Results 5,741-5,760 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Public Transport. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: The plan is to provide 100 additional buses in 2006 and a further 100 buses in 2007. I hope we can deliver. I agree with much of what the Deputy said. I have a view on this but it is not something I have discussed at any length. There should be a new national bus terminus on the perimeter of Dublin. All inter-city connectivity coming to Dublin should go to a major new terminus outside Dublin...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: The decision to dispose of a majority shareholding in Aer Lingus was made following detailed and comprehensive consideration of the issue by me and my colleagues in Government. The Government agreed in its decision that the strategic development of the State airports and Aer Lingus was essential to underpin Ireland's competitiveness, industry and tourism. Furthermore, its consideration was...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy is trying to put words in my mouth as usual. I never used the term "golden share" in this debate over the past 12 months.

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: I never used the phrase "golden share" from the start to the finish of this debate. I have not used the term "blocking share" in this debate. Those are the Deputy's words, not mine. I have spoken about the State keeping a shareholding in a company that is very substantial, the same as any other company or investor keeps a shareholding of substance in a company, and the public is well aware of...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: Does the Deputy want me to answer the question? I have made it clear that the minimum the State will hold onto is 25.1%. It could be somewhat more than that; we will have to await the outcome. As far as the Government is concerned at this stage, the State is quite clear in that we will retain that share in Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus is now on a path for growth. We are not going for a trade sale,...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: Aer Lingus——

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: Of course they will. Aer Lingus, and anybody who owns an involvement in Aer Lingus, will want to make sure the company is as viable commercially as it has always been and will be more commercially successful into the future. The Deputy makes an interesting point. The world has changed dramatically. Aer Lingus and the Heathrow slots had a much higher value when there were no other airport...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: In recent meetings with the Aer Lingus trade unions on the future of the company, they raised a number of concerns of staff in respect of the planned IPO, including job security and pensions. I have mandated Aer Lingus management to engage with the trade unions to seek to address those concerns. Decisions on new routes are a commercial matter for the company. Late last year, I secured...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: I will answer the Deputy's question when he has concluded.

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: The pensions issue is being resolved. Proposals have been communicated to the company, the unions and the employee share ownership trust. The company's scheme is a private pension scheme operated by the trustees of the company, rather than a State pension scheme. Very effective solutions, involving a combination of increased staff, employer contributions and a possible upfront payment arising...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: Aer Lingus operates direct flights from Shannon Airport to the US.

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: Aer Lingus operates direct flights from Shannon Airport to the US every day.

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: These flights go to the US.

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy need not worry. I have the facts, which are very clear. The Deputy seems to suggest that a plane should fly out of Shannon Airport even if there is no one to get on it.

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy knows, there are increased opportunities to many destinations in the United States. We only have access to five cities at present.

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: We want to substantially increase the number of cities. There are 22 other destinations in America that are interested in having direct connections with Ireland, in light of which Shannon has considerable potential. It is the restriction of Shannon Airport that has affected it and Ireland in terms of our access to the United States of America. It is nonsense that we can only have direct...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: I have strongly advised people in the Shannon region to focus on the future. The Deputy is correct in that there is a significant opportunity to go to America to look for new markets instead of having an argument with me about the past. The world has changed. An open skies agreement is the reality. Shannon Airport's objective should be to accommodate many airlines and not just Aer Lingus,...

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: In case there are any misunderstandings, Aer Lingus is very keen to use Shannon Airport. It is the largest carrier of passengers from Shannon to the United States.

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: Deputy Breen might believe that he is making a point to me but he is talking to a wide audience. The people in Shannon Airport should stop sending out such a negative, depressing image about it.

Air Services. (3 May 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy is damaging his region by continuing in this way.