Results 4,841-4,860 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

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

Martin Cullen: The registration of driving instructors will be the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. On the 19 June last I launched a document entitled "Consultation on the Regulation of Driving Instruction in Ireland" which was prepared by my Department in consultation with the Road Safety Authority. Submissions from stakeholders were sought by the 8 September 2006. Submissions have been...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 67 together. The level of Exchequer funding for capital expenditure at Ireland West Airport Knock and at the other regional airports in the years ahead will be determined within the framework of a new scheme recently introduced by my Department to ensure that such funding is in compliance with the legally-binding EU guidelines on financing of airports...

Written Answers — Aviation Regulations: Aviation Regulations (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: The regulation of flight time limitations is an operational matter for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). I am advised by the IAA that they rigorously enforce the relevant regulations through ongoing surveillance of Irish airlines. The IAA conducts a series of audits on flight time limitations in all Irish airlines to ensure compliance with current regulations and approved flight time...

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

Martin Cullen: Since 13 September 2006 as a consequence of the Road Safety Authority (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 responsibility for matters relating to vehicle standards, including requirements in relation to mirrors on vehicles, has passed to the Road Safety Authority. Prior to the Road Safety Authority taking over the responsibility for these matters, I had made considerable progress on the issue...

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

Martin Cullen: I have asked the Road Safety Authority to examine this matter as a priority. The Authority will be seeking the views of the Technical Advisory Forum for the National Car Test (NCT) on the matter. The establishment of an Advisory Forum body to consider and make recommendations to the RSA in relation to vehicle technical matters associated with the NCT regime was recommended in the report of...

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 53 and 56 together. It is my objective to eliminate the backlog of driving tests by mid-2007. That means having a waiting list of no more than about 50,000 that can be scheduled in a 10 to 12 week period. The Road Safety Authority now has responsibility for the delivery of driving tests and will be working towards this objective. The measures I have put...

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 42 together. The development of the Western Rail Corridor from Ennis to Claremorris was included as a priority project under Transport 21, with provision also for the preservation of the line from Claremorris to Collooney. This was confirmed recently in Towards 2016, the new Partnership Agreement. Transport 21 provides for the re-opening of the...

Written Answers — Insurance Industry: Insurance Industry (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I have no direct responsibility in relation to setting of motor insurance premiums. Insurance cover is provided based on actuarial or statistical data or other underwriting or commercial factors. It would be important to recognise at the outset that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board award compensation at the same level as the Courts. However the legal costs are substantially lower than...

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

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy is aware, last January, the National Roads Authority (NRA) decided to terminate discussions with National Toll Roads plc (NTR) in relation to the upgrading of the West-Link toll facility. Instead the NRA is separately procuring a barrier free toll system, which will become operational in 2008. NTR will be compensated in accordance with the existing West-Link Agreement. The...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: This is a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

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

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic Act 2002 provides that penalty points will be endorsed on a person's licence record and not on the licence. Under section 5(3) of the Road Traffic Act 2002 it is an offence not to comply with a direction to surrender your licence when you are disqualified having reached 12 points. This offence attracts a fine of up to €800 in the case of a first offence or a fine of up to...

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

Martin Cullen: Metro West, which will be built on a phased basis, is intended to link Tallaght with Clondalkin, Lucan and Blanchardstown and connect with Metro North at Ballymun. The RPA have made good progress on identifying feasible alignments and I understand that the RPA will commence public consultation on the route options before the end of this year. Thereafter, it is expected that a preferred...

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

Martin Cullen: Directive 2003/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2003 on occurrence reporting in civil aviation includes an option for Member States to develop a confidential reporting system. Preparation of the Statutory Instrument to transpose this Directive into Irish law is well advanced.

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

Martin Cullen: An extensive public awareness programme to promote the child safety requirements of the European Communities (Compulsory Use of Safety Belts and Child Restraint Systems in Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2006 was initiated earlier this month by the Road Safety Authority. I understand from the Authority that the response to the campaign to date is very encouraging and that it has already brought...

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

Martin Cullen: At the outset, I should explain that overall responsibility for the planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port Tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the local authorities concerned, in this case, Dublin City Council. I understand from the NRA that the estimated cost of the Tunnel remains at €751 million,...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 72 together. As I indicated in a written answer yesterday in November 2005 EU and US negotiators concluded work on the text of a first-phase EU-US Open Skies agreement. The text was unanimously endorsed at the December 2005 Transport Council subject to sufficient progress by the US side on opening up ownership and control of US airlines to EU...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (28 Sep 2006)

Martin Cullen: It is a matter for each Local Authority to decide whether to introduce development levy schemes in their area for new Metro and Luas projects. I understand from the Railway Procurement Agency that it is currently in the alignment identification stage of each of these projects and is studying these routes in partnership with the relevant local authorities. Once final alignments have been...

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

Martin Cullen: I have no function in relation to this matter. The structure of fares is an operational matter for the CIE companies.

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

Martin Cullen: The decision to operate public bus services on specific days of the week is an operational matter for bus operators. I understand that in the case of Bus Éireann, they are considering the introduction of such services, in the light of my announcement today on expanding the company's bus fleet.

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

Martin Cullen: The European Communities (Access to Railway Infrastructure) (Amendment) Regulations, 2005 (S.I. 780 of 2005), transposes Directive 2004/51/EC on the development of the Community's Railways. In line with developments across the EU, these Regulations allow for the opening of the freight market to competition from 1 January 2006, in the case of international freight, and from 1 January 2007 for...