Results 2,101-2,120 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I have nothing to do with roads in Exeter.

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: On a point of order, I do not rule out any questions.

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: " — welcomes the sustained commitment of the Government under Transport 21 and earlier transport investment programmes to upgrading transport infrastructure and services and the good results obtained from this investment including reduced journey times for road passenger and freight traffic...

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Thanks to this Fine Gael motion, I have the opportunity to report on the progress made by agencies including the NRA and CIE in upgrading our transport infrastructure and on the beneficial impact of the sustained high level of investment in transport; on the arrangements to evaluate and monitor Exchequer funded capital and current expenditure by the NRA and CIE; and on the arrangements to...

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: To clarify to the House, the Baker Tilly report was handed to a named official in the Houses at 2.30 p.m. on that Friday. I do not know why it took until 6 p.m. for people here to get it.

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I got it on the Tuesday or Wednesday of that week.

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am entitled to read it.

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Minister would be entitled-----

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: -----to read it before the Opposition spokespersons-----

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: -----as a matter of course. Striking the right balance between giving State agencies the freedom to get on with the job and putting in place adequate arrangements to ensure that they account for their stewardship of public funds is difficult. We have created a range of public bodies to carry out important tasks on behalf of the State and the taxpayer. The job of the Government and the...

Accountability of Government Agencies and Companies: Motion (10 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I stress that I am accountable for my statutory functions, while the NRA and CIE are accountable for theirs. The Fine Gael motion seems to suggest that the Minister and the Department should be answerable for all and every aspect of the activities of the NRA and CIE. This is neither reasonable nor practicable and if followed to its logical conclusion would result in every detail finishing...

Health Service Staff. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. The Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar provides an extensive range of acute services to the population of Dublin and the midlands and, in particular, to people in the Longford-Westmeath area. The Government has shown its commitment to the hospital by the capital...

Schools Building Projects. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science. Scoil Bhríde has a principal plus 19 teachers and four learning-resource teachers. In September 2008, it had 520 pupils and has seen a 24% increase in its enrolments over the five years up to September 2008. The project is in an area experiencing rapid growth and has a band rating of...

Hospital Services. (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I welcome the opportunity to set out the current position on cancer services at Sligo General Hospital. Deputies may recall a previous debate relating to the transfer of breast cancer diagnostic and surgical services from Sligo General Hospital to University Hospital...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In the period 1997 to 2009 over €3.03 billion in Exchequer subvention has been paid to CIÉ towards the operational cost of loss making socially and economically necessary services. The allocation of €303m in 2009 represents an increase of 127% in the 1997 figure, but a decrease of 1.7% on the 2008 provision and a decrease of 1.1% on the 2007 provision. In addition an amount of €3.2...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I was not briefed by the State appointed directors on the Board of Aer Lingus Group plc on the company's cost restructuring plan. A representative from the company briefed officials from my Department immediately following the company's announcement to the Stock Exchange on 7th October and my officials then briefed me on the matter. Decisions on commercial and operational matters at Aer...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 51 together. I recently announced the appointment of Mr. John Fitzgerald as chairperson and Mr. Gerry Murphy as chief executive designate of the Dublin Transport Authority. On the passing into law of the Public Transport Regulation Bill 2009 which is currently before the Dail, the Dublin Transport Authority will be renamed as the National Transport...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports and as such the preparation of a contingency plan in the event of a strike is a matter for the company. In fulfilling its remit the DAA has informed me that it seeks to ensure that continuity of service is maintained across the wide range of services it provides...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 33 and 127 together. An Bórd Pleanála adjourned the Oral Hearing into the Railway Order application for Metro North in April this year, to allow consideration of further information requested from the Railway Procurement Agency. An Bórd Pleanála subsequently wrote to the Agency requesting further additional information in respect of the application....

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (5 Nov 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Dublin Bus has reported good progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Deloitte report on the cost and efficiency review of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann. In line with the recommendations of the report and taking account of the need to reduce its operating deficit, Dublin Bus is, inter alia, redesigning its network based on most recent pattern of demand/demographics and...