Results 3,861-3,880 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

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

Martin Cullen: If Shannon Airport is to develop as a successful and sustainable business, it is clear that one of the issues that must be addressed in its business plan is the airport's uncompetitive cost base. If that obstacle can be removed the Airport has a real opportunity to develop new markets and to attract the airline customers that it needs for its commercial future. While industrial relations are...

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

Martin Cullen: I have no proposals of the kind referred to by the Deputy.

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

Martin Cullen: The Road Safety Authority (RSA), which has responsibility for road safety advertising and promotion, has acknowledged that driver fatigue could be a contributory factor in up to a fifth of driver deaths in Ireland. They also say that driving when very tired is as dangerous as driving while over the drink drive limit. The Authority revealed these facts at the launch of their winter road...

Written Answers — Railway Stations: Railway Stations (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: The location of stations on the rail network is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. I am advised by Iarnród Éireann that, as with all major residential or commercial developments, it is reviewing what passenger business potential might arise from the Mater Children's Hospital development in order to assess what rail services could be provided for people travelling to and from the hospital and...

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

Martin Cullen: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects and the allocation of monies to those projects, including projects on the Atlantic Road Corridor, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under sections 17 and 19 of the Roads Act, 1993...

Written Answers — Motor Insurance: Motor Insurance (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: The level of motor insurance premiums is measured by the CSO using as a base the costs obtaining in December 2001 which is allocated an index of 100. Using this scale, the costs for motor insurance in January 1997 measured 64.8 index points. From that date, costs rose to a peak of 108 index points in April 2003. Since April 2003 motor insurance costs have reduced and at December 2006, the...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: One of the key objectives of our aviation policy as set out in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2005-2007 is to facilitate and encourage as wide a range as possible of reliable, regular and competitive commercial air services for Irish tourism, trade and industry. Our success in this regard is evident in the increased number of direct services to and from Ireland that are now available...

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

Martin Cullen: As I stated in my reply to Question 5821/07 the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 established the IAA and among the primary functions conferred on it under the Act is safety regulation of the Irish aviation industry. The Authority exercises its safety regulation functions in accordance with international standards set at both European level by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and...

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

Martin Cullen: The Glounthaune-Midleton Rail Project Public Inquiry opened on 31 October 2006 and concluded on 3 November 2006. I received the report of the inquiry on 17 January 2007 and on 1 February last I announced that I had published the Report. I am now considering the relevant documentation, including this Report, as required under the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act, 2001. I will make a...

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 to 261, inclusive, 265 and 268 together. There has been major investment in recent years in expanding the number and capacity of commuter services on the Kildare and Maynooth lines. The provision of turnback facilities at Newbridge, the extension of platforms at Sallins and Hazelhatch and the introduction of new rolling stock on the Kildare route as part...

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

Martin Cullen: I have asked the Road Safety Authority to draft a regulation providing for a national maximum vehicle height limit of 4.65 metres. The issue of setting a maximum vehicle height limit was the subject of a wide ranging public consultation exercise in 2005. A period of two years is proposed for the phasing out of the use of existing vehicles that exceed the proposed height limit of 4.65 metres....

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

Martin Cullen: Decisions on the provision of bus shelters, their location and type is a matter for Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, in consultation with the local authorities.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: It is my belief and that of the Government that Ireland's strategic interest in aviation is best served by the provision of regular, safe, cost-effective and competitive air services linking the country to key business and tourism markets around the world. I am also firmly of the view that Ireland's economic interests are best served by having as many airlines as possible competing...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: The issues raised by the Deputy will be addressed by the relevant implementation agencies generally as part of the statutory approval process for each project. Most of the major projects will require motorway schemes, railway orders or compulsory purchase orders and substantial progress has already been made in this regard. For example, the statutory approval process for all the projects on...

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

Martin Cullen: One of the main objectives of Transport 21 is to alleviate traffic congestion. This will be achieved by providing vastly improved national road network that bypasses major towns and by providing a public transport system that acts as an attractive alternative to the private car. As Transport 21 progresses and more projects are completed, the level of congestion on our roads will reduce....

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: We will not devastate the economy and create mass unemployment to reach our targets, which is all that the Green Party offers. The Deputy cannot sustain his position of not building infrastructure to maintain competitiveness and jobs, retain foreign direct investment and maintain our position in Europe and the global economy and balance it as we do. I attended the Environment Ministers'...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: I appreciate one may have the luxury in Opposition of being narrowly focused and not care about all the other issues and that the Deputy can pick one very narrow point, which is fair enough. I do not propose to do that. It is irresponsible politics to do so.

Transport Infrastructure. (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 provides unprecedented capital investment for the development of Ireland's transport system over the period to 2015. This investment will transform both the national road and public transport networks. It will deliver faster, safer and more reliable journeys on our national road network. It will lead to a doubling of public transport capacity in the greater Dublin area. It...

Transport Infrastructure. (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: I certainly do not. I agree that in the early days of the investment programme, it was quite clear the construction sector and the systems that were in place were not geared to take the enormous volume of investment the State wanted to make. There were problems in the early days in that regard, no doubt. However, we are all very heartened by experience in the last few years, Ireland having...

Transport Infrastructure. (21 Feb 2007)

Martin Cullen: I am answering all the questions the Deputy went on about.