Results 11,821-11,840 of 13,214 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Road Safety. (3 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I recognise the role played out by the Irish Road Haulage Association, IBEC and SIMI. I met representatives of the Irish Road Haulage Association today, specifically the director of the association, and it is very happy with the progress that has been made. Before dealing with the Deputy's supplementary question, I point out that on 12 April 2006 the European Commission published a...

Road Safety. (3 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I do not want the impression to be given that we can achieve this measure at the stroke of a pen. It involves a technical standard and requires approval from Europe. The EU is progressing the matter, although perhaps not as quickly as we would like. I assure the Deputy that we are taking ownership of the matter.

Road Safety. (3 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The technical solutions adopted by the member states to which the Deputy referred, namely Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, do not fully comply with the retrofitting requirements of EU Directive 2003/97. The matter is being pursued vigorously and we want to deal with it with the European Commission. Progress has been made. I have taken every opportunity to discuss the matter with...

Road Safety. (3 May 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I assure the Deputy if there are any further delays, a unilateral measure will then be considered.

Marine Accidents. (26 Apr 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this issue. I also thank Deputy Ned O'Keeffe, who has just spoken, and Deputy O'Donovan and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ahern, who contacted me in this regard. I take this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to the families of Glen Cott and Jan Sankowski who tragically drowned with the sinking of the fishing vessel Maggie B off Hook Head on...

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Browne for raising this issue. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, and I are aware of the general circumstances surrounding the recent hoax bomb scare on a Ryanair aircraft flying from Paris Beauvais to Dublin Airport on 12 April 2006. Ryanair has furnished an initial report to the Department and the airline has also been in touch with the UK Department of Transport in...

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The reason for the investigation is clear in that the aircraft was flying in UK airspace. While I am not an expert I always understood the pilot had authority but immediately the aircraft landed it appears the UK authorities took responsibility. There are lessons to be learned.

Seanad: Aviation Emergencies. (26 Apr 2006)

Pat Gallagher: If the position is different I will keep the Senator informed.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (25 Apr 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The number of current road passenger transport operator licences issued by my Department, as of 19 April 2006 — the latest date for which figures are available — is 1,811. There is a statutory obligation on all licensed operators to ensure that all of the vehicles in their fleet comply fully with the appropriate licensing requirements. Any bus operator who acquires new or replacement...

Seanad: State Airports. (5 Apr 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Cox for raising this issue and giving me an opportunity to respond to her comments. As the House is aware, the Great Southern Hotels group is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dublin Airport Authority. The chairman of the authority informed the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport last February that the board of the GSH group had decided that it had no option, in the best...

Rail Services. (4 Apr 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Deputy Ring for raising this issue and giving me an opportunity to outline what the Department is doing. The strategic rail review commissioned by my Department contained a comprehensive examination of the rail freight business and its realistic potential to support economic development and contribute to sustainable development. Iarnród Éireann, in responding to the challenges...

Road Traffic (Mobile Telephony) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed). (29 Mar 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I congratulate Deputy Olivia Mitchell for introducing this Bill. She stated there was an absence of effective cross-departmental and interagency action on road safety. A high level group on road safety, comprising representatives from various Departments and agencies, has been working for some time to promote full co-operation on cross-cutting issues and an integrated approach to the...

Seanad: Aviation Bill 2005 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Mar 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Amendment No. 1 is grouped with amendment No. 8. This amendment is necessary to clarify the protocol on the accession of the European Community to the European Convention. It is not an amendment to the European Convention. Amendment No. 8 was proposed in the Dáil by Deputy Shortall and accepted by me as it is considered prudent to include the text of the EU protocol as a Schedule to the...

Seanad: Aviation Bill 2005 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Mar 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Senator was referring to the detention and sale which is not part of the amendments. With respect to him, I know he and his colleagues were concerned about that issue. With the Cathaoirleach's permission, and I hope I am not speaking out of order, I wish to reassure him that I have introduced nothing new into this Bill. Several leasing companies have voiced their concerns on this point....

Seanad: Aviation Bill 2005 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Mar 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 refer to typographical errors which were identified in the Dáil. Amendment No. 6 is a technical amendment relating to a matter also highlighted in the Dáil.

Seanad: Aviation Bill 2005 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Mar 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Amendment No. 4 is a technical amendment intended to avoid doubt. It stems from an administrative oversight concerning the commencement of certain sections of the Aer Lingus Act 2004, which provides, among other things, for the establishment of the employee share ownership schemes. Based on the authority provided for in the Act, shares representing 9.9% of the issued share capital of Aer...

Seanad: Aviation Bill 2005 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Mar 2006)

Pat Gallagher: It is relevant. Senator Burke raised the question of retrospection. Even if we had not amended the legislation, things would not change for those who will own the shares in the trust. When we took advice from the Attorney General and the officials in my Department, it was felt this should be written into primary legislation. It provides for the relevant parts of the Aer Lingus Act 2004 to be...

Seanad: Aviation Bill 2005 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (28 Mar 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the House for taking the Bill this evening and for accepting the amendments. I am particularly grateful to Senators for their support and understanding, and for accepting the amendments put forward concerning the employee share ownership scheme for Aer Lingus, and the appeals process regarding decisions of the Commission for Aviation Regulation. As some Members of the Opposition...

Aviation Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages. (21 Mar 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Deputies who have contributed to this debate and to the passage of the Bill through the House, in particular Deputies Shortall and Olivia Mitchell who have taken such an interest in it. I thank them and other Deputies who have contributed for their support and understanding and for their acceptance of amendments concerning the employee share ownership scheme for Aer Lingus and the...

Aviation Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Order for Report Stage. (21 Mar 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."