Results 701-720 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Seanad: Food Labelling (3 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: I will do so. However, I recall that when magic mushrooms were banned, the process still took several months to complete. It is a long procedure and not as simple as we might all like to think it is. I will convey the Senator's comments to the Department.

Written Answers — Coast Guard Services: Coast Guard Services (2 Dec 2008)

Noel Ahern: The Irish Coast Guard has fifty-five Stations from which marine rescue services are delivered by volunteer units available for emergency callouts. Each Unit has an Area Officer and a Deputy Area Officer. These officers are paid an annual retainer of €888.80 and €444.40 respectively. Accordingly, the cost incurred for pay for each station for each of the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 was...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (25 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No 477 of 2006), the Road Safety Authority is responsible for the prosecution of offences arising from those functions transferred to the Authority, including for example of offences in respect of tachographs and vehicle standards. I can assure the Deputy that no prosecutions for such offences are brought by...

Written Answers — Driving Schools: Driving Schools (18 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: There are no prohibitions or restrictions applied under road traffic legislation relating to where vehicles may be used in the course of driving instruction. Permissible sound levels and exhaust systems for motor vehicles are set out in Directive 70/157/EEC, as amended, in relation to the registration and entry into service of new motor vehicles in the European Union. Vehicle in-service...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (18 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: There are nine regional harbours, which are State assets managed under the Harbours Act 1946 by a harbour authority composed of commissioners whose duties include the management, control, maintenance and operation of the harbour. Policy in relation to the regional harbours, as published in the Ports Policy Statement in 2005, is that their continued operation under the outdated provisions of...

Written Answers — Road Signage: Road Signage (18 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: The Minister for Transport may, under section 95 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, give general or particular directions to the road authorities in relation to traffic signs. Directions are contained in the manual "Traffic Signs Manual 1996" in relation to the use of Irish and English on traffic signs. I am satisfied with these directions and I do not intend to make any amendment.

Seanad: Regional Airports. (13 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. He appears to have a good feel of the situation judging by his figures. The Department provides direct financial support for the six regional airports under two schemes, one relating to operational expenditure and the other to capital investments. In the case of operational expenditure, a new scheme introduced in 2006 provides for an annual...

Seanad: Regional Airports. (13 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: I hear what the Senator says, but I hope the airport board does not take such a negative view of the situation. There is a delay in what is likely to happen, but there is no rowing back or cancellation, although the Senator did not use that word.

Seanad: Regional Airports. (13 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: There is a delay in the process with regard to projects that were to get the go ahead next year. However, I hope that while there may be a delay, the airport board in Waterford will still progress its thinking and plans. I am trying to offer encouragement. I have heard what the Senator said about the potential of the airport and while there may be a delay, I hope people will remain...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: Legislation was introduced in the Road Traffic Act 2006 to provide for an appropriate form of roadside Mandatory Alcohol Testing (MAT). Since its introduction, gardaí have been operating 30,000 MAT checkpoints per month, thereby increasing the risk of being breathalysed. As a consequence, there has been a noticeable downward trend in the number of deaths and collisions on our roads since...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 133 and 139 together. 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 United Kingdom with the objective of having a bilateral agreement on...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 111 and 167 together. The Road Traffic Acts provide that a member of the Garda Síochána may, where he or she is of the opinion that a person in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place is under the influence of a drug or drugs to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of that vehicle, require that person to go to a...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: Driving under the influence of intoxicants, drugs as well as alcohol, is one of many key issues in road safety, and the testing of drivers in relation to drugs is already provided for in the Road Traffic Acts. A member of the Garda Síochána, where he or she is of the opinion that a person in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place is under the influence of a drug or...

Written Answers — Driver Licences: Driver Licences (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 107, 124 and 144 together. The Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 outlines a range of measures to be considered in relation to a Graduated Driver Licensing System for application to learner drivers and in the first two years after acquiring a full driving licence. The driver licensing regulations, which were made in October 2007, providing for the...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: My Department has commissioned Indecon International Economic Consultants to undertake a comprehensive study of the role of Dublin Port as provided for under the National Development Plan 2007-2013. This study will examine the feasibility and conduct a cost-benefit analysis of various scenarios relating to Dublin Port, including: Existing port activities continuing to expand with demand,...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 123 together. The Government is allocating €35.6 million to the Road Safety Authority for 2009. While this amount is less than that provided in 2008 (€39.1 million) the 2008 allocation included a provision to reduce the driver testing backlog. This objective was achieved and the RSA is maintaining the driver test waiting time at 10 weeks. The 2009...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: The threshold for disqualification is 12 points. I have received no recommendation from the Road Safety Authority to reduce this threshold.

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: Penalty points were first applied in October 2002 to the offence of speeding and have since 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. These include the offence of speeding, driving...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: I have provided €4.395 million to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety for 2009. While my Department provides annual funding to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, the allocation of resources to the various programmes is a matter for the bureau itself.

Written Answers — Ferry Services: Ferry Services (12 Nov 2008)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 165 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. The Port of Cork Company is continuing to engage in discussions with a number of interested parties and stakeholders with a view to the latter commencing a new passenger and...