Results 4,821-4,840 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I apologise to Senator Paddy Burke; I understood this amendment was ruled out of order. However, I understand the issue and am happy to respond to him. A group from Croke Park, including Councillor Fitzpatrick and various Deputies and Senators, have spoken to me about it. In the course of this engagement, I made the point that I cannot legislate for Croke Park alone. It is an issue that...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Senator has identified my intention that this issue should be fitted into a road traffic Bill or some other Bill after the consultation I referred to has taken place. I am glad to tease these matters out with the local groups but I do not believe there are any contentious issues in this regard. My intention is simply to frame this measure in such a way that we can be sure we do it...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (3 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I thank Senators on both sides of the House for facilitating the passage of this important Bill which will assist in improving safety on our roads. The two technical errors recently discovered in the principal Act will now be corrected. I am glad we have also addressed an important policy issue, especially in regard to nurses as well as doctors being able to take blood samples in Garda...

Seanad: Road Traffic and Transport Bill 2006: Second Stage (3 Oct 2006)

Martin Cullen: I thank all the Members present for their interest in the Bill and the Leader of the House for agreeing to deal with it so quickly and at such short notice. The Bill itself is short, as it comprises only two sections, the first relating to road traffic law underpinning and promoting road safety in the area of drink driving, and the second to road transport matters. The Bill is, in essence,...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 89 and 99 together. At the outset, I should explain that overall responsibility for the planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the M50 upgrade, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the local authorities concerned. I have no function in relation to the day-to-day operation of these projects....

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 41 and 91 together. Two independent reviews of the integrated ticketing project were undertaken earlier this year. Both strongly recommended continuing with the project, albeit with enhanced governance arrangements being put in place. On foot of these reviews, I announced last July that I was in the process of establishing an Integrated Ticketing...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: As I have stated previously in the House, proposals in relation to the development of Dublin Airport, including the planning and provision of runway capacity, are in the first instance a matter for the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) which has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop the airport and to provide such facilities and services as it considers necessary for aircraft...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) is currently undertaking extensive work in relation to the Metro North. The RPA has completed the public consultation process for the route alignment. The selection of the route is a matter for the RPA. I understand that the Board of the RPA expects to make a formal announcement in the near future regarding the preferred alignment. The Chairman of the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: The European Commission has indicated that it intends to propose measures for the mandatory use of Daytime Running Lights (DRL) on motor vehicles. In a consultation paper on the matter which it published last month, the Commission outlined the approach it prefers for EU legislation on this matter. The preferred proposed strategy would require new vehicles sold after a particular date to be...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 40 and 68 together. Dangerous driving and drink driving are amongst the most serious road traffic offences and as such lead to a direct court summons rather than coming within the administrative option of paying a fixed charge and accepting penalty points. In the case of dangerous driving, where a person is convicted of the offence, he/she faces a fine of...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: The planning and design of the Navan Rail Link is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. I understand that the old Navan rail line will be re-opened in two phases with the first phase running off the Maynooth line, at Clonsilla, to the M3 interchange at Pace, near Dunboyne. There will be a major Park and Ride facility at Pace on the M3 interchange. The current position...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 32, 55 and 100 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 5 of today.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 75 together. The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads, including the M50, is vested in the National Roads Authority (NRA) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000). As the Deputy is aware,...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 64, 71 and 106 together. The Strategic Rail Review, commissioned by my Department, contained a comprehensive examination of the rail freight business and its realistic potential to support economic development and contribute to sustainable development. Iarnród Éireann, in responding to the challenges contained in the Review, developed a business plan...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 43, 58, 74 and 86 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 5 today. Furthermore I have no proposals to privatise Dublin Bus.

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I announced the findings of the mid-term review of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) on 30th July 2006 and made arrangements for the full report of the independent review completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers to be placed on my Department's website. The table set out below provides a summary of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report recommendations and the action taken to date concerning...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25 and 29 together. I have indicated on previous occasions that I am not happy with the current driving licence system and that I am anxious to bring in reforms to the system. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the oversight of the operation...

Written Answers — Aer Lingus Flotation: Aer Lingus Flotation (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 52, 82, 101 and 254 together. In its decisions of 18 May 2005 and 4 April 2006, the Government agreed to the State reducing its shareholding in Aer Lingus, whilst retaining a significant stake, by way of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and on 6 July 2006, the general principles of the sale of shares in Aer Lingus were approved by Dáil Éireann. The...

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: Oversight arrangements for the National Car Testing scheme are now vested in the Road Safety Authority since 13th September 2006 as a consequence of the Road Safety Authority (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006. I understand from the Authority that the remit of the national car test (NCT) scheme is to determine periodically the roadworthiness condition of passenger cars and small public...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 35 together. Following a wide-ranging consultation process involving users, statutory authorities and other interested parties, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) recently published its proposals for a second terminal at Dublin Airport (T2). A detailed planning application for the terminal and related facilities was submitted to Fingal County Council...