Results 2,421-2,440 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey
- Public Transport. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: There have been difficulties in the past. The 1932 Act is slow and cumbersome and is not fit for current purpose.
- Public Transport. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: Significant progress has been made in the delivery of the ambitious programme of works to upgrade our public transport system set out in Transport 21. A number of public transport projects have already been completed. The new Docklands railway station has opened and Irish Rail has completely modernised its intercity rolling stock. The new Portlaoise traincare depot is open and operational...
- Public Transport. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: Like the Deputy, I have been reading consistently negative comments in newspapers about metro north for as long as I have been in my Department and even prior to that time. Metro north is some people's pet hate and they continue to feed this feeling into the media.
- Public Transport. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: However, the project's situation has not changed one iota. It is one of Transport 21's two key public projects. As the Deputy is aware from newspaper reports, it is being delayed in the planning process.
- Public Transport. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: The two preferred tenderers are in place. As soon as the planning and tendering processes have concluded, the cost-benefit appraisal will be carried out. Once it proves positive, which I am certain will be the case, construction will commence. Any contracts we have signed must be honoured and those projects will continue. As to which projects might fall foul of the economic circumstances...
- Public Transport. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: Its next stage, the railway order, is under consideration. No final decision will be made on the project until we get that order.
- Proposed Legislation. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: A road traffic Bill that, inter alia, provides for a reduction in the blood alcohol concentration levels for drivers is nearing completion. The preparation of legislation takes time and I am sure Deputies will agree that it is important to get it right. The Bill will take account of the blood alcohol concentration levels proposed by the Road Safety Authority, RSA, last year. The...
- Proposed Legislation. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: The sooner the better. My most recent information in this regard is that, unlike the breathalyser and so on, there is no effective roadside test for drugs. However, drugs can show up in blood and urine samples, so there is some level of detection of drugs. Anecdotal evidence indicates an increasing number of people are being caught with drugs, but not necessarily alcohol, in their system....
- Proposed Legislation. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: I agree with the Deputy and I join him in appealing to those going to the concert to drive safely.
- State Airports. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: While I am aware of recent press articles about suggestions by the airline concerned that it plans to stop passengers checking in any baggage from next year, my Department has not received any proposal of this nature to date. Security measures specifically in respect of both cabin and hold baggage are currently in place as part of the overall aviation security regime in the State. These...
- State Airports. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: I do not know why the Deputy would seek a cost-benefit analysis that he knows does not exist. I am not quite sure about his logic.
- State Airports. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: I will provide the Deputy with a very quick cost-benefit analysis, not even on the back of an envelope. The tax is â¬10 per passenger and the benefit will be â¬95 million this year and â¬156 million potentially in a full year. A month ago, I asked the Deputy where he would get the â¬95 million we would have to forgo if we did not impose the tax and I am still awaiting a response.
- State Airports. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: Is the Deputy proposing to sell it?
- State Airports. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: Perhaps the Deputy will suggest disbanding the Army? Has he any other proposal?
- State Airports. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: On a serious point, I heard the suggestion about standing on airplanes some days ago. I had not been aware of it and all I could do was laugh. I am still laughing. With regard to security, there are rules and regulations stipulating what baggage one can bring to certain points in airports. These will be, and must be, enforced strictly.
- State Airports. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: It is not the practice to comment on specific security measures that are in place or which might be implemented at any of the State's airports. As I stated to Deputy Broughan, passengers are not permitted to carry certain articles into security-restricted areas or the cabin of the aircraft. Obviously some such articles are permitted in checked-in, hold-destined bags. Any change to current...
- Proposed Legislation. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 24, 35 and 64 together. In my reply to Question No. 5, I outlined the provisions on blood alcohol concentration and mandatory testing that will be included in the road traffic Bill, which is nearing completion. Clearly, I cannot at this stage specify when the new regime will come into place as the passage of the legislation will be a matter for the...
- Proposed Legislation. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: The Deputy is referring to administrative penalties. We stated on another occasion that the provisions in section 5, although in law, have never been commenced.
- Proposed Legislation. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: The administrative penalties come under section 5. The Garda, the Courts Service and various others have a strong desire to ensure section 5 would become operational because it would free up significant time for the Garda and the courts. There was a difficulty about records and establishing what happened over the previous five years but that has been overcome and I hope to be able to put...
- Proposed Legislation. (9 Jul 2009)
Noel Dempsey: The Bill will take account of the blood alcohol concentration levels that the RSA proposed last year. I cannot anticipate Government decisions on this. When a few issues about fixed penalties are sorted out I will bring the final draft of the Bill to Government. It will be published as soon as Government has passed it and I hope it will have a speedy passage through the House.