Results 4,621-4,640 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 38 together. My Department has recently received the report from the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) referred to by the Deputy. The Report relates to an incident on the Shannon system. Waterways Ireland has responsibility for navigable inland waterways North and South, including the Shannon. The MCIB report makes a number of recommendations...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Transport 21 provides for an extension of the Luas Red Line (Connolly — Tallaght) to Citywest and Saggart. Significant progress has been made in advancing this project. The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) has finalised arrangements with a consortium of local developers for the delivery of the project. On 20th December 2007 the RPA submitted an application for a Railway Order (planning...

Written Answers — Ferry Services: Ferry Services (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 49 together. The Cork Swansea Ferries Company suspended its service in 2007. I can appreciate the concerns that have been expressed in the region in response to this development. However , as Minister I have no direct role in the provision of such a service. I understand that a number of interested parties and stakeholders have been in discussions...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The collection of court fines levied in respect of motoring offences and any reform of that collection system are matters for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Courts Service. My Department has had discussions with the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform, the Courts Service and An Garda Siochana in relation to the matter of fixed charges under the Road...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 468 on 2nd April 2008. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Ship Inspections: Ship Inspections (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The primary responsibility for the safety of a ship rests with the operating company and with the state in which the ship is registered, the flag state. A second line of defence exists whereby the state in which the ship is located, the port state, has the entitlement to carry out inspections. This entitlement to carry out port state control inspections can only ever be on a sampling basis....

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 outlines a range of measures to be considered in relation to a Graduated Driver Licensing System. A progressive roll-out of appropriate measures is envisaged as the most practical approach. The Deputy will recall the introduction of the first phase of the Scheme in October last year, when Regulations were introduced in relation to learner drivers. These...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 62 together. The provision, improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a matter for local authorities to be funded from their own resources supplemented by State grants provided by my Department. A national Pavement Condition Study of the regional and local road network was carried out in 1996 and a second Pavement Condition Study of...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Transport 21 represents the largest capital investment commitment ever made by Government to the development of transport infrastructure in this country. The projects comprising Transport 21 will greatly improve our national roads and public transport system over the ten year period to 2015, involving a total investment of €34 billion. Recent market research undertaken on behalf of my...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. As the Deputy is aware, the implementation of individual national road projects, including the Dublin Port Tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My intention is to publish the Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan before the end of the year. It is premature, pending finalisation of consideration of possible measures in the Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan, to indicate if it will be necessary to publish new legislation to underpin its objectives.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The penalty points system under the Road Traffic Acts is kept under review in relation to changes that would enhance both road safety and the effective enforcement of road traffic legislation. This particular suggestion will be borne in mind in that context, and in relation to effective implementation of the Road Safety Strategy 2006-2012.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: 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, such as the proposed Dublin Eastern Bypass, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the relevant local authorities concerned. As I...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 14 on 6th March 2008. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The market for air services in the Community was liberalized in the 1990s. The internal market has removed all commercial restrictions for airlines flying within the EU, such as restrictions on the routes, the number of flights or the setting of fares. Under the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2409/92 Community air carriers can freely set their air fares. The broader issue of...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: All drivers are subject to road traffic law and enforcement is a matter for An Garda Síochána. The realisation of any fines or penalties imposed by the Courts is a matter for the Courts Service. While foreign licence holders do not have an Irish driving licence record, a separate record of any penalty points incurred by them in this State is kept in the National Driver File. The...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Motor insurance is provided by private companies in an open and competitive market where consumer interests can exert influence by seeking quotes and comparing costs before purchasing. The Financial Regulator oversees insurance companies. The Government's insurance reform programme, initiated in 2002, has resulted in cheaper and more widely available motor insurance. In general, the cost of...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The issue of funding for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) for any one year is considered in the context of the overall funding and resources for my Department and its non-commercial state agencies for that year and any funding submissions received from those agencies. The Bureau has been allocated €4,448,000 for this year and the estimates process for 2009 has not yet begun.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The upgrading and extension of the mainline railway system, including the re-opening of closed lines such as the Athlone to Mullingar line, is a matter for consideration by Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. The re-opening of the Athlone-Mullingar rail line was not identified as a priority in the Strategic Rail Review and is not provided for in Transport 21.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: One of the actions in the 2007-2012 Road Safety Strategy is for the Road Safety Authority (RSA), to report to me in the second quarter of each year on the implementation of the 126 actions in the Strategy, all of which identify the agency responsible for implementation and a target implementation date. I expect to receive the first report during the second quarter of this year and will be...