Results 5,161-5,180 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Road Traffic Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: It is unnecessary to insert the Irish translation of the Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2006 here, as suggested by Deputy Crowe. The Bill will be translated into the Irish language when enacted and therefore there is no need for the amendment. As regards Deputy Shortall's point, we discussed this at length on Committee Stage. While I am not a legal person, I have obtained legal advice to assure...

Road Traffic Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: Essentially, section 3(1) has only one purpose, namely, to put an end to the dangerous practice of holding a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle. The subsection has been drafted to make it illegal to drive a motor vehicle while holding a phone by hand, or supporting it by the neck, shoulder or any other improvised or contrived methods involving the body. It is fair to say that this...

Road Traffic Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: It has been the tradition in all Road Traffic Acts from 1961 onwards and in other Acts, such as the Criminal Justice Act, to refer to the Garda as "the Garda Síochána" in the English language version of the Acts and "An Garda Síochána" in the Irish language version of the Acts. This is standard practice in all our legislation. That is the difference of definition between the two.

Road Traffic Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: This follows on in a more expansive way from Deputy Crowe's amendment. We discussed this matter on Committee Stage and obviously we want to keep the legislative framework as flexible as possible in terms of regulating in-vehicle communications systems. The Deputy is correct in saying that the ever-increasing use of technology is expanding daily. I note that one will soon be able to watch...

Road Traffic Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: There is evidence based on that issue. I have power to make regulations to prohibit and go further. However, we must strike a balance and I would like to get public buy-in to the approach we are taking in all these areas. The Deputy is right to acknowledge we are generally in agreement that we wanted to start with the obvious one. I would like some more information on it. It feeds into the...

Road Traffic Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: I move amendment No. 7: In page 4, line 25, to delete "to a mobile" and substitute "to the use of a mobile". I indicated on Committee Stage that I would bring forward this amendment. Section 3(7) sets out the defence provisions for the offence of holding a mobile phone while driving under subsection (1) or the offence of using a mobile phone or an in-vehicle communication device contrary to a...

Road Traffic Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report Stage. (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: I understand where the Deputy is coming from. The fallout from recent Supreme Court rulings has made everyone in the House very familiar with the importance of providing reasonable defences for offences in legislation. Subsection (7) has been drafted so that the use of a hand-held phone would be considered permissible in two circumstances only. The first would be a call to the Garda or the...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: In announcing the agreement reached with the US authorities last December in relation to a transitional arrangement for Shannon Airport in the context of the proposed EU/US Open Skies, I indicated that I would prepare, in consultation with my colleagues, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, a tourism and economic development plan for...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: The airline in question operated scheduled services between Ireland and the USA in the 1980s and ceased operating these services in 1988. No notification has been received in my Department from the airline that they intend to recommence operations to Ireland.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: Council Directive 96/96/EC sets out the categories of vehicles subject to roadworthiness testing, the age at which vehicles must be first tested and the minimum frequency of such tests. Under the Directive it is open to a Member State to set earlier dates for the first testing of vehicles and to increase the frequency of such tests. The vehicles subject to roadworthiness testing by the...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: The location of stations on the rail network is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. The company informs me that there are currently no plans to open a new station on the north side of Drogheda and that any new station in that location would have to be supported by major development taking place within its catchment area.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 186 of 30 March 2006 regarding this matter. The position remains the same as I outlined in that reply.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic Act 2002, which provides the legislative basis for the introduction and operation of the penalty points system, contains specific provisions governing application of such points on the license record of an individual. Section 5 of the Act provides that where penalty points are to be endorsed on a record, a notification of that endorsement must be issued to the license holder...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Department has, on limited occasions, employed outside professional public relations advice. Tony O'Brien Communications was employed in 2004 to assist the Department with media relations and was paid a fee of approximately €6,000. Laurie Cearr Associates was employed by the Department for the organisation and management of public relations activities and other work in 2002 and in 2004...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: The following tables provide the information sought by the Deputy. The grades of Clerical Officer, Executive Officer, Administrative Officers and equivalent grades, recruited under temporary contract, have been excluded. Grade Appointed since June 2002 Personal Assistants 4 Personal Secretaries 5 Press Officers 2 Advisers 2 Total 13 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 €...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: The attached tables provide the information required by the Deputy. The salary costs are based on current salary scales. The overall expenses including overtime incurred by the Minister of States's office over the past year (July 2005 to June 2006) is approximately €161,000. This includes travel and subsistence costs for staff and all other associated office costs. Office Grade/Job...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: The following tables provide the information requested by the Deputy in relation to salary. The salary costs are based on current salary scales. The overall expenses figure including overtime incurred by the Minister's office over the past year (July 2005 to June 2006) is approximately €213,920. This includes travel and subsistence costs for staff and all other associated officecosts. ...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: In relation to 2002, I refer the Deputy to Dáil Question 4184/03 of 13th February 2003 by Deputy Michael Ring when it was indicated that expenditure of €261,443 was incurred by the Department in 2002. In relation to 2003, I refer the Deputy to Dáil Question 4067/04 of 10th February 2004 by Deputy Michael Ring when it was indicated that expenditure of €191,342 was incurred by the...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: Section 5 of the Road Traffic Act, 2002 provides that where penalty points are to be endorsed in a record, a notification of that endorsement must be issued to the licence holder involved. Section 7 of the Act provides the operative date for penalty points is 28 days from the date of the notice issued under Section 5, or where the person is at the time disqualified from holding a licence,...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (5 Jul 2006)

Martin Cullen: Data on the average waiting times between the date of fine payments and the assignment of penalty points are not available.