Results 661-680 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: As Minister of State for Transport, I have responsibility for Road Safety and Maritime affairs, with a total capital budget of approximately €87 million (capital and current) and covering approximately 180 staff and nearly 1000 volunteer staff (Irish Coast Guard). The number of staff assigned to work for me directly in the Department are as follows: 1 Private Secretary; 2 Executive...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: I do not consider it appropriate to comment on the performance of individual directors of State companies in this manner.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 121 together. The current position regarding the testing of drivers for alcohol at the scene of a collision is that a member of An Garda Síochána may require a driver involved in a collision to provide a preliminary breath specimen. This discretion is provided in acknowledgement of the fact that urgent medical attention may be required for seriously...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: The corporate governance arrangements for Dublin Port Company are laid out in the Companies Acts, the Harbours Act 1996 and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. The structure of the port company boards is outlined in section 30 of the Act. In the case of Dublin Port Company, there are three local authority directors, two employee directors and one CEO director. The...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: I am not aware of any representations received in my Department relating to a link-up or merger of Dublin Port Company and Drogheda Port Company leading to a joint development for large-scale port traffic at Bremore. Drogheda Port Company has for some time been developing a proposal for a new port facility at Bremore in the context of a proposed joint venture arrangement. This proposal is...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: I attended a meeting of EU Transport Ministers on 9 December and the draft Directive on Enforcement in the Field of Road Safety was one of the items on the agenda. In this context, a progress report on the draft Directive, presented by the French Presidency was noted. The draft Directive does not relate to the cross-border enforcement of all traffic laws, but specifically to the offences of...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: The Road Safety Authority has submitted proposals for the registration and regulation of driving instructors to my Department. Consideration of these proposals is at an advanced stage, and I expect to be in a position to make the necessary regulations shortly.

Written Answers — Ferry Services: Ferry Services (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 128 together. The Cork Swansea Ferry Company suspended its service in 2007. I can appreciate the concerns that have been expressed in the region in response to this development. My colleague, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, T.D., recently met with representatives from county councils in Cork and Kerry who outlined to him the detrimental effects...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: The enforcement on foreign registered drivers of penalties for road traffic offences is a complex legal and administrative matter for many States, and my Department is pursuing this question at European, British/Irish and North/South levels. We are working with the authorities of the United Kingdom on the mutual recognition of penalty points, but a recent feasibility study carried out by the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: I take it the Deputy is referring to the recent speeding cases struck out by a District Court, and questions as to whether there was a requirement to publish a notice in Iris Oifigiúil of the making of special speed limit bye-laws by local authorities. There are no such requirements under the Road Traffic Act 2004 or in the guidelines made under it relating to the making of such bye-laws....

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: The Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008 was published in July 2008 and is currently at Committee Stage in Seanad Éireann. The primary purpose of the Bill is to give effect to certain aspects of the Government's Ports Policy Statement, launched in 2005. A total of 17 amendments were proposed for consideration at Seanad Committee Stage, including an amendment in relation to the proposed removal of...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: I have visited the Bureau on two occasions this year, most recently at the official opening of their state of the art facilities at UCD Belfield, and my officials are in regular contact with management and staff on a range of issues. My Department is represented on the Board of the Bureau and this mechanism also facilitates good communication between both organisations. It is a function of...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: Penalty points were first applied in October 2002 to the offence of speeding and have been rolled out in stages between then and September 2006 in respect of a total of 36 offences. The focus of the roll-out of the penalty points system to date has been on road safety critical offences that relate primarily to the behaviour of drivers. The progressive extension of the penalty point system...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: The High Level Review of the State Commercial Ports, carried out by Raymond Burke Consulting in association with Posford Haskoning Consulting Engineers and Farrell Grant Sparks, was published in May 2003. This was the first such review of the port companies established under the terms of the Harbours Act 1996. Subsequently, the Review was the subject of an extensive public consultation...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: Indecon International Economic Consultants have been commissioned to undertake a comprehensive review of the role of Dublin Port as provided for under the National Development Plan 2007 — 2013. This study will examine the feasibility of various scenarios relating to Dublin Port, including: Existing port activities continuing to expand with demand, Relocating all or part of Dublin Port's...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: The Government recently gave its approval to the drafting of a Road Traffic and Transport Bill, which inter alia proposes a reduction in the legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level for drivers. It is hoped to have the Bill published early next year.

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: The terms and conditions of employment on board vessels are a matter primarily for the State in which the ship is registered. A comprehensive body of Irish employment rights legislation governs the conditions of employment of workers on board vessels under the Irish flag. This includes legislation dealing with minimum wages. If the vessel is not registered in Ireland, then the port state...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: My Department's approach to maritime safety involves an appropriate combination of statutory regulation, safety awareness promotion and enforcement. The balance to be struck between regulation and safety awareness promotion has a particular significance in relation to recreational craft, which are intended for leisure and sporting purposes. It is the responsibility of owners and operators...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No 477 of 2006) this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: The Road Safety Strategy 2007 — 2012 outlines a range of measures to be considered in relation to a Graduated Driver Licensing System. The driver licensing regulations, which were made in October 2007, providing for the introduction of a learner permit to replace the provisional licence and some other measures, were the first step in the introduction of a Graduated Driver Licensing System....