Results 621-640 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: It would not address the Senator's problem. It is not easy to introduce legislation and there is always a long queue. One cannot just say one wants legislation next week or month; it is a long, slow process. The maritime section of my Department, not to mention other Departments, is already working on three different Bills. Legislation involves a long, slow process and it so happens that...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: The Senator mentioned his legal experience. That paragraph is just making legal provision for an eventuality that might happen.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: It does not, come on now.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: I would like to but I do not know if I can make Senator O'Donovan happy. I wish I could. He has an extraordinarily innovative or suspicious mind. I think he is wrong but I cannot state that authoritatively. Senator O'Donovan started by speaking about the request made to Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners in 2005. We suggested that Bantry should engage in a due diligence exercise with Cork...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: The Bill follows on from the ports policy document of 2005. As we all know, legislation comes along in its own way. It is a slow process. The Bill covers issues other than Bantry Bay. It has been drafted in the three or four years since the ports policy document was put through. It would have been expected that by now the due diligence report would have been done and a certain amount of...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: I suppose I could do that but even if I did——

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (resumed) (11 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: ——it would not solve Senator O'Donovan's problem. It would just mean that we were back where we were last year or the year before, waiting for the due diligence process to be completed, the negotiations to take place with Bantry and local consultation. We could probably do this and introduce the Bill in two years' time——

Written Answers — Regional Harbours: Regional Harbours (10 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: The process is at an advanced stage for the transfer of Westport Harbour to Mayo County Council.

Written Answers — Coast Guard Stations: Coast Guard Stations (10 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: The Office of Public Works have advised my Department that they are in the process of purchasing a suitable site close to Doolin Pier for a Coast Guard Station House. Survey work in connection with this process is underway. Subject to the successful conclusion of this process by OPW and in consultation with the Coast Guard, OPW architectural staff will produce plans for the Station House...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (5 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: The Office of Public Works have advised my Department that they are in the process of purchasing a suitable site close to Doolin Pier for a Coast Guard Station House. Survey work in connection with this process is underway. Subject to the successful conclusion of this process by OPW and in consultation with the Coast Guard, OPW architectural staff will produce plans for the Station House...

Written Answers — Marine Transport Services: Marine Transport Services (5 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: The Minister for Transport has no function in this matter. I understand from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that Donegal County Council does provide funding for ferry services on Lough Swilly. My Department also understands from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that some funding for Lough Foyle was provided from the UK...

Ferry Services. (4 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I commend him on the enthusiasm with which he put his case. I have not visited the north west as a tourist for a number of years, but I recognise the potential to which he referred. However, I do not have any good news for him. As Minister of State at the Department of Transport, I do not have a function in respect of the ferry services to...

Ferry Services. (4 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: The issue does not have a home, as it were, and the Office of the Ceann Comhairle decided my Department should address it. I hate to deliver bad news but shipping services do not come within the remit of the North-South body and are not one of my responsibilities. I will relay the Deputy's request for a meeting to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey. I do not wish to raise...

Written Answers — Coastguard Service: Coastguard Service (4 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: The Irish Coast Guard transferred to the Department of Transport from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on 1st January 2006. The Irish Coast Guard has fifty-five Stations from which marine rescue services are delivered by volunteer units available for emergency callouts. Budgets are not allocated by Station as expenditure varies as circumstances demand. The...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (3 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, the Chairman of Dublin Port Company announced his resignation from the post on 29 January.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Feb 2009)

Noel Ahern: I have no proposals in this regard, to amend the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006. I understand that a person who is registered as a medical practitioner in the UK is eligible to apply for inclusion in the register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Registration Council of Ireland. This procedure for registration also applies to Irish medical practitioners.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Noel Ahern: ——and that Tralee and Fenit could be transferred to Shannon-Foynes. If the Bill were passed, it would then leave a situation where the current options could be expanded. It would leave a situation whereby three options could be considered for Bantry, Tralee and Fenit. The first option, which is there already, would be the establishment of a private company for the harbour. Option two...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Noel Ahern: Depending on their background and experience, many commissioners in a big port or a small harbour probably have a view on how these things should be done. Senator Walsh referred to New Ross and said he was consulted by the consultants to whom he gave his view. Everyone put their pennyworth into the pot. Reports were issued and policy was endorsed by the Government. That is the way it is...

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Noel Ahern: Once this legislation goes through it gives three options. Nobody is going to come along willy-nilly on the first day and sign off on something. There will have to be discussions but they cannot go on for another ten years.

Seanad: Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Noel Ahern: We are having that, yes, but if the harbour commissioners are amalgamated with the Port of Cork there will have to be detailed discussions about how the set-up would be run or managed in future. That could be a big opportunity to make progress, obtain guarantees and get it into the work programme of Cork port that all these things should happen. One can look on everything as either a danger...