Results 6,981-7,000 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The provision of public bus services on specific routes, in response to demand for public bus services, is a commercial and operational matter for bus operators. The only application on hand from Bus Átha Cliath for the north Kildare area is a request for permission, in accordance with section 25 of the Transport Act 1958, for changes to their existing 67/67A services which operate between...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the upgrade of the M50 and the move to barrier free tolling at the West Link bridge, is a matter, in the first instance, for the National Roads Authority. A design and build contract for the upgrading of the West Link section of the M50, that is, 3.2 km of motorway between the Galway road junction and the...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available and will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Transport Policy: Transport Policy (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 provides for the construction of a new metro line between St. Stephen's Green and Swords and serving Dublin Airport. This line will provide a quick and efficient service to Dublin Airport from the city centre. Journey time from St. Stephen's Green will be approximately 17 minutes and trains will run every four minutes. Metro north will link up with the metro west line at...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Under EU rules, the development of new air services is entirely a matter for commercial decision on the part of airlines, in consultation with the relevant airport authorities. Member states are allowed to provide financial compensation for the operation of public service obligation air services to regional airports, where it would not be economically viable for airlines to operate on a...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 2 of today. EU law permits member states to have national weight and dimension limits for road vehicles provided they do not conflict with European law. The recent judgment of the European Court of Justice, to which the Deputy refers, related to the prohibition by the Austrian authorities on the use of certain motor vehicles over 7.5...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the local authorities concerned. It is the view of Dublin City Council and the NRA that the Dublin Port tunnel will facilitate almost all of the HGV traffic using Dublin Port. The issue of routing vehicles unable to use the tunnel...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Traffic management in general is a matter for the appropriate local authority and the traffic management and control arrangements that will apply following the opening of the Dublin Port tunnel are a matter for Dublin City Council. In parallel with the opening to traffic of the Dublin Port tunnel, Dublin City Council will introduce a heavy goods vehicle traffic management strategy to ensure...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 envisages that a proportion of the national roads programme will be implemented by means of public private partnerships, PPPs, which will involve private sector funding, remunerated in part by user tolls. Through PPPs, private sector innovation will be harnessed in the areas of scheme design, construction and long-term operation and maintenance and will ensure earlier delivery of...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. No domestic or EU regulations govern the number of passengers that can be carried on an individual railway carriage. However, I expect the railway safety Bill to be enacted before year-end, and the Railway Safety Commission will then have power to make regulations in this area. Iarnród Éireann has indicated the issue of crowding is one...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The day-to-day operation of bus services by Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann is a matter for the individual companies. However, since 10 January 2001 both Bus Átha Cliath and Bus Éireann are required by ministerial direction to notify my Department of proposed new services or proposed changes to existing services at least four weeks prior to their introduction. My Department has not...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I have been informed by Iarnród Éireann that the number of commuters using rail services through these stations is 5,000 each morning. This has increased considerably over recent years, as rail services have been improved and population has increased. The company has also informed me that it proposes to introduce additional services on the introduction of their new timetable in December....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department has the following number of former employees who have been brought back to work on contract, or other employed on contract to do work which has traditionally been done in-house: Grade Number Former Employees Retired Driver Tester 6 Yes Engineer Inspector 1 No IT Contractors 2 No My Department's commitment to adhere to the Government's decision on Civil Service...

Air Services. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: As I have stated in the House on many previous occasions, it is clear that an EU-US open skies agreement is inevitable and I am delighted with the successful conclusion of the negotiations in Washington last week that bring open skies even closer. I expect that all member states will find the contents of the draft agreement to be acceptable and that the only issue left to be considered before...

Air Services. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I do not mind answering the Deputy but the matter about which she asks her supplementary is entirely different to that covered in Question No. 1. A question on capital investment in Aer Lingus will be dealt with later. This question is concerned with the EU-US aviation agreement.

Air Services. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: There will be another question on investment in Aer Lingus and I suggest that we wait until it is asked. We want to move quickly to secure investment for Aer Lingus because this is important for the new fleet. Three criteria are always required when a public or private company goes to the market: that the market is in a good position, that the sector is healthy and that the company is in a...

Air Services. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: That matter will arise later and I suggest we wait until the relevant question is dealt with.

Air Services. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I will check.

Road Safety. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The road safety authority will be the single body with responsibility for road safety. Work on the process of establishing the authority is well advanced in my Department. The authority's functions will include those undertaken by my Department relating to driver testing, driver licensing, vehicle standards, certain functions relating to the road haulage industry, the road safety functions...

Road Safety. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy asked if we will see the road safety authority early in 2006 and the answer is "Yes". The amendments are with the Parliamentary Counsel. I hope the process is completed as soon as possible and it is my intention to return to the House with all of the amendments in 2006, prior to which I will forward them to all Opposition spokespersons for their perusal but their content has been...