Results 4,741-4,760 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Senator for the points he has raised. With reference to Amendment No. 9, the preparation of a transport strategy is a high level process which covers all seven local authority areas in the greater Dublin area. In that context it is appropriate for the authority to consider the relevant development plans applicable to those areas. This is already provided for in section 12(5)(c)...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: We always strive to ensure legislation is as accurate and precise as possible. However, there is always a danger, as much on the Government's part as on that of the Opposition, of taking an unnecessarily prescriptive approach. The entire thrust of the legislation is to ensure, via a process of consultation, that full account is taken of the various interested parties. The Senator has...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I agree there must be adequate and appropriate consultation on these important matters. The Bill sets out the basis for consultation by the Dublin transport authority when preparing a transport strategy, integrated implementation plan and traffic management plan. In each case, the authority is required to consult with local communities and transport users. Thus, the legislation already...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: This is one amendment that I have a difficulty with, precisely for the reason that Senator Donohoe outlined — the division of responsibility between the Oireachtas and Ministers. Amendment No. 14 would transgress the boundary between the functions of Government and the oversight role of the Houses of the Oireachtas. It would step over the line. I take Senator Donohoe's point on democratic...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The authority is required to prepare a six-year integrated implementation plan indicating all the specific actions to be implemented over the period of the plan. Clearly that plan also will have to identify the timeframe within which those actions will be undertaken within the six-year period. Accordingly, the intent of the Senator's amendment is already met in the Bill itself.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I cannot accept this amendment because the trend is in the opposite direction. It is standard practice in recent years that at a minimum, the chief executive of an organisation sits on the managing board, in this case on the authority itself. As often as not, several of the senior directors of the organisations also have ex officio seats on the board. That is the model we are proposing...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I thank all the Senators who contributed on this. I accept the point being made with regard to the importance of cycling and walking. It is important we keep both issues together. I accept the principle of Senator Donohoe's proposal with regard to cycling, but we need to include both issues. Section 71(7) makes provisions with regard to cycling and walking and we will consider...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Senator Norris misinterpreted what I said about not burdening the DTA with a huge number of strategies. This does not mean I think there should not be a cycling and walking strategy, but I have reservations about including separate cycling, walking and QBC strategies and so on. If the Senator looks at section 71(1) he will see that provision is being made for agreements between local...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: It is section 71(7).

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: We will have it in the Bill, although possibly in some other suitable section.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Senators for their contributions to this debate. To a certain extent I echo what Senator Ryan said. Under Transport 21 we have included in the programme for Government a commitment to improving bus services by reforming the bus licensing provisions under the Road Transport Act 1932. We aim to facilitate optimum provision of services by providing a level playing field for all...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: That is the difference in their profit. It is something against which I want to guard. I ask the Senator to withdraw the amendment. It is not particularly appropriate at this stage, but I assure him that the general intent is to provide a public transport system of which we can all be proud. Where it is possible, we should provide commercial routes and competition on those routes.

Order of Business (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I will be on Question Time later this afternoon. The Deputy can ask me then.

Order of Business (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I will send the Deputy the address and he can write to the Road Safety Authority directly.

Order of Business (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The only commiseration is I still have to face Deputy Broughan.

Order of Business (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Deputy Sheehan will definitely be in order.

Order of Business (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Her designer wellington boots.

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Thank you very much. Amendment No. 1 is one of a series of technical amendments relating to how the National Roads Authority is referred to in the Bill. Current drafting preference is to shorten any multi-word title of a body, if it appears in several places in a Bill. We did that with CIE and the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA. This amendment inserts a definition of "National Roads...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: There is a provision in section 3(c) to extend the geographical area of the greater Dublin area, GDA, by order of the Minister. The Dublin transport authority can make recommendations to me in that regard, as can other bodies such as local authorities and so on. The reason the Bill is drafted in its current form is that the GDA is a clearly defined area. It is useful to maintain the...

Seanad: Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008: Committee Stage (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The amendment proposes to replace the word "sustains" in section 10(a) with "promotes". While I would prefer to retain the current wording, I am prepared to examine the amendment before Report Stage to determine whether the proposed change would have legal implications. Pending that decision, I ask the Senator to withdraw the amendment.