Results 3,941-3,960 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The National Development Plan 2007-2013 provides for a comprehensive study of the role of Dublin Port taking into account locational considerations in the context of overall ports policy on the island of Ireland, wider transport policy, urban development policy, the National Spatial Strategy and national economic policy. The study will examine the feasibility and conduct a cost benefit...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Under the terms of the relevant EU Council Regulation, (EEC) No. 2408/92 of 23 July 1992, Member States can establish a PSO route in respect of scheduled air services to an airport serving a peripheral or development region in its territory, where such air services are considered vital for the economic development of the regions concerned and where air carriers are not prepared to provide...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) have the responsibility for the safety oversight of civil aviation in Ireland. The IAA licences aerodromes in the State and conducts safety audits on them as part of the licensing process and for maintenance of an aerodrome licence. During an audit IAA inspectors will assess the aerodrome's infrastructure, audit the aerodromes management of safety and...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The production of reliable estimates of CO2 emissions from transport is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency. The latest such data available to my Department (published on 16 September 2008) relate to 2006, when greenhouse gas emissions from transport were reported to be 13.71 Megatonnes CO2 equivalent, compared to 13.04 Megatonnes CO2 in the previous year. I assume that the...

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department is currently working towards finalising a National Cycling Policy to flesh out and put timescales on proposals that I intend to bring to Government shortly on a Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan (STTAP). It is my intention to bring forward the National Cycling Policy as soon as possible following the publication of STTAP. I intend that the National Cycling Policy...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Ireland's aviation policy as set out my Department's current Statement of Strategy is to promote regular, safe cost effective and competitive air services linking the country with key business and tourism markets. To this end, within the European Union, Ireland has consistently supported market liberalisation measures, which have to date served as the platform for the rapid expansion of...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Arrangements for the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority are being considered as part of the Estimates process that is currently underway and I will make an announcement in due course. In accordance with section 57 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 it will be a matter for the new Authority, when established, to develop and secure the implementation of a single brand to...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: We made a commitment in the Programme for Government to carry out feasibility studies into Luas-style Light Rail Transport (LRT) systems in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford within two years. I have since asked that these studies should simultaneously include consideration of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The feasibility of LRT and/or BRT in Cork is being considered in the context of the...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 54 together. I said in my reply to the Private Notice Questions on Thursday the 10th of July 2008 that I intended to ask the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) for a full report on the radar malfunction at Dublin airport which led to traffic disruption on 9 July. On the 11th of July, my Department issued a letter to the IAA setting out the issues that...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Under European Regulations, all Community air carriers must have an operating licence in order to operate air services in the European Community. The conditions for the grant and continued validity of such licences are currently set down in Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2407/92. The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) is the licensing authority for carriers whose principal place of...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The provision and operation of car parks at railway stations, including the imposition of charges to cover operational costs, is a matter for Iarnrod Eireann and I have no function in relation thereto. The annual compensation paid to Iarnrod Eireann, through CIE, by the Exchequer towards the cost of loss-making economically and socially necessary services is equivalent to approximately 44%...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department wrote to the Department of Finance requesting agreement to placing the obligation to transfer the 200 posts on CIE rather than Bus Éireann. On the 27th May a decision was made agreeing to this and conveyed to CIE management in early June. CIE has been asked to devise an implementation plan in respect of these posts. To-date no further meetings have been held with the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Transport I am responsible for overall policy and funding issues relating to the National Roads Programme element of Transport 21. However, the detailed planning, design and implementation of individual national road improvement projects including those carried out by way of Public Private Partnership (PPP), is a matter for the National Roads Authority...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I intend to publish the Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan before the end of the year. The Plan will not only help address transport greenhouse gas emissions but also wider sustainability issues such as economic competitiveness, congestion, access to modes of transport other than the private car and quality of life.

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 105 together. The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. As part of the airport restructuring process the boards of Cork and Shannon airport are required to prepare business plans for eventual separation. All three airport business plans have to be coordinated by the Dublin...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: As I have indicated previously, I am satisfied that the data on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) is accurate and fit for purpose for regulating drivers and vehicles. To further improve data accuracy in relation to motor vehicle ownership, we extended our on-line services in June last to enable approved motor dealers notify the NVDF system about the purchase and sale of vehicles...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008 has been introduced in the Seanad and will shortly commence its passage through the Houses. The primary purpose of the Bill is to give effect to certain aspects of the Ports Policy Statement, which was launched in January 2005. One of the key recommendations of the Ports Policy Statement was the need to enhance port company performance through reform of the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to the Government Legislation Programme recently published by the Chief Whip.

Written Answers — Departmental Budget: Departmental Budget (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy is aware, the Estimates process for 2009 is underway within Government Departments in preparation for the Budget on 14th October next. My Department is preparing its proposals for 2009 in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Finance and all spending areas are under examination. However, pending completion of these proposals and final decisions by the...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (1 Oct 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The legislation that the Deputy is referring to is a new Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the European Community. The Regulation aims to consolidate and update the existing common rules which were adopted in the early 1990s and liberalised the air transport market in Europe. The most significant new elements...