Results 11,901-11,920 of 13,264 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

National Car Test. (16 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for raising this matter. It is not correct that the contract for the operation of the national car testing service will expire soon. The ten-year contract that was awarded to National Car Testing Service Limited will run for a further four years until the end of 2009, as the Deputy said. I will deal with the mid-term review that was also mentioned by the Deputy. He...

Office of Director of Public Prosecutions. (16 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am deputising for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who is out of the country. The Minister does not have responsibility for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. That office was established under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974. The principle which underpins the Act is that prosecutorial decisions should be and...

Rail Network. (16 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Deputy Pat Breen for raising this important issue. Transport 21 provides for the reopening of the western rail corridor between Ennis and Claremorris on a phased basis and the preservation of an alignment as far as Collooney. It also provides for the upgrade of the Athenry-Galway line in respect of commuter services. The western rail corridor, when completed, will provide a rail link...

Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (16 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Deputies who contributed to the debate. I carefully noted the issues raised and will try to respond to as many as possible in my reply. Deputy Olivia Mitchell and Deputy Boyle raised the issue of the delay in arranging for ratification of the revised convention, which was signed in 1997. Ratification by EU member states was delayed at the request of the Commission pending the...

Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee. (16 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Transport in accordance with Standing Order 120(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Written Answers — Land Reclamation: Land Reclamation (14 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: An application from Dublin Port Company for approval under the Foreshore Acts for the proposed reclamation of an area of some 21 hectares of foreshore is before the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources at present. The application must be considered in accordance with the appropriate procedures, including a process of public consultation in which it will be open to...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (14 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Louth County Council, which owns Port Oriel harbour at Clogherhead, is responsible for the development of the harbour. The council's proposal for the development of Port Oriel involved the extension of the pier with two options, an extension of 75m and an extension of 105m. Approval was given in 2004 to proceed with the 75m option with a total cost project of €6.5 million, which was...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The relaying of mussel seed in Lough Foyle in 1997 took place following the discovery of a large, naturally occurring bed of mussel seed within Lough Foyle itself. Therefore, the relaying which took place at that time was internal to the lough, that is, it involved transplanting mussel seed from one location in the lough to other locations in the lough. I am advised by Bord Iascaigh Mhara...

Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (9 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: It would not be unusual for me to take a Bill when the Minister for Transport is unavailable.

Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (9 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I presume the Deputies are anxious to proceed with the Bill.

Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (9 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I would not presume anything.

Air Navigation (Eurocontrol) Bill 2005 [Seanad]: Second Stage. (9 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The main purpose of this Bill is to give effect to the international convention relating to co-operation for the safety of air navigation signed at Brussels on 13 December 1960, as consolidated by the protocol signed at Brussels on 27 June 1997. Eurocontrol, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation, was established by an...

Written Answers — Regional Fisheries Boards: Regional Fisheries Boards (8 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: Agents for the issue of ordinary fishing licences are appointed by the regional fisheries boards in accordance with the provisions of Section 70 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959. The appointment of agents is a matter for the individual boards and one in which I have no function.

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (8 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Bray coastal protection scheme was completed in 2001. In August 2002 this Department awarded a contract for the carrying out of regular surveys of the beach and offshore areas for the purposes of monitoring the performance of the nourished beach. This contract has now been completed and the last survey was carried out in June 2005. The results of the surveys are currently being collated....

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (8 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, as part of the Department's fishery harbours development programme for 2006, I have approved funding of €200,000 to progress the development at Cromane. This allocation will enable the purchase of lands for provision of the access road to the pier to be advanced. It is expected that this process will be completed in the current year. If so, it is also...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The National Salmon Commission is due to meet later this month with a view to framing recommendations for the application of management measures to the commercial and recreational angling season for salmon in 2006. Their recommendations will be informed by the advice received from the standing scientific committee and that tendered by the regional fisheries boards' chief executives. They will...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The central and regional fisheries boards devote considerable effort and resources, in collaboration with Tourism Ireland, to the promotion of angling tourism. The overall decline in angling tourism is not unique to Ireland but reflects a trend widespread in Europe. The report of the tourism policy review group to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in September 2003 observes a decline...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: I am advised the new Marine Institute headquarters building at Rinville, Oranmore, County Galway, is in the final stages of completion. It is intended that the Marine Institute staff will be relocated to the new building from mid-March 2006. I understand from the Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the project, that the cost is expected to come within the sanctioned...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The Government has, to date, consistently ruled out buy-out as an effective means of achieving the restoration of salmon stocks and has instead, since 2002, promoted the application of quotas on commercial fishing and bag limits on angling to achieve catch reductions as the best instrument available to achieve this objective. Moreover, no convincing case has been advanced as to the public...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Gallagher: The function of the licensing authority for sea-fishing boats was transferred under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 to the Registrar General of Fishing Boats. The Act provides that the licensing authority is independent in the exercise of its functions under the Act, subject to the law for the time being in force and policy directives in relation to sea-fishing boat licensing. The two...