Results 3,281-3,300 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As I have stated previously the provision of increased capacity is my key consideration in determining public transport investment priorities in the period ahead. In that context, Metro North and the DART Underground are particularly important rail investments as they form a core part of the planned integrated public transport network for the Greater Dublin Area envisaged by Transport 21. In...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In accordance with the Agreed Programme for Government commitment, the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 was enacted in July 2008 and provides for the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority, the DTA. For the first time, we have the law in place to ensure that a single body will be in charge of surface transport in the Greater Dublin Area. The DTA Act 2008 gives the new Dublin...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: A significant number of roads and rail projects are under construction at the present time and the costs involved are set on the award and signing of the associated contracts. The costs of future projects will be determined by the bids received as part of the procurement processes. The implementing State agencies have indicated to my Department that there is a general downward trend in the...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 to 282, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the market for air services in the Community was fully liberalised in 1992. All European carriers, whether publicly owned or privately owned are free to compete on an equal basis within the European market. The opening up of the market has completely transformed air travel in Europe and has brought...

Air Services. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy is of course correct; it is an open market and people can do this if they want to. The list and litany of the various charges read out by the Deputy would lead any reasonable person to conclude that a €10 departure tax was not the straw that broke any camel's back.

Air Services. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: It is very instructive that Deputy Broughan, who has frequently stood up in the House and attacked and ranted and raved about Ryanair and Michael O'Leary and about the manner in which he does his business, is now a firm believer of the gospel according to Michael. There is no sane person in this country——

Air Services. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: ——who believes for one minute that Ryanair decided to reduce the number of flights out of Shannon or out of Dublin because of the €10 departure tax. Ryanair reduced those flights because it estimates the number of passengers flying out of Shannon and Dublin in 2009 will be less than it was in 2008. Ryanair has moved its operations to places where it thinks it will get these passengers.

Air Services. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The €10 departure tax is the usual tactic from that same source.

Air Services. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: An old football coach of mine used to say that attack was the best form of defence. When one is doing something that is not popular, one should find someone else to attack. The Deputy has fallen for it.

Air Services. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: It is not a matter for my Department. Rather, it may be a matter for the weights and measures group in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Air Services. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of that. If the Deputy has evidence, he should make it available, as it is important that such situations not occur. In some airlines, a commission acts as an incentive to make the charge. The projected income accruing from the tax will be €150 million.

Air Services. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: If the Deputy has any bright ideas on how else to get that much money, he should let me know.

Air Services. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Some €150 million in a full year.

Cycle Facilities. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The policy document, Smarter Travel — A Sustainable Transport Future, I launched last week commits to creating a strong culture of cycling to the extent that modal share of cycling will increase from 2% in 2006 to 10% by 2020. This equates to a rise in daily cycle commuting from 35,000 to 160,000 by 2020. Action 15 of the policy commits to the publication of a national cycle policy...

Cycle Facilities. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I agree. Many of the Deputy's suggestions will be included in the framework. A number of old railway lines are being actively considered. The Ministers for Arts, Sport and Tourism and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs have been active in that regard. To some extent, the difficulty in terms of left-turning lorries has been addressed in the past 12 months. We passed regulations that...

Cycle Facilities. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy misheard me, as that measure has already been taken.

Cycle Facilities. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy will be aware of the fact that at least two Ministers are on their bikes.

Cycle Facilities. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Deputy Broughan mentioned that he was involved in introducing the first cycling lane while he was a member of Dublin City Council. I was on my bike at the time because I launched the initiative on the quays. We have a considerable opportunity to change our habits. If people felt that cycling had become safer, many, including Senators, Deputies and Ministers, would travel by bicycle.

Cycle Facilities. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: My colleagues who cycle claim that it is safe, healthy and so on, but people remain to be convinced. The only way to do so is to put safe cycle lanes in place.

Public Transport. (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 59, 76, 80, 95, 100 and 267 together. In the course of the 2009 Estimates process, CIE indicated that it was seeking an increase in subvention to reflect increases in cost broadly in line with the consumer price index and to meet the additional costs associated with the withdrawal of the fuel duty rebate. Following discussions with the company and its...