Results 4,781-4,800 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Aviation Matters. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: With regard to discussions on Aer Lingus, the chairman, the chief executive, my Department's officials and I have had a number of discussions over the past year on the future of the airline. There have also been some discussions at departmental level with trade union interests but I have not yet put any proposal to Cabinet. I will certainly have discussions with all concerned in the event...

Aviation Matters. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: My Department has provided the financial information to the financial advisers for the trade unions and to identified trade union officials, in view of the commercial sensitivity of some of the information. I look forward to taking on board, in so far as I can, what the unions suggest.

Aviation Matters. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I have asked that they come back to me in the next two weeks with their views on the financial information. The information is straightforward. It is laid out in working papers prepared by PricewaterhouseCooper and other financial advisers. It indicates projections for the three airports. The information is not a great secret in many ways. It indicates that Shannon and Cork airports will...

Aviation Matters. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I do not wish to provoke it. With regard to Aer Lingus, we have considered a number of mechanisms and we have taken advice. That process is continuing.

Driver Licensing System. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 82 and 92 together. Over the years various changes have been made to the regulatory conditions under which provisional licences have effect. I am considering whether further changes are desirable in this regard. In particular, I wish to bring in measures that will reduce long-term reliance on provisional licences. I am also reviewing the provision whereby...

Driver Licensing System. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The heads of the Bill to establish the new driver testing and standards authority have been approved by Cabinet and the drafting of the Bill is being finalised. I have had discussions with some civil servants who are due to move to that authority. It is my intention that the authority would deal with the backlog in an aggressive way as soon as it is operational. I am seeking to have the eight...

Driver Licensing System. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Driving testers are conducting a total of 4,000 tests per week. We introduced a bonus scheme last year, which helped substantially. I intend to introduce another bonus scheme and fill these eight vacancies. However this will only really start when the new authority takes office. Of 1.8 million vehicles in the State, 1.4 million are motorcars. This leaves approximately 400,000 motorcycles and...

Driver Licensing System. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I can take a look at that. The applications for driving tests are dealt with in rotation.

Driver Licensing System. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: It is not. Nor is it acceptable that those on fourth or fifth provisional licences are driving around the country.

Driver Licensing System. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to get through it. I do not propose to make any specific arrangements in the case of those with lapsed licences.

Public Transport Regulation. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I plan to enact legislation during 2004 which will repeal the Road Transport Act 1932 and put in place reformed arrangements for the procurement and market regulation of public transport services. I set out my policy proposals for public transport reform in statements to the public transport partnership forum in November 2002 and the Joint Committee on Transport in June 2003. As I have stated...

Public Transport Regulation. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I agree that the legislation is urgently required but it will not be taken in this session.

Public Transport Regulation. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I cannot see that the legislation can be brought before the House within the next couple of weeks that remain to the end of June. I am determined that it will be put through in the course of 2004. The Deputy will be aware that I have been very consistent in the policy on grandfather rights. There have been a number of national stoppages. I have been asked by the Deputies opposite to engage in...

Public Transport Regulation. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: On the one hand the Deputy regrets that legislation is not in place in order to open up the market and that is my wish also. On the other hand he is worrying about the loss of financial income to the State by virtue of the fact that it has not happened yet. I am not sure where the Deputy is coming from on this matter.

Public Transport Regulation. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I have been very clear in what I want to do. I am seeking to have the legislation completed and put before the House.

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a metro with a link to Dublin Airport. I have received the revised outline business case for line 1 of a metro from the Railway Procurement Agency, which involves a line from Dublin Airport to the city centre. I am finalising my proposals on a metro in the context of the wider transport needs of the greater Dublin area and I expect...

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I agree with the Deputy and want levies to be used to help fund a metro. I intend to ask the Railway Procurement Agency to engage with Dublin City Council and the county councils to use levies to the full in the development of a metro. The Deputy will be aware that a levy has been proposed to raise funds with regard to the development of Luas at Cherryfield. In addition, Cork County Council...

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: One of these days I will be right. As regards the question on the choice between a metro and Irish Rail's proposal, having examined both options I fully support the metro option. That is the Department's position. Iarnród Éireann has made some interesting proposals, some of which we have acted on, including upgrading the DART, developing double and quadruple tracking and resignalling parts...

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I am not saying levies will be used for current purposes as they have to be used for capital purposes. I take the point the Deputy made. If the capital cost is to be met initially by the private sector, then where does that levy go? The RPA claimed that it would acquire much of the land by using these levies initially before it signs off on the PPP.

Light Rail Project. (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The Deputy obviously knows the site very well. The nearer part of the route from DCU to the Mater hospital to Tara Street to O'Connell Street to Stephen's Green is heavily populated. I am not sure if there is much open space between the Mater hospital and O'Connell Street.