Results 6,401-6,420 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: On receipt of notification from either the Garda Síochána or the Courts Service that a person has paid a fixed charge in respect of an alleged penalty point offence, or has been convicted of a penalty point offence, the appropriate points are recorded on the licence record of that person in the national driver file and a notification is issued. When 12 points have been accumulated on the...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Government's ports policy statement was published in January 2005. It is available on the Department's website. It comprises several key elements, including proposed measures to give clearer and more focused commercial mandates to the ten State-owned commercial port companies. One such measure is the proposed reduction from three to one in the number of local authority directors on the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic Act 2004 sets out new speed limit structures and new processes for the application of special speed limits following the changeover to metric speed limits on 20 January 2005. Section 9 provides for the application through the making of by-laws by the elected members of county and city councils of special speed limits in lieu of the speed limits that apply on a default basis...

Written Answers — Irish Aviation Authority: Irish Aviation Authority (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Irish Aviation Authority has, since its establishment in 1994, been responsible for the safety regulation of, and the issuing of air operator's certificates to, Irish airlines, including Ryanair, in accordance with the requirements of current European and international standards. The authority exercises continuous surveillance on Irish airlines in accordance with those safety...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together. In 2004 the Department of Finance requested each Secretary General or head of office to discuss the question of decentralisation with his or her senior officers at assistant secretary level. In total, up to 60 posts at this level are due to relocate under the decentralisation programme. The decentralisation implementation group reported...

Written Answers — Insurance Costs: Insurance Costs (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy will be pleased to know that the cost of motor insurance has fallen again in January 2006 to a new low of 78.2 index points compared to 108 index points in April 2003 when the Government's insurance reform programme commenced. This represents a 27.59% decrease in the cost of motor insurance to policyholders. Average premia are now back to 1999 levels. Given the continued success of...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority, NRA, in its 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. In 2004, 374 people lost their lives in 334 collisions. Some 63...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: With regard to motorways, it is prohibited since 1997 under article 33 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 to drive a bus or coach that accommodates more than eight passengers in the outside lane except where it is necessary to proceed in that lane due to an obstruction or because another lane or lanes is or are for the time being closed to traffic. Penalty points will...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: On 2 November 2005, I met a delegation from the Midland Railway Action Group to discuss the matter of the reopening of the Athlone to Mullingar railway line. At our meeting, it was agreed that the group would present to me with a detailed proposal, supported by a complementary land use and settlement strategy. The group was to submit such a proposal within six-month timeframe. I will, in...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The issue raised by the Deputy is a day-to-day operational matter for the Dublin Airport Authority, in which I have no statutory function. However, the authority has informed me that it will seek to ensure that optimal runway capacity is available to meet emerging airline requirements and to best serve the country's aviation needs.

Written Answers — Air and Road Safety: Air and Road Safety (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Government is fully committed to both road and aviation safety. Reducing the number of road fatalities and injuries continues to be a top priority for the Government and for my Department. Aviation, meanwhile, if it is to continue its excellent safety record so far, must maintain pace with the latest developments in safety practices worldwide. For that reason, the use of consultants such...

Written Answers — Air and Road Safety: Air and Road Safety (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I understand that the ALSAA sports complex at Dublin Airport was developed by a trust comprising Aer Rianta and Aer Lingus employees at the time and not by Aer Rianta. The complex was granted planning permission by the relevant local authority and, when it was constructed in the mid-1980s, was located fully outside the red zone of the approach to the then future runway 28L. Following...

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 1999, provide that a person who holds a driving licence issued by the competent authority of a member state of the European Union or of the European Economic Area may drive any vehicle of the category in respect of which the licence has been granted for the period for which the licence has effect or, alternatively, on taking up residence in...

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Non-EU citizens who are temporary visitors to Ireland and who hold a national driving licence or an international driving permit may drive here for the duration of their visit. In this regard "temporary" may be regarded as a period not exceeding 12 months. An international driving permit means a valid and properly completed international driving permit issued to a visitor under the convention...

Written Answers — Vehicle Safety: Vehicle Safety (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: In general, all new vehicles are subject to certain EU type-approval requirements before they can be registered and entered into service here. Consideration is being given to the introduction of a scheme of testing of used imported vehicles to ensure that they are roadworthy and that they meet basic age-related emission standards.

Written Answers — Vehicle Safety: Vehicle Safety (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: There is little indication that vehicle condition is a major element in motorcycle collisions. While acknowledging this position, the road safety strategy 2004-06 provides for an examination to be carried out on the potential benefits of introducing a roadworthiness test for motorcycles. The question of introducing such a test will be considered in light of that examination.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The information is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 to 448, inclusive, together. Under the rail safety programmes 1999-2003 and 2004-08, approximately 644 km of track has been upgraded to continuous welded rail. Almost 15 km of track was provided on the Maynooth line to upgrade the line to double tracking and provide a commuter service to the city centre. This was completed in 2000. The network resignalling...

Written Answers — North-South Co-operation: North-South Co-operation (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The ministerial meeting of the transport sectoral group of the British-Irish Council on 9 February 2006 reviewed progress to date on the group's work programme. Following the meeting I exchanged letters with the UK Minister of State for Transport in which we agreed to enter into bilateral arrangements on the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications as envisaged in the EU Convention on...

Written Answers — Road Haulage Industry: Road Haulage Industry (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am currently considering a departmental report on whether to introduce a statutory height restriction for vehicles and I hope to take a decision in the matter shortly. In the event that it is decided to introduce a statutory height restriction for vehicles, the draft regulations to provide for such a limit will be sent to the European Commission for consideration and for referral to other...