Results 8,301-8,320 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen
- Road Network. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: The Deputy is missing my point. I have already spoken to the NRA and NTR, two commercial operations. The NRA operates independently but on behalf of the State. It must negotiate with NTR. It is exploring many options with regard to substantial improvements and tolling on the M50. I look forward to the conclusion of the discussions and to the NRA coming back to me with proposals. I have a very...
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 17, 57, 65 and 72 together. In keeping with the provisions of the State Airports Act 2004, the board of the Dublin Airport Authority has a statutory mandate to do everything necessary to give effect to the restructuring of the State airports. The Shannon and Cork airport authorities were incorporated in October 2004 and in line with the framework provided...
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: I fully understand the importance of the Great Southern Hotels group, about which I have spoken to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. While I do not wish to pre-empt the business plans, I have met the people in Cork, Shannon and Dublin and there is great enthusiasm for what is happening. The opportunities that independence will bring to Shannon and Cork have been well greeted and they...
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: One of the benefits of our current position is that we engage in serious business planning. It is difficult to answer the Deputy's question in that I have not got the business plan. However, Dublin Airport Authority has made is absolutely clear that, in the business planning process, all the issues concerning the subsidiaries of the authority, which formerly existed in the guise of Aer...
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: The history of the Great Southern Hotels group is clear. I have no objection to maintaining Great Southern Hotels in State ownership, if it remains profitable. However, the hotels must be run efficiently and well in terms of the mix in the tourism market and the hotel business, which is very competitive. There is no reason the group should not remain in State ownership. I am in the difficult...
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: There has been much general discussion. The Government, including the Taoiseach, is anxious to see the business plans produced. The Taoiseach has been very clear that he believes the Great Southern Hotels group is an important element in the public sector and would like to see it remain in that sector.
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: He said that publicly on numerous occasions.
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: The transfer of assets to Shannon and Cork airport authorities could not have taken place earlier than April of this year. For the company to distribute its assets, it must have the cash reserves to match the distributive value of those assets. The early indications were that Shannon Airport would be dealt with first and that it might take some time to deal with Cork Airport. However, it is...
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: I know of no business that does not have some debt attaching to it. There were many interpretations of some of the comments made at an early phase. I had meetings with representatives of Cork, Shannon and Dublin airports and there is no question but that everybody wants the airports to become independent as quickly as possible. People want Cork and Shannon airports to operate on the most...
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: Deputies Shortall and Olivia Mitchell are making my point for me. I am being asked to answer quite legitimate questions, with which I have no issue, but I cannot do so in advance of seeing the business plans. The plans must contain the answers to the questions the Deputies have raised.
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: Let us produce the business plans first. We are often accused of trying to shoot in the dark without obtaining the facts. The Deputy should allow me to obtain the facts on the business plans. We will have to make decisions on foot of them.
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: What was Deputy Shortall's question?
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: There is no disagreement between the three of us on this matter. The discussions between Cork, Shannon and Dublin airports deal with those issues. They are making decisions based on the hard facts of what is profitable and what is not, and the best structure for the future. Some political decisions may need to be taken as an outcome of that business plan. I have given these sound business...
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: I would not like to mislead the House. Business planning is going on between the three airports under the direction of Dublin Airport Authority. The three airports are working out with the authority how these business plans stack up. One cannot make a business plan unless one possesses all the facts. They have the commercial facts. I am waiting for the business plans to come back, which may...
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: The movement of aircraft at Cork Airport is an operational matter for the airport authorities and the airlines concerned, subject to compliance with aviation safety requirements. However, I am informed by the Dublin Airport Authority that for the first four months of this year, 1.8% of planned arrivals at Cork Airport were diverted or cancelled, compared to an average annual diversion rate of...
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: I have been more than open with the Deputies this afternoon. I am disappointed that Deputy Ryan is trying to trivialise the matter.
- State Airports. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: This is a case of serious business planning to split one organisation into three. The three parts must be party to the discussions. That is reasonable and sound. I do not have the answer to the Deputy's technical question and am not going to guess it. In my response to the initial question I said that the diversion rate of 1% at Cork Airport is well in line with international norms.
- Driving Tests. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: Table 1 sets out the numbers waiting and the average waiting time at each driving test centre on 9 May 2005. Table 2 sets out the number of driver testers, including supervisory testers, employed by my Department between 1997 and 2005. My Department and the Department of Finance have agreed a package of measures which includes increased productivity, the recruitment of additional testers and...
- Driving Tests. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: I am pleased the Department of Finance has supported the measures I proposed and I thank the Minister for Finance for that. The number of testers employed is substantially larger than it was. I do not know why the Deputy says there are fewer now. I can give her the figures if she wishes. There are 129 testers and several vacancies, which I intend to fill immediately. We have appointed a new...
- Driving Tests. (12 May 2005)
Martin Cullen: The new chief executive of the driving standards authority says they are available. Some training will be needed to ensure uniformity.