Results 5,981-6,000 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Air Services. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Government will seek to ensure that connectivity at Irish airports is maintained and developed through the continued implementation of its aviation strategy, which is to promote the development of as wide a range as possible of competitive international air services to and from Ireland to underpin our economic growth and competitiveness. We need regular, safe, cost-effective and...

Air Services. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Was there a question there?

Air Services. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I did not notice it. The Deputy's original question was concerned with how we will continue connectivity, it had nothing to do with what the Deputy then said. The appointment of the extra directors, which is referred to in the question, would not have changed the decision on the Shannon to Heathrow service. The board gave the management a mandate to pursue all commercial opportunities for...

Air Services. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: If the Deputy is let shadow me for the full five years, he will find that is exactly what I always do, sometimes at great inconvenience to myself. He is incorrect when he says the board decided on this issue, discussed it and knew all about it.

Air Services. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: That is not true.

Air Services. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy is confusing two separate issues, but I hope we will be able to give him clarity later. As far back as the IPO launch and the documentation for it, it was made clear that an expansion of Aer Lingus was envisaged and that at least there would be one other hub. Even on 13 June it was generally known that Aer Lingus was examining possibilities for other hubs. The Deputy is...

Road Safety. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I am not considering the extension of the Road Safety Authority's remit to include road safety audits of the public road network. Safety is a fundamental consideration in the provision and maintenance of the national and non-national road networks. As such, safety issues are built in to the processes of planning, design, operation and maintenance of the roads systems. As part of my...

Road Safety. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I agree with the Deputy that it is extremely important that safety standards and specifications should, at all times, be a priority in the design, construction and maintenance of roads. A disagreement arises — if one wishes to call it that — in asking the Road Safety Authority to fulfil that role. I am satisfied with the role played by the authority, as well as by local authorities and...

Road Safety. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy and I are at one in that general aim. Accident black spots, including blind spots, are being dealt with. I will certainly keep the matter under review and no doubt the Deputy will raise it again.

Drogheda Port Company. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: It is my intention to give approval for Drogheda Port Company to enter into a joint venture agreement to develop a new port facility at Bremore in Fingal county, subject to the enactment of necessary legislation. I am advised that an amendment to the Harbours Act 1996 is necessary to enable the port limits of the Drogheda Port Company to be extended to include Bremore and to enable me to...

Drogheda Port Company. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Deputy for his support. While I cannot outline a specific timescale, I intend to examine the progress of the Harbours Bill with a view to ascertaining if it can be completed and brought forward relatively quickly. If it can, I will table the relevant amendments. If the legislation is likely to be delayed, I will proceed with something separate in order to amend the Bill. The...

Port Development. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 54 and 86 together. It is my intention to give approval for Drogheda Port Company to enter into a joint venture agreement to develop a new port facility at Bremore in Fingal County, subject to enactment of necessary legislation. I am advised that an amendment to the Harbours Act 1996 is necessary to enable the port limits of the Drogheda Port Company to be...

Port Development. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Deputy Reilly for bringing me on a tour of his constituency and the various issues arising there. All the matters raised in respect of the ports, the abandonment of dredgers and so on, can be taken into account. Legislation exists to deal with these matters but is probably not effective. During the election campaign I was shown what is happening there. The harbours Bill will...

Port Development. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: No. That is entirely up to the company.

Road Network. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 45 and 71 together. As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in respect of the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Act 1993, in conjunction with the relevant local authorities. Both...

Road Network. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Government is not proposing this outer orbital yet. It is for consideration in the programme for Government. The report commissioned by the NRA is still under consideration. Any proposal that comes forward will be from the NRA, and it would then have to be accepted by the Government. I think the Deputy recognises the reason the route is as such is largely due to the technical...

Road Network. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I was picking Deputy McManus up on a statement she made that the Government was proposing the particular route. I corrected her and stated that the NRA was proposing the route. The document shows that the cost benefit analysis is very positive. The Government consists of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and the Progressive Democrats and there is a commitment in the programme for Government to...

Road Network. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Up to that time, it was not in any programme. It was not included in the NDP or in Transport 21. The intention is——

Road Network. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: It was put into the programme for Government to try to advance it to design stage. It will take five to six years to get it to the stage where it can be put out to tender. That is the intent during the lifetime of this Government.

Aer Lingus Proposal. (18 Oct 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Members for their questions. Hopefully I will be able to clarify this matter as there appears to be some confusion among them. A media article on 13 June 2007 reported the possibility of Aer Lingus opening a new base at Belfast. Aer Lingus confirmed that a number of possible locations were being considered. Following a query to the company by my Department on foot of that article,...