Results 2,621-2,640 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Transport Manager Policy: Transport Manager Policy (1 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: A consultation paper was issued to all licensed Road Transport Operators (approximately 7,500) in March 2009 proposing a number of changes to the current Transport Manager Policy. The document was also placed on my Department's Website (www.transport.ie) and sent to a number of representative bodies and agencies. Currently, Transport Managers employed by firms are not allowed to engage in any...

Written Answers — Integrated Ticketing System: Integrated Ticketing System (1 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The integrated ticketing system in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is being introduced on a phased basis, based on smartcard technology. A progressive approach is being adopted to allow customers to familiarise themselves with using the new system and to permit transport operators to undertake the necessary testing with the integration of the technologies involved. The project is now firmly...

Seanad: Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 was initiated in this House on 9 June and we had a very good discussion on it. All Stages were passed here, with some amendments, on 16 June. It subsequently passed all Stages in Dáil Éireann last night, with two further amendments. These amendments arose from similar amendments that were tabled on Seanad Report Stage by Labour Party Senators and...

Seanad: Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (1 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Before dealing with group 2, I thank Senators for their positive comments. When bringing forward legislation, in particular complicated legislation that requires significant attention, I try to bring it to the Seanad first, because of my positive experience with one of the longest pieces of legislation outside of a Finance Bill, namely, the Planning and Development Act 2000. The...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am concerned and disappointed at the suspension of these services. I recognise the harsh realities of the marketplace at present and the impact that reduced demand has had on long-haul operations globally in the past few months. I am particularly concerned, from both a business and tourism perspective, at the impact on connectivity of Ireland arising from decisions to reduce flights to...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In view of the severe constraints on Exchequer finances, it was found necessary to reduce the provision for regional and local road improvements by €150 million in the 7 April Supplementary Budget. As a consequence, road grants already allocated for regional and local roads in February were reviewed, and revised road grants totalling €447.7 million were allocated to local authorities on...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Value for Money Reviews completed by this Department since 2006 are set out in tabular form below. Name of Review Year completed Road Safety 2006 CIE Subvention 2007 The DTO Traffic Management Grants Scheme 2008 Strategic Non National Roads 2008 Railway Safety Programme 2008 The finding of each review can be found on the Department's website at www.transport.ie (under Publications).

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The amount of interest paid by my Department in respect of the late payments for goods or services for the past five years and to date in 2009 is as follows: Year â'¬ 2005 103 2006 893 2007 734 2008 284 2009 to date 418 In response to a recent Government decision in relation to prompt payments, my Department is committed to paying suppliers within 15 days of receipt of valid...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together. Under the Railway Safety Act 2005, random testing of safety critical workers on the railways in relation to intoxicants is a matter for the relevant railway undertaking, and not for the Railway Safety Commission. I refer the Deputy to the Annual Report 2008 of the Railway Safety Commission, where details of Iarnród Éireann's...

Written Answers — Rail Safety: Rail Safety (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 260 together. The Deputy is referring to comments made by the Railway Safety Commission in its Annual Report 2008. The Railway Safety Commission is the independent safety regulator for railways and the details of the items raised by the Deputy are therefore a matter for the Commission which may be raised directly with it.

Written Answers — Aviation Safety: Aviation Safety (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together. The Irish Aviation Authority was established by the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993. The principal functions of the Authority are the safety oversight of civil aviation activities and the provision of air navigation services in the State. Prior to enactment of the 1993 Act, these functions were carried out by the Department of...

Written Answers — Aviation Safety: Aviation Safety (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 to 265, inclusive, together. The Irish Aviation Authority was established by the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993. The principal functions of the Authority are the safety oversight of civil aviation activities and the provision of air navigation services in the State. Section 32 of the Act requires me "to appoint a person to carry out an examination of...

Written Answers — Aviation Safety: Aviation Safety (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together. On 19 September, 2008 I received the Irish Aviation Authority's report on the radar malfunction at Dublin airport on 9 July, 2008. The report was also made publicly available on the Authority's website www.iaa.ie. As set out in the report, the measures being implemented by the IAA and THALES ATM were intended to minimise the effect of a...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As Deputy Broughan said, we had a long discussion on this in the Seanad. I thank Senator Ryan for bringing this to our attention and Deputy Broughan for making another attempt to try to make it as clear as we possibly can. The concern everybody has is the interest of the traveller rather than anything else. I hope Deputy Broughan will accept that amendment No. 5 fulfils the spirit and the...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: There will be quite an amount of interaction between stakeholders and so on. A consultative group will be in place shortly after this is implemented and, as I said, reviews will be carried out as required. There are different and important stakeholders involved in this. Passengers will want a pleasant experience when they are travelling to the United States. The airport authorities will...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 5: In page 9, subsection (1)(i)(II), line 7, after "expedient" to insert "in the interests of the person being searched".

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Regarding Deputy O'Donnell's point, at no stage did I put forward the proposition that the Government was providing €20 million for the facility at Shannon or was I being disingenuous about it. I was asked about the capital costs of the facility and I replied what they were. On Deputy Pat Breen's point seeking assistance for Shannon for this, the facility is being paid for by the Dublin...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: This is a facility that provides a competitive advantage for Shannon. Its cost of €20 million has to be paid in some way. The Dublin Airport Authority will pay the initial capital cost. The costs will be recouped from the people who use it, in return for the convenience of being precleared. Such people will not be delayed at the far side when they arrive in the United States. It is an...

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Shannon Airport will have the advantage for the next 15 months. The Deputies have spoken about the need to market the airport.

Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2009)

Noel Dempsey: That is a job for the airport. It is doing that job and should be encouraged to continue to do it, in conjunction with Shannon Development and the tourism bodies. I am not at all dismissive of the report mentioned by Deputy O'Donnell. The Government has invested €4.5 million in the mid-west region. If the Deputy can give me an example of another region of this country that has €4.5...