Results 7,941-7,960 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 92, 99, 113 and 201 to 203, inclusive, together. The Government decision of 18 May last was based on detailed consideration of how best to provide additional terminal capacity at Dublin Airport. Two key considerations were the importance of ensuring the continued overall operational integrity and strategic development of Dublin Airport to meet the needs of...

Written Answers — Garda Traffic Corps: Garda Traffic Corps (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I was pleased by the announcement late last year by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to the establishment of a dedicated corps of gardaí, under a distinct management structure within the overall force, which will provide for the significant enhancement of the deterrent effect that emanates from high levels of traffic law enforcement. The question of staffing...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Appointments to the board of the National Roads Authority, NRA, are made in accordance with section 28 of the Roads Act 1993. Under the Act, I as Minister, appoint board members for a period of five years or less. Each member appointed must, as stated in section 28 (1)(d) of the Roads Act 1993, be a person who in the opinion of the Minister has wide experience and competence in relation to...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 117 together. Iarnród Éireann held wide-ranging consultations with business interests around the country to identify those freight activities which are best suited to rail transport. The company has developed a business plan based on a strategy with regard to freight which is to: break even by 2006; increase the profitability of the existing...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The endorsement of penalty points may result from one of two situations. These occur where a person is convicted of the commission of an offence that attracts penalty points or where a person decides voluntarily to pay a fixed charge, which results in the matter not being referred to the courts for determination. If the motorist pays the fixed charge he-she will be accepting the consequence...

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Discussions are ongoing with Irish Rail regarding the finalisation of the company's revised memorandum of understanding, MOU, between the Department and the company. The revised MOU, as well as accounting for public expenditure, will provide a reporting structure for performance indicators from the company. The MOU will contain targets on service quantity and quality as well as detailed...

Written Answers — Freight Traffic: Freight Traffic (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: Year Total tonnes-kilometres carried by road and rail (thousand) Road Share % Rail Share % 2003 16,296,309 97.6 2.4 2000 12,838,825 96.2 3.8 1995 6,095,457 90.1 9.9 1985 5,121,200 88.3 11.7 Source: CSO Road Freight Transport Survey, Irish Rail....

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my answer to parliamentary question reference number 13423/05. Under the decentralisation programme Bus Éireann headquarters posts are to be relocated to Mitchelstown. That position remains unchanged. To date, 86 posts suitable for decentralisation have been identified by the company, however, no employee has indicated a wish to move and this is being examined....

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Dublin Bus has told me that the company has appointed international transport consultants to oversee the network review and it is expected that the project will be completed by December 2005. While the matters arising from the review are a matter for Dublin Bus in the first instance, the company has indicated it will consult with representative groups in relation to the implementation of...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The move from the current toll arrangement on the M50 West Link bridge to a barrier free automated toll collection facility will be completed over a number of stages, involving a phased reduction in the cashier-coin basket lanes with a corresponding increase in payments by automated methods. My Department is contributing to the process by reviewing the need to change, where necessary, the...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 192 of 1 June 2005. Since 2000, significant improvements have taken place on infrastructure and services in the BMW region. In the coming days, Iarnród Éireann will begin to take delivery of a fleet of 36 new diesel railcars, most of which will operate on the Dublin to Sligo route. These railcars will be used to increase the reliability and...

Written Answers — Parking Regulations: Parking Regulations (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Where a person is convicted by a court of committing the offence of parking illegally in a disabled person's parking bay, he or she is liable to a fine not exceeding €800 for a first offence. The maximum fine for a second or subsequent offence is €1,500 and in the case of a third or subsequent offence committed within a 12 month period €1,500 and-or a prison sentence of up to three...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The roll out of integrated ticketing using smartcard technology, for which the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, was given statutory responsibility in March 2002, will be introduced on a phased basis, in line with international experience. The proposed system, which will enable a passenger to use a ticket on one or more scheduled public transport services, by road and rail, irrespective of the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transposition of Directive 2002/15/EC was delayed due to discussions with the industry and the EU Commission regarding problems of application to mobile workers in the concrete sector, road construction sector and in relation to certain coach operations. In addition, legal advice was sought as to whether transposition would require primary legislation. My Department has now received a...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: European Council Regulation No. 261/2004, establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding and cancellation or long delay of flights, came into effect on 17 February 2005. The regulation confers rights on passengers without the need for the intervention of the enforcement body. Deliberations and consultation by my Department regarding the...

Written Answers — Aviation Tax: Aviation Tax (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Discussions have been taking place at recent ECOFIN councils about methods to increase the European Community's overseas development aid contribution. A number of member states have suggested that additional funds could be derived from a tax or levy on airline tickets or aviation fuel. The Minister for Finance has informed me that there was no overall consensus on an aviation tax of any sort...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department is currently awaiting the outcome of a review being carried out by Dublin Bus on how best to maximise the utilisation of its existing resources, in light of the significant investment made in bus and rail services and ongoing demographic changes. This review will be completed by the end of the year. In addition, discussions are taking place with the key stakeholders on the...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, and the Dublin Transportation Office are carrying out a comprehensive assessment of the effect of Luas on travel patterns. The Before Luas survey was carried out in the spring of 2004 and it is intended that an After Luas survey will be carried out in 2006 when travel patterns on Luas have become more established.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Where a driver with a foreign licence is detected committing a penalty-point offence in the Republic of Ireland at present, it is not possible to record his or her penalty points as no entry exists in the national driver file relating to that driver. The Road Traffic Act 2002 provides that where such drivers pay a fixed charge a record is opened in the national driver file recording details...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: CIÉ intends to redevelop its properties at Kent Station and Horgan's Quay as one development which will offer an integrated public transport link for bus and rail transport users. The station will have a new entrance facing the new development on Horgan's Quay and the city centre. This will offer improved facilities to all passengers. It will comprise a mixed-use development of approximately...