Results 20,401-20,420 of 21,042 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Financial Resolutions 2013 - Financial Resolution No. 15: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: I start by acknowledging that it is a difficult time for public transport in this country. Retaining services will be a major challenge in the year ahead for private operators, public operators, taxi drivers, passengers and those dependent on the rural transport system, but one from which we will not shy away. We have found ourselves in an horrific economic situation left to us by the...

Financial Resolutions 2013 - Financial Resolution No. 15: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: Chairman-----

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (6 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the process for transfer of taxi licences, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposed Legislation (4 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The Government gave its approval for the publication of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 and for its presentation to Seanad Eireann. The Bill will be published shortly with commencement of the first and second stages in the Seanad scheduled in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycle Facilities (4 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The route referred to was awarded funding under my Department's National Cycle Network Funding scheme which I initiated this year.  While project delivery in individual cases is a matter for the local authorities concerned I am aware that the route section within the County Council area is progressing well, and should be completed for the end of this year.  I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (4 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: Action 31 of the Review Report proposes the introduction of a distinctive branding on taxis and wheelchair accessible taxis by means of a semi-permanent decal to be applied to the doors on either side of the vehicle, incorporating the umbrella 'Transport for Ireland' design. The aim of the branding is to provide greater recognition of taxis, promote greater professionalism of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (4 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011 made recommendations with regard to the future system of consultation with the taxi industry. The Review Group proposed under Action 34 that taxi industry representative groups may make a referral to the Taxi Advisory Committee in relation to the introduction of industry regulations. In addition, Action 35 of the Review Report proposes that a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (4 Dec 2012)

Alan Kelly: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the operation of the testing process under the SPSV skills development programme, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: This is a technical amendment which I hope the House will support. It will delete section 2 of the Transport Act 1955, the requirement for which has now been superseded by subsequent legislation concerning CIE borrowing, namely, section 5 of the Transport Act 1964 as amended, which deals with borrowing for capital purposes. I urge Senators to support the amendment.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank all the Senators for their contributions and kind words. It was my intention to introduce this Bill in the Seanad and I appreciate the constructive way Senator Barrett outlined his amendments. I appreciate the contributions of all the Senators on the various Stages. It is a topic that can give rise to discussion on many different areas. There are varying views on the mix of...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: I oppose these amendments. We do not believe it is appropriate to accept amendment No. 7 as there are already sufficient safeguards in the legislation relating to the control of CIE's borrowing. Section 2 updates section 20 of the Transport (Re-Organisation of Córas Iompair Éireann) Act 1986 which deals with the power of the board to lend money to its subsidiaries. It is important that...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: I have outlined the position on the amendments. The Senator makes some very valid points about the evaluation process. There was a different regime in place prior to the current Government taking office and it is probably an area that was not considered enough. There was not enough evaluation. It is a case of needs must now. It is no longer appropriate to just do good projects; we must...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: I appreciate the Senator's strong views on the importance of robust capital appraisal of public transport investment. He has made long-standing commentary on the issue. I am not in favour of the amendment proposing independent appraisal of capital expenditure, even though I have no disagreement with him on the need for projects to be appraised to the required standard by public transport...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: I have some sympathy with the Senator's view on this. Sections 1(4) and 1(5) restate previous provisions relating to the issuing of stock under section 28 of the Transport Act 1950. There is no current proposal for CIE to acquire any transport undertaking but, on balance, I prefer to retain the section as it stands. I cannot accept the proposed amendment. The section was included in 1950,...

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: These amendments are grouped differently.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: It is not what I have. The grouping is ordered as follows: amendments Nos. 1, 3 and 4 are in the first group; and amendments Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, are in the second group.

Seanad: Transport (Córas Iompair Éireann and Subsidiary Companies Borrowings) Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Senators for those comments, and I appreciate the spirit in which they were made. I will get to amendments Nos. 1, 3 and 4 in a moment. We are in difficult circumstances. We have had a fairly thorough debate and I hope Senators appreciate the honesty with which I conduct debates every time I come here. I have probably been here on more occasions than most in discussing my...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2012
Vote 31 - Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (27 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: The answer is simple. There was another allocation to road safety in this budget. All the programmes have spent their budget. There was an over-allocation. They did not feel it warranted the use of that allocation this year and it was not used. Having said that, the Road Safety Authority, with which we work very closely, is looking at variations in terms of its future programmes and...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2012
Vote 31 - Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (27 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: There was a range of questions which I will address in no particular order because some of them overlap. The helicopter will be delivered in 2013. It is purely a payment going over the threshold of 2012 into 2013. The Doolin facility is down in the plan. We do not yet project it will be in 2013. That is something that will be looked at and I will get back to Deputy Dooley on it.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2012
Vote 31 - Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (27 Nov 2012)

Alan Kelly: At present, it is not in 2013. That is something I will come back to confirm. On the loss of revenue at the National Aquatic Centre, this relates to a couple of one-off events in the failure of a CHP plant and also a tragedy that resulted in substantial revenue losses that needed to be accounted for this year. Its operation thereafter is expected to be as normal.