Results 461-480 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Marine Accidents (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I understand that the Marine Casualty Investigation Board is carrying out such an investigation. However, under the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Maritime Casualties) Act of 2000 the Marine Casualty Investigation Board is independent of me in the exercise of its functions.

Marine Accidents (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I do not have that date. Section 8 of the Act states that the board shall be independent of the Minister in the performance of its functions and it is independent of any other person or body whose interest could conflict with the functions of the board. I cannot help the Deputy on this matter. Without being smart, I do not know if the question may be answered if Deputy Coveney raises it...

Marine Accidents (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Deputy Coveney has more information on this matter that I do. The sail training programme is a matter for the Minister for Defence. The Asgard II was managed by Coiste an Asgard and was owned by the Minister for Defence. The sail training programme ran under that Department.

National Transport Authority (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Irish Aviation Authority is responsible for both safety regulation of the Irish civil aviation industry and the provision of air navigation and communications services in Irish controlled-airspace. It is proposed to integrate the safety regulation function element of the authority into the National Transport Authority. The policy to amalgamate the IAA's regulatory functions, as well as...

National Transport Authority (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I accept the Deputy's point about differences in modes of transport. That is always the subject of debate when one talks in terms of getting rid of what some call quangos and regulators, as Deputies on all sides of the House have been saying in recent years. The reason they were set up separately at various stages is because people felt it was better to keep them separate. Now the mood...

National Transport Authority (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The current practice will stand. The Minister will still remain responsible to the House for questions on matters of policy. The bodies will be directly responsible for day to day operational matters. Members of the Oireachtas who wish to query the day to day operations of any of those organisations will have the opportunity to do so, first, through the Joint Oireachtas Committee on...

National Transport Authority (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I will obey your ruling, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

National Transport Authority (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Exactly, so if you rule me out of order, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I will sit down. I did follow up with the Irish Aviation Authority specifically and with colleagues in government. It is a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation under labour law. The Irish Aviation Authority is pursuing this matter in negotiations with the unions involved and in the context of the Croke...

Departmental Statistics (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Central Statistics Office has recently published its 2009 Road Freight Transport Survey. This survey covers both licensed operators and other hauliers. In 2009, Irish registered goods vehicles transported 148 million tonnes of goods by road. This represents a decrease of 40% on the previous year and an overall decrease of 9% on the 1999 figure. In light of the current global economic...

Departmental Statistics (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: As I indicated earlier to the Deputy, there was a dip in the number of licences issued in 2009 but I am pleased to report that it has increased again in 2010. Up to 30 September there was an almost 10% increase in the number of licenses issued which may indicate some increase in the business. As I said previously a number of times - I will not try your patience, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle - it...

Departmental Statistics (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: When I get the report to which the Deputy adverts, I am sure the NRA will have taken those matters into account, and I will certainly take them into account. They are reasonable points to take into account if one is talking about charging people for the use of the roads. On the general point, regardless of this morning's newspaper reports, the indications I have currently are that the...

Departmental Statistics (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: From my information, it is lower than that again in regard to heavy goods vehicles because, overall, the advantages in using a motorway right through from one end to the other outweigh the disadvantage of the toll fee. One section of the M50 is tolled at present so people using one part of the M50 pay the toll charge while those that use other parts pay nothing, which is not a very fair or...

Rail Accidents (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102, 111, 120 and 133 together. The Railway Safety Commission is the independent statutory body charged with responsibility for ensuring implementation of recommendations made to Iarnród Éireann by the Rail Accident Investigation Unit, which is the independent body responsible for accident investigations. On its publication on 16 August last, I acknowledged...

Rail Accidents (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I do not want to say anything that might prejudice any action the Railway Safety Commission might take, and I hope the Deputy will respect that. I agree with him it was a miracle nobody was killed or seriously injured. I also agree that we should not depend on miracles to prevent accidents such as this happening or to prevent fatalities. Although I do not want to prejudice anything that...

Rail Accidents (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Regarding the Deputy's general question on the commission, the teeth given to it by the legislation are based on the EU's railway safety directive. We closely follow the systems and procedures mandated at EU level and implemented throughout the EU. The Department of Transport meets the RSC formally once every six months to review corporate governance issues and other matters that arise from...

Rail Accidents (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I am not aware of any State body, Department or organisation in the public sector that is not looking for more resources. They would all like to get more resources and I would like more resources for my Department. Nevertheless, investment in rail safety amounted to €1.172 billion between 1999 and 2008. A further investment programme provides for a total expenditure of €513 million...

Rail Accidents (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The RSC has confirmed that it has responded fully to the report and to the recommendation that affected it directly. The commission will ensure it will not find itself in the same position again.

Rail Accidents (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: With more than €1 billion invested in the past ten years, it would be unfair of the House to send the message that we are still operating on railways that are more than a century old. There are places where the railways are more than 100 years old but substantial parts-----

Rail Accidents (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: -----of the railways, including all of the viaducts and bridges to which the Deputy referred, have been inspected and cleared since the incident in question. Recommendations Nos. 1 to 3 have been implemented in full. Recommendations Nos. 4 to 6 are taking longer to progress because of training matters and so on. Recommendations Nos. 8 and 9 have been implemented in full, but recommendation...

Leaders' Questions (6 Oct 2010)

Noel Dempsey: It may be small change to Deputy Ring but it is not to me.