Results 20,621-20,640 of 23,109 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: Like other Oireachtas Members and local authority representatives, I feel strongly about this issue. Accountability to the Dáil reflects the real heart of democracy and the Minister of State realises that. While he did his best to appease me in his reply, I do not believe I can accept it because I feel so strongly about this matter. Oireachtas Members have seen their powers eroded over...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: I move amendment No. 7: In page 15, before section 11, to insert the following new section: 11.—(1) A local authority may make a bye-law under Part 19 of the Local Government Act 2001, to regulate parking for mechanically propelled vehicles in a specific area within its functional area. (2) Such bye-law shall specify— (a) the specific area covered by the bye-law, (b) the persons or...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: Donegal is doing well at the moment.

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: The Minister of State states that amendment No. 8 encompasses my amendment. Our main concern should be to allay the fears of the people living adjacent to Croke Park and other venues by helping them to cope with the problems they face during major events. They have suffered significant trauma on many occasions and it is not the nicest experience to be a prisoner in one's own house every...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: I move amendment No. 13: In page 16, before section 13, to insert the following new section: "13—(1) The Minister may, by order, introduce mandatory testing for any intoxicant that he or she deems appropriate. (2) In making an order under subsection (1), the Minister shall have regard to Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1994 and any regulations made under it. (3) Any testing under...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: I agree with the Minister that the public would like such a test to be introduced. He stated that a test has not been introduced in Europe. Does that mean the test would have to be introduced in Europe before it could be introduced in Ireland?

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: I move amendment No. 14: In page 16, before section 13, to insert the following new section: 13.—(1) The Minister shall, as soon as may be practicable after the commencement of this Act, by order— (a) put such structures in place as he or she deems necessary to ensure that the standard of driving in Ireland is maintained and improved, (b) put such pre-conditions in place as he or she...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: The Minister of State said the consultation process on driving instructor regulation was over. Is there a timeframe for the regulation of driving instructors? Will it be in the next few weeks? Will a new Government introduce it?

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: Will the Department of Transport look after this?

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (20 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: I refer to the increase of speed limits from 100 km/h to the maximum of 120 km/h on roads such as the Naas dual carriageway, the N4, the N6, the Ennis bypass or the Buncrana bypass. Many roads are dual carriageway standard but the speed limit on them has not been changed to the maximum speed limit. The Minister said on Second Stage that this legislation would allow for that. Will the...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme. (7 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: I have given the Senator ample time to make his point.

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Cullen, and wish him well in bringing this important legislation through the House. While several new powers and functions are provided for in the Bill, there is no doubt the most important are those relating to barrier-free tolling. I assume barrier-free tolling on the M50 is the main consideration of the Bill and it endeavours to facilitate its introduction....

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: There can be no doubt the M50 tolling regime has been a disaster from start to finish. This was a poor deal for taxpayers from the outset. It is a reflection of the wider deficiencies in the body politic at the time, which ensured the needs of the public remained bottom of the list of priorities. We should not forget this poor deal was delivered by a Fianna Fáil Government.

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: Twenty years later, with this latest €600 million sweetheart deal for NTR, the same mistakes are being played out again. Once more, taxpayers must bear the brunt for Fianna Fáil ineptitude and incompetence. I could not put it better than a member of the Fianna Fáil Party, Deputy Fleming, who commented at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport in 2006 as follow, "Shame...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: Not only were taxpayers and motorists subjected to a poor deal under the 1987 Fianna Fáil-signed arrangement but that party's abysmal track record of negotiating on behalf of taxpayers was evident on two other occasions. In 2001, the State entered into a further contract with NTR for the development of a second West Link bridge. The outcome of this deal is that the State has paid €1.1...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: NTR has been the primary beneficiary of investment in the M50. As each new section was opened, it funnelled ever more vehicles through its toll bridges. Despite spending only €38 million on those toll bridges, the company has reaped a rich reward of more than €230 million. When the Comptroller and Auditor General examined this deal in 2004, he concluded, "The cost to users by way of...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: That is unacceptable. Currently, more than 20% of all penalty points detected are not imposed, largely because they involve cars not registered in the State. Will that situation apply to the new tolling regime? That will mean that motorists who do pay will end up paying for those who do not. We are about to invest in a new road tolling regime and a new speed camera regime at a cost of...

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: Regarding the payment of tolls, it has been brought to my attention that pre-paid tolls cannot be used on all toll roads and that a different payment system will be needed for, say, the M50, the N4——

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: Currently, the tag does not cover all the——

Seanad: Roads Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Mar 2007)

Paddy Burke: If that is the case I will welcome it.