Results 20,281-20,300 of 21,042 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulations (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: The Taxi Regulation Bill 2012, published last December, is a major step in the process of implementing the recommendations of the taxi regulation review report published earlier last year.  In line with the recommendations of the review report, the Bill restates and strengthens the proportionality of the existing legislative provision for mandatory disqualification of persons convicted...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 141 together. Along with Minister Varadkar, I meet regularly with the Chairpersons of CIÉ and its subsidiaries in relation to the current and future financial situation of the group. My Department, supported by NewEra, have also engaged extensively with CIÉ on its financial and business planning. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 153 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Priority Question No. 4 which I answered earlier.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Since becoming Minister for Public and Commuter Transport the developments I have initiated have been aimed at ensuring that into the future we have a more complete and cost effective transport service offering in rural areas that better meets the transport needs of all users. To this end national responsibility for local and rural transport services integration,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I am advised by the National Transport Authority that funding dispersed to Seirbhís Iompair Tuaithe Teoranta (SITT) Rural Transport Programme (RTP) for 2007 to 2012 inclusive and an indicative amount for 2013, is set out in the table below.  Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta (MFG) went into liquidation in September 2011 and SITT stepped into the role of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (19 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: The regulation of the taxi industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. The skills development programme, including the area knowledge test, for the purposes of SPSV driver licensing is administered by the NTA. The NTA also administers the SPSV vehicle licensing application process with regard to...

Promissory Notes Arrangement: Motion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: The Deputy should quote what he said about the promissory notes.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Rural Transport Scheme (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I am well aware of the rural transport issues in Kerry. As Senator Daly will be well aware, I know the area-----

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Rural Transport Scheme (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: -----including his own town, extremely well. I also visited the group a year or more ago. We are stuck in a structure where there is a value-for-money report of which we need to meet certain requirements. There is a defined amount of funding. There is a defined requirement that we must meet given the financial circumstances. However, I am a committed supporter of rural transport groups and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Rural Transport Scheme (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: The programme for Government commits to maintaining and extending the rural transport programme with other local transport services in as much as that is practicable. The Government recognises that this programme, which was launched in 2007 following a pilot project between 2002 and 2007, can play a major role in combatting rural isolation and enhancing the mobility, accessibility and...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: The amendments deal with the issues referred to by the Senator in the rental market. The market needs to change. Members will have watched the television programmes and read newspaper articles about the way in which the rental market developed willy nilly. A licence holder could rent out his or her plate and the person driving the car did not have to ensure standards were maintained. A...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Taxi licences are held in company names and provision for the grant of further licences to companies is contained in section 9(7). All applicants for licences are required to meet the suitability requirements set out in section 10. Section 10(2)(e) contains specific measures relating to the suitability of members of companies. This technical amendment allows the NTA to make licensing...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I cannot agree to amendment No. 9. It allows the NTA to make regulations setting different requirements and conditions relating to different categories and classes of vehicles, SPS drivers and licences as well as-----

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I understand that. Section 7(4)(b) enables the NTA to make regulations, if needed, to address issues such as drivers operating in the voluntary sector or in other circumstances while section 7(4)(c) enables the authority to make regulations to address the area restrictions that currently exist in regard to standing or plying for hire. Some of the issues relate to making provisions to...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: I have very little to repeat, except to say there is no need for this in legislation. The market has been fully liberalised, as has already been stated. I can understand and appreciate the free marketeer approach. There must be a balance between a laissez-faire approach to regulation, where one believes that all forms of regulation are bad, and establishing a body that can ensure that...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Amendment No. 7, to section 7, is to ensure vehicles or equipment under leasing arrangements are included in any regulations made by the NTA under subsection (2) which concerns restrictions on the rental of small public service vehicles, SPSVs. Similarly, amendment No. 10, which replaces subsection (6), prohibits the contravention of restrictions on rental and leasing arrangements for...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: How could one resist that?

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Unfortunately, I cannot. I will not be agreeing to the amendment. The matter of quantitative controls in the taxi market was already addressed in the courts, as we previously discussed, and the outcome was the liberalisation of the taxi market. The Bill does not provide for any quantitative restrictions on the taxi market in line with the view taken by the review group in the Taxi...

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Have we dealt with amendment No. 12?

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2012: Committee Stage (12 Feb 2013)

Alan Kelly: Amendments Nos. 5 and 12 are being taken together.