Results 3,801-3,820 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 143 together. Responsibility for the enforcement of the law relating to drivers' hours and rest periods are matters for the Road Safety Authority and the Garda Síochána. There is a duty on operators to comply with the law relating to drivers hours and rest periods. Failure to comply with the law may result in the driver or operator concerned being...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for ensuring that penalty points are endorsed on a licence record. Data in relation to penalty points is held on the National Driver File, which is administered by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. All drivers are...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am conscious that enforcing penalties for road traffic offences on non-resident and non national drivers raises many legal, organisational and procedural issues which make it very difficult for any one State to enforce such penalties. For that reason, my Department is pursuing this question at the European, British/Irish and North/South levels where mutual recognition and cross border...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Fifth Motor Insurance Directive (2005/14/EC) is due for transposition by 11th June 2007. My officials have completed a consultation process with the motor insurance industry, consumer interests, Government Departments and the legal profession. As the Fifth Directive amends the previous four motor insurance Directives, my officials are involved in a process of consolidating the...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: Under the Road Traffic Acts, enforcement of road traffic offences in relation to all moving vehicle offences, including the regulations in relation to the use of bus lanes, is the responsibility of the Garda Síochána. Breach of bus lane regulations is an offence under section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1994. Section 21 of the Road Traffic Act 2002 (as amended by section 15 of the Road...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 124 and 142 together. I published the report of the Dublin Transport Authority Establishment Team last November and invited interested parties to submit their views on the structure, functional area, functions and powers recommended by the Establishment Team for such an Authority. I indicated at that time my intention of considering the views of...

Written Answers — Light Rail Projects: Light Rail Projects (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 174 and 267 together. The popularity of the existing Luas network continued to grow in 2006 with an increase of 16% in passenger carryings compared to 2005. Last year, Luas carried 25.8 million passengers of which 13.7 million travelled on the Red line and 12.1 million on the Green line. The success of Luas has already demonstrated that light rail is an...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 provides for the completion of the interconnection tunnel by 2015. I am advised by Iarnród Éireann that it has commenced initial design work on the tunnel. This phase of the work, which will be completed this year, will verify the alignment, develop station designs and establish cost estimates. It also provides for liaison with external stakeholders. I understand from...

Written Answers — Light Rail Projects: Light Rail Projects (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: I approved an average increase in fare revenue of 2.75%. Subject to this, it was a matter for the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) to determine the details of the new Luas fares structure which it announced on 4th January last. I understand from the RPA that the reason for the introduction of the modest differential prices between peak and off-peak single tickets was to encourage passengers...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: The issue of a second airport for the Dublin region was addressed in the Warburg Dillon Read Report of 1999 on Aer Rianta. Among other things, that report concluded that Dublin does not need a second airport given Dublin Airport's capacity to expand for the foreseeable future. I am satisfied that the analysis remains a valid assessment of the Airport's potential. Because of the prudent...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: The CIÉ Subvention review is currently being finalised. It is expected that the final Report will be published shortly.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: Proposals in relation to parking issues that are submitted by road authorities and by any other parties are examined to ascertain their merits and determine if any legislative amendment in relation to the issue concerned is necessary. A number of issues in relation to aspects of parking are being examined at present and, where appropriate, I will give consideration to the pursuit of...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Government's objective with regard to aviation policy is to facilitate and encourage a wide a range as possible of reliable, regular and competitive commercial air services for Irish tourism, trade and industry. In furtherance of this policy, the Government has taken a number of key strategic decisions in recent years. With specific reference to Dublin Airport, the Government decided...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: The main contributory factors in road traffic fatalities are speeding, drink-driving and the non wearing of seat belts. The influence of drugs on driving behaviour is an issue of increasing concern and has thus been given recognition in the previous Government Strategy on Road Safety. Identification of the presence of drugs is however more complex than for alcohol. Consequently, considerably...

Written Answers — Integrated Ticketing: Integrated Ticketing (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions 115 and 186 together. The Integrated Ticketing Project Board has prepared a roadmap for the implementation of integrated ticketing within the Dublin area, based on smartcard technology. Subject to the approval of the approach by the respective Boards of the transport operators, the Integrated Ticketing Project Board will proceed to the next phase of the project...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: It is proposed that Metro North will be procured as a public private partnership (PPP) with the cost of the construction and maintenance borne by the private consortium selected through a tendering process. The PPP consortium will be paid through annual Exchequer payments over a period of approximately 26 years, which will start after commencement of services. The level of payment will be...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117, 145, 158 and 253 together. The Road Traffic Act 2006 was passed by the Oireachtas on 6th July 2006 and was signed by the President on 16th July 2006. A Commencement Order in July brought a number of the provisions in the Act into effect from Friday 21st July 2006. The provisions commenced included the key policy provisions of Mandatory Alcohol Testing...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: Section 36 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, as amended by of the Road Traffic Acts 2004 and 2006, provides for a system of automatic disqualification from applying for or holding a small public service vehicle driver or vehicle licence in respect of persons who have been convicted of certain specified offences. These include the offences of murder, manslaughter and various sexual, drug...

Written Answers — Renewable Energy: Renewable Energy (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department has provided financial support under the Government's Transport 21 programme for a biofuels pilot project in collaboration with the German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which was launched on Monday last, 19 February 2007. The Biofuels for Transport project involves the use of pure plant oil (PPO) by key transport users, including hauliers and bus companies, in 50...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for developing a new Road Safety Strategy for the period 2007 onwards. They went out to public consultation in October last year and I understand they have received a substantial number of suggestions and proposals as a result of this process. The RSA also engaged in a process of direct consultation with key stakeholders in December 2006. I...