Results 20,341-20,360 of 21,042 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Other Questions: Transport Policy (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: That does not need a response.

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The Minister and I are aware of the claims regarding the alleged quashing of penalty points for road traffic offences. When provided with the documents the Minister forwarded a list of all the allegations to the Minister for Justice and Equality expressing his concern and asked that the matter be fully investigated. The Government believes the matter must be fully investigated. I...

Other Questions: Transport Policy (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 32 together. According to the census in 2011 around 1.14 million people drove to work or were passengers in a car, representing 69% of commuters. That was very similar to 2006 when around 1.18 million people drove to work or were passengers in a car. Despite the fall in car commuting numbers, due to lower numbers in employment, car...

Other Questions: Transport Policy (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I have taken the Deputy's comments on board. Everything is being done to ensure the public transport network is maintained and enhanced from a qualitative perspective, in particular, to make customer journeys a better experience, whether that is through WiFi, the RTPI, the leap card and many other adjustments. While I was surprised by some of the figures produced by the analysis, I was...

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: This year marks the tenth anniversary of the introduction of a system of penalty point offences in this country.  Earlier this year, the Department undertook a review of the system to determine whether any changes would be appropriate.  The finalised review was forwarded to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and...

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I could not agree more with the Deputy's last point. I also take on board his reference to efforts by previous Governments, in co-operation with the Opposition, in this vital area. We can never be complacent in this regard and must always seek to improve existing legislation. That is why, following on from the assessment of the Oireachtas committee, that the changes we are proposing will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Regional Airports (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy for his comments. He has spoken on this issue previously and he holds his opinion passionately. Knock airport is not under threat. It is a fine, successful airport, a fact that must be acknowledged. The Deputy's references to statements by my colleague, the Minister, should be taken in context. Those comments were more a reflection on Shannon's situation than on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Regional Airports (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I will take that message to him.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I met with the Garda Commissioner as recently as last month on the matter of enforcement. To enforce the taxi regulations, including pursuit of the offences mentioned in the Deputy’s question, the role of the Garda Síochána is critical to support the work of the enforcement officers of the National Transport Authority, NTA, who have responsibility for nationwide...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank Deputy Ellis for his contribution. I note from previous contributions he has made and conversations I have had with him that he has a strong interest in the issue of taxis. The taxi Bill to be introduced in the Seanad early in the new year is the most comprehensive legislation on taxis in the history of the State. I hope everyone will support the Bill as it offers the only way...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: It is coming up to Christmas and we are all feeling flaithiúlach.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Regional Airports (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: In the first instance, there is not a support package in place for Shannon Airport. The Deputy will recall that the Minister for Finance announced in his recent budget speech that he will put in place measures to facilitate the construction of hangars and ancillary facilities that will be key to attracting additional aviation sector organisations. However, these are based on...

Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: That started as a compliment but I do not know how it ended.

Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The last thing the Irish taxi industry needs is more time. Nobody has consulted more with the taxi industry and its drivers than I have. I get taxis all the time and I have met representatives of all the groups on multiple occasions. The taxi industry has many great people working in it but it is not an homogeneous group, and nothing I say will completely satisfy the entire group. We have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Services (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The question relates to the Minister's intentions concerning the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus. This shareholding is one of the assets included in the State asset disposal programme and the Government has agreed that the shareholding is to be sold at an appropriate time but only when market conditions are favourable and at an acceptable price to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Services (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I am glad the Deputy welcomes the Government's decision, which was correct. In one sense the Government very much needed to consider the case and make the decision and there was no delay in making the announcement. No information is available on how the Commission will act and I would not have expected the Deputy to believe such information is available. We know there is a defined time for...

Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. When I first came into office, one of my key priorities was to tackle rogue operators in the taxi sector. There has been unfair competition in the taxi market to date as those full-time professional drivers who do their business well have been obliged to compete with those who consistently flout the rules. The system of regulation needed to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003, and is also the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, including the implementation of the taxi “branding” as set out in that Report.   ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The National Transport Authority was established on 1st December 2009 and responsibility for the provision of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area, such as LUAS Broombridge, now comes under the remit of the Authority. There has been extensive engagement between the Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin City Council, Dublin Bus and other stakeholders over...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycle Facilities (20 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: This question is about the expansion of the Dublin Bikes scheme. Currently, I understand that the National Transport Authority is working with Dublin City Council  to enable the first phase of this expansion to progress.  I am informed that this phase is focussed on expanding the scheme eastwards into the Docklands and westwards to Heuston Station.  Discussions are...