Results 11,821-11,840 of 13,264 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I detect clear water between amendments Nos. 13, 14 and 15 but if there is not, we can deal with them tomorrow. Let me examine this overnight before discussing it tomorrow. If I decide to do this, I might have to put down an amendment to deal with it.

Seanad: School Accommodation. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, with an opportunity to outline the position of the Department with regard to primary school places in the Tallaght area and the position of an application for funding from St. Mark's junior school for additional accommodation. At the end of last year the Department outlined its...

Seanad: School Accommodation. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I could give the short version of the answer to this matter but I should give the longer version because we must defend ourselves from suggestions that this Government has made empty promises. There have been unprecedented levels of investment by this Government over the past nine years. Dealing specifically with Lanesboro Community College, I thank the Senator for raising this matter because...

Seanad: School Accommodation. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I will relate that view to the Minister but I know Senator Bannon is glad that the decision has been taken and that progress will be made.

Seanad: Human Trafficking (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator White for raising this important issue and for giving me the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who could not be here tonight, for which he sends his apologies to the House and to Senator White. I wish to make clear to the House the Government's commitment to dealing with trafficking in human beings. Human trafficking is a...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The code of legislation which governs the driving licence system is contained in Part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended by subsequent Road Traffic Acts and regulations made thereunder. Under this code, licensing authorities operating in their functional areas process applications for licences and issue licences. They also keep records of endorsements and disqualifications in the...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: There is no question of my being difficult for the sake of it in not accepting amendments. However, when I explain precisely what is involved it will be clear we are not setting up the authority to a lower standard than international standards. The road safety authority will have responsibility for accident statistics and road safety research. In order to fulfil this responsibility, a...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I can see where Senator Burke is coming from. There may be persons with exceptional knowledge who can make a major contribution. It would have the effect of allowing a board member to be reappointed indefinitely in perpetuity. The provision allows a board member to service a maximum continuous term of ten years. It does not necessarily specify that a member can only serve ten years. There...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I will not dwell on the amendment. It states clearly in the legislation that Members of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament and local authority members cannot serve on the road safety authority. I served on a local authority for 12 years and wanted to continue serving, but 1991 legislation precluded Ministers of State from serving on local authorities. I have had long experience working...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: While considering the amendment, which was also tabled in the Dáil, one must remember that driver testing, the registration of qualified driving instructors, the education of drivers, the promotion of educational and information campaigns, and maintenance, management and revision of the Rules of the Road have been included in the Bill. As we speak, we are revising the Rules of the Road which...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Section 8 gives the road safety authority power to collect information and statistics. If we go into the detail of it, and Senator Quinn summed it up well, if the road safety authority is not responsible for road signage and markings, that is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the councils. Legislation will come before the House before the summer recess to deal with speed cameras....

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Minister for Transport gave an absolute assurance to the road safety authority at its inaugural meeting in the Department several weeks ago that it may work through the Department. If it has recommendations to make, it should make them. Recommendations should be made to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding county and regional roads and to the National...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The short reply to the Senator's question is the local authority. However, I wish to give a comprehensive response to the House regarding this amendment. The development of the support system for the penalty points system involved significant and ongoing consultation with all agencies including the Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, the vehicle registration unit of the Department of the...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: To answer Senator Burke's question, it will show up on the PULSE system. He will appreciate, however, that if a person who has ten points incurs an additional two points, the garda will not know that immediately because he or she will have to go back to the station and put it into the system. It will be recognised as soon as he or she puts it into the system but it does not mean that the...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I refer Senators to section 7 of the Bill, which provides a clear legislative basis to ensure the road safety authority has a lead role in the development of strategies and measures to advance our road safety agenda. The issue of road safety comes under the remit of various Departments and agencies. When one considers its extremely extensive remit, the road safety authority will be in a...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The period could well be three or four months. It can be no later than six months, which is a major advance. We are all aware of reports coming before the House which could be some years afterwards. We must take into consideration the practicalities, as any reports will be comprehensive. I would prefer to have a report within a six-month period rather than pressurise the authority to report...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I will deal with specific aspects of the Bill and will then respond to questions arising from amendments Nos. 6 and 7. Instructors are the subject of amendment No. 8. The driver testing service operates under the provisions of section 33 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, and in accordance with regulations made under that Act. The driving test is also governed by EU directives which stipulate the...

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: It is a fact.

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Tá mise breá sásta a theacht anseo am ar bith chun an cheist sin a phlé agus ár bpolasaí a chur ar an tábla i gcomhar le polasaí ar bith eile.

Seanad: Road Safety Authority Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (23 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Taoiseach is committed to the Irish language.