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 48, 50 and 133 together. The transport investment framework will build on the work already completed under the transport element of the NDP. It will also take account of the work already done on investment priorities under the current capital envelope to end 2009 and of the various strategic studies already completed by my Department and its agencies,...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Dublin Transportation Office's A Platform for Change provides the transport-planning framework for the development of the transport system in the greater Dublin area up to 2016 and is being used by my Department to guide investment decisions under the current five year capital envelope and the preparation of a ten year transport investment framework. Major increases in the capacity of the...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: Significant investment has been made to date under the national development plan in acquiring new buses for Dublin Bus. As a consequence, the capacity of the fleet has been increased by nearly 25% and the company is now carrying approximately 150 million passengers per annum. Approximately 400 buses have been purchased by Dublin Bus since 1999 with the assistance of Exchequer and EU funds....

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The aim of EuroRAP is to improve road safety by assessing risks and identifying shortcomings on national road networks across Europe that can be addressed with practical road improvement measures. This is a commendable goal and I therefore welcome the publication of their recent report on the state of Ireland's major national roads. I note that the NRA made a very substantial contribution to...

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: Ministerial approval in respect of payments to former Aer Rianta board members related to certain cases involving the premature termination of their terms of office. It was agreed by my predecessor that three board members who had not completed their terms of office as envisaged at the time of their original appointment should be paid the balance of their directors' fees which would otherwise...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: I have met members of the board and staff of the National Roads Authority, NRA, on a number of occasions since taking up office as Minister for Transport. I met with the entire board on 10 May 2004. There is very regular correspondence and liaison between my Department and the NRA in relation to the national roads programme including, in particular, in relation to the drawdown of grants,...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (12 May 2005)

Martin Cullen: The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, make toll bye-laws and enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the National Roads Authority, NRA, under Part V of the Roads Act 1993, as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000. The buy-out of NTR's tolling rights at Westlink has not been considered by my Department or by the...