Results 5,361-5,380 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The major investment in the upgrade of the national roads network (almost €1.5 billion in 2006) is delivering major road safety dividends, for example in that motorways and dual carriageways almost eliminate the possibility of head-on collisions. Safety is of paramount importance in the design of national roads as new roads, constructed to best practice standards, help to reduce road...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: In November 2005 I announced the commencement of public consultation for Line BX the city centre link between the Red and the Green lines of the Luas system. Since then a comprehensive review of the five route options put forward for consideration has been undertaken by RPA and this is now nearing completion. The route options for Line BX, in common with all other major transport proposals,...

Written Answers — Road Accidents: Road Accidents (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Statistics relating to road accidents are based on information provided by the Garda Siochana, and are currently published by the National Roads Authority (NRA) in their annual Road Accident Facts reports. The most recent report, now entitled "Road Collision Facts", relates to 2004 and is available in the Oireachtas Library and on the NRA website. Statistics relating to 2005 are not yet fully...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Park and Ride facilities have an important role in making it easier for people to access and transfer to public transport. As the Deputy will be aware, last Summer I approved a Dublin Transportation Office (DTO) strategy for rail-based Park and Ride facilities, which envisages facilities at 22 locations on the existing and proposed rail network within the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). I have...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: A working group, including motorcycle interests, has been considering the appropriate standards that will apply to compulsory initial practical training for motorcyclists. Overseeing the introduction of such training will be the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. Primary legislation is necessary to facilitate the introduction of compulsory initial practical training for...

Written Answers — Aer Lingus: Aer Lingus (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 125 and 157 together. In May 2005, the Government agreed to the State reducing its shareholding in Aer Lingus whilst retaining a significant stake. The Government mandated myself and the Minister for Finance to appoint advisors to advise on the nature, scale and timing of an investment transaction and to revert to the Government with proposals for the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 155 together. 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 that the civil engineering work within the tunnels has now been largely completed and that...

Written Answers — Rail Freight: Rail Freight (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 292 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 with...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: In the context of the planned initial public offering (IPO) of shares in Aer Lingus, I have said that the Minister for Finance and I are open to considering the question of the company using part of the proceeds from issuing new shares to address the funding position in the company's pension scheme in the context of an overall solution involving increased employer and employee contributions...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Section 54 of the Railway Safety Act 2005 provides for staff of a railway undertaking or a person working under contract of services with a railway undertaking to inform the Railway Safety Commission of any information relevant to an investigation of a railway incident or of any risk to the railway in terms of its staff and passengers arising from the operations of the undertaking. The Act...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The individuals that I have appointed to the interim board of the Road Safety Authority have a wide variety of skills, experience and professional commitment whom I am confident will represent the concerns of all sectors in society. Advisory panels, comprising of a broad range of road safety stakeholders, whose function will be to advise the Board on policy, its implementation and impact will...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Dublin Bus has advised me that the company is in the process of evaluating a trial of bio-diesel and until this trial is complete and a full evaluation takes place, no further decision regarding the extension of the trial will be made.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Report of the Working Group on the Review of Speed Limits contained a recommendation that a default speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) be introduced for non-national roads. I can confirm that this recommendation was taken on board in the new speed limit structures contained in the Road Traffic Act 2004. From 20 January 2005 a default speed limit of 80 km/h (replacing the previous limit of 60...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that the works planned on the Cork — Cobh line will have no impact on the North Esk freight facility and the freight yard will remain connected to the rail system.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ No 17441/06 on Tuesday 9 May 2006. As I indicated at that time, Northern Ireland has the lead role for transport matters in the British Irish Council, and the authorities in that jurisdiction are taking the lead in considering this issue. Officials are examining the issues and will, I understand, report back in the next few weeks. However at that point...

Written Answers — Great Southern Hotels Group: Great Southern Hotels Group (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: As I have stated previously in this House, decisions in relation to the sale of the Great Southern Hotels (GSH) are matters for the Boards of Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and the GSH and I have no function in relation to them. GSH is a wholly owned subsidiary of the DAA and I understand that any proceeds of the sale, net of all applicable liabilities and costs and after repayment of capital...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: At the outset, I should explain that 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 is vested in the NRA under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000). In January of this year, the National Roads Authority decided to replace the West-link...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Section 36 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, as amended by section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, provides for a system of automatic mandatory disqualification from applying for or holding a small public service vehicle driver or vehicle licence in respect of persons who have been convicted of certain specified offences. These include the offences of murder, manslaughter and various sexual,...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 1999 requires that the driving licence of a person disqualified from driving be delivered to the Court within 5 days of the coming into operation of the Court order. This applies to Irish driving licences and driving licences from other jurisdictions.

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 165 together. I expect to make a decision shortly in relation to the recommendations contained in the report on the outcome of the mid-term review of the national car testing service conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for my Department. As soon as I have made that decision I will publish the PwC report on my Department's website. My Department...