Results 11,741-11,760 of 13,214 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Perhaps there is some ambiguity in the thinking but, as far as I am concerned, the proposed section is very black and white. Subsection (4) recognises the need to have a broad, flexible legislative framework to regulate in-vehicle technologies for providing information, communication or entertainment for the purpose of restricting or preventing driver distraction associated with the use of...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I am advised by the Parliamentary Counsel that he is satisfied that the correct use of singular or plural, or a mixture of both, is in conformity. I refer to an example relating to amendments Nos. 4 and 5. Subsection (5) gives wide discretion to the Minister regarding the scope of regulations to restrict or prohibit in-vehicle communication information and entertainment technologies....

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Senator Burke has proposed these amendments which relate either to commas or hyphenation in the Bill. I am again advised by the Parliamentary Counsel that the insertion of punctuation such as commas in the Bill is a technical drafting matter and therefore I cannot accept the amendments.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Section 3(4) empowers the Minister to make regulations to restrict or prohibit the use of mobile phones, other communications equipment, and information and entertainment equipment by occupants of motor vehicles. This provision is important because it recognises the need to have a broad, flexible legislative framework to regulate in-vehicle technologies and information, communication or...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise in that I omitted to refer to subsection (1) which prohibits the holding of a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle in a public area. The word "hold" is defined in subsection (9) as "holding the phone by hand or supporting it with another part of the body". This prohibition, it is clear, does not apply to hands-free mobile phones or two-way radios. Accordingly, mobile phone...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: It is, absolutely.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: He does not.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: My reply is similar to the earlier one involving a number of drafting amendments. I am advised as regards the substitution and deletion of words without any change in the context that I should not accept these amendments.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I see where Senator Paddy Burke is coming from. However, if a Garda inspector, superintendent or someone of higher rank decides there should be mandatory alcohol testing between, say, 17:00 and 19:00 hours, I believe there is sound reason for providing some degree of flexibility. If a Garda testing unit is on the Castlebar-Westport or the Donegal-Ballyshannon road at a time when there is no...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Committee Stage. (14 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I am responding to amendment No. 32, which is linked, of course to amendment No. 31 tabled by Senator White. Both Senators referred to this matter on Second Stage. I want to refer to section 4 of the Bill, outlining the provisions on mandatory alcohol testing. Both Senators propose that the Bill should be further amended so that a driver involved in a road traffic accident shall be required,...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (13 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I understand from Dublin Bus that it has in operation a programme of inspection for its bus ramps, that defects with the ramp mechanism are to be reported on a daily basis and repaired as quickly as possible. Dublin Bus also informs me that it will take immediate action on comments from any member of the public who highlight instances of ramps not working. In the light of the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (13 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Galway harbour is owned and run by Galway Harbour Company, a State-owned company established under the Harbours Act 1996. The Act provides that the principal objects of the company include the provision of such facilities, services and lands in its harbour for ships, goods and passengers, as it considers necessary. The company is required to take all proper measures for the management,...

Driving Tests. (13 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I acknowledge her concerns about the driving test centre in Killarney. Unfortunately, the former centre proved to be unsuitable for testing and a process of securing a suitable alternative centre commenced some time ago. A replacement premises has been identified and the Commissioners of Public Works have informed me that negotiations with the...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2006: Second Stage. (8 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: On my own behalf and that of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, I thank the Senators who made contributions on this important Bill. I thank the Opposition Members for their co-operation because we are all anxious that this Bill get through both Houses and be enacted before the summer recess. The interest in and concern of this House in particular in the broad area of road safety is...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (7 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Officers from my Department have met with representatives from the Irish Tour Operators Association and Coach Tourism and Transport Council to discuss the issues surrounding the new drivers hours Regulations. These new Regulations will come into effect on 11 April 2007.

Written Answers — Industrial Disputes: Industrial Disputes (1 Jun 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I am aware that the International Transport Workers' Federation has had concerns for some time in relation to the pay and work conditions on the ship operated by the company referred to by the Deputy. The Department of Transport has certain responsibilities in relation to Irish registered ships; the operation of ships on other ship registers is governed by applicable national and...

Disabled Drivers. (30 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Deputy Crawford for raising this important issue relating to the disabled drivers' and disabled passengers' tax concessions scheme. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, who had another engagement in the west tonight, asked me to convey his apologies. The scheme dates back to 1968 when relief from road tax was made available, under legislation, for persons with a disability meeting...

Rail Services. (30 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Deputy Pat Breen for raising the issue of the western rail corridor. He knows many of the answers already. The position has not changed. We aim to ensure that the timescale of which he is aware and which has been made clear will be adhered to. Transport 21 provides for the re-opening of the western rail corridor between Ennis and Claremorris on a phased basis and the preservation of...

Rail Services. (30 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: An Opposition Deputy may hope it will not because, otherwise, there is no political benefit.

Rail Services. (30 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: We are the party which is committing itself to this project. We are doing it and we will deliver. The only benefit for the Opposition is to hope it may slip off the agenda.