Results 4,601-4,620 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: The situation has already changed. It is no wonder Fine Gael is going backwards rather than forwards.

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: Hot air.

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I do know.

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I never put myself in that position.

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy's colleague did a good job, but Deputy Durkan should not be using the debate to play politics.

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refuse to be drawn further.

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: It is because the Deputy's local authority is reducing the money that we spend on the roads. It is not doing its job.

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: What is the Deputy talking about?

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I will draw a deep breath. I wish to share time with Deputies Martin Brady and Wilkinson.

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I thank Deputy Olivia Mitchell for introducing this Bill and affording the House a further opportunity to discuss road safety matters. I greatly appreciate the shared concern on all sides of the House on the level of road deaths and I am grateful to the Deputy for reflecting on road safety proposals and continuing to seek a way forward to further reduce road deaths and injuries. I note that...

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy, but I cannot go around personally and sit at every council meeting. I have asked the councils to address the issue. It is reasonable to suggest to the two parties opposite which control most of the councils that they should talk to their colleagues about making sure this issue is put on the agenda of council meetings and to ensure that the matter is addressed. I am...

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: We are in discussion with the Courts Service, which is normal in such matters. I am expressing to the House reservations made to me by Members on all sides and in the Upper House about taking the step of removing the discretion of the courts in all circumstances. One's livelihood and so on could be destroyed when the offence does not involve injuring, killing or drink driving, which incur...

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I accept the Deputy's view, but it could be interpreted in that way according to our legal advice. If the introduction of mandatory prison sentences is intended, I should point out that the Road Traffic Acts do not provide for them in the case of any offence and moving to such a position would require careful consideration because it would represent a fundamental change in the application of...

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: It is not. It is clear that lawyers will drive a coach and four through that provision in the courts. I am not knocking the intention, as I know what the Deputy is trying to achieve. Previously, I have stated how no jurisdiction has taken this matter beyond the police officer having discretion at that moment. That officer would be placed in the position of making a medical decision that...

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: Often, it is difficult to tell——

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: The idea may be fine in theory, but it is not fine practically. While someone on the roadside could tell a garda that he or she is injured, the garda may see no visible injury. Should we put the garda in the position of acting as a medical referee and tell a court——

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy wants mandatory breath testing at the scene of an accident, but that would be impossible unless we were to place the Garda in a position in which it can never win in court. It should be noted that the Road Traffic Acts also place an obligation on a person to provide a blood or urine sample in a hospital. This is equally important and there is an absolute obligation on people to...

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: The medical people make that decision on whether a person is fit in the hospital. The Bill proposes to introduce a scheme for the mandatory roadside testing of drivers for substances other than alcohol. The evidential testing in a Garda station for the presence of drugs is already provided for in the Road Traffic Acts. The reason that there is no legislative provision to allow for...

Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I will finish then. The financial penalties relating to road traffic offences are reviewed on a regular basis. All fines imposed by the courts were increased in the Road Traffic Act 2002, and the Road Traffic Act 2006 includes further significant increases in all fines, which will be commenced shortly. Indeed, the increases imposed are often in excess of the level of inflation to increase...

Written Answers — Private Airports: Private Airports (17 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: Aviation security at EU airports is governed by EU Regulation 2320/2002 and a series of supplementary implementing regulations. All of the Irish airports with regular commercial flights comply with those regulations. Small airports which only handle private and corporate flying are not required under the EU Regulation to have the extensive security requirements of large airports, such as...