Results 1-20 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind welcome to the House. Iarnród Éireann has been incurring losses in recent years in its rail freight activities and in the current year alone is expected to lose €14 million. The business has been severely hit by the closure of the IFI plant at Arklow which will result in a loss of revenue of €3 million per annum. The rail freight business had been...

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Séamus Brennan: Significant progress, which I intend to pursue, was made under the former Minister in recent years in terms of upgrading mainline track for freight and passenger services; providing significant capacity for commuters in the greater Dublin area; and making improvements to the quality of services through the provision of new and modern carriages. I am pleased that this week I have given Irish...

Seanad: Rail Services and Related Transport Matters: Statements. (14 Nov 2002)

Séamus Brennan: I had not intended to respond, given that this debate does not concern legislation. However, I would be grateful for your permission, a Chathaoirligh, to mention a few matters. I have been sitting here for almost three hours, during which time 18 Senators have contributed. I compliment them on as fine a debate on public transport as I have heard. I have made copious notes on what every...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (14 May 2003)

Séamus Brennan: One third of fatal accidents on Irish roads occur in areas to which the 30 mph speed limit applies. Such fatalities usually involve pedestrians – such as children running out of gates on to the road and people walking late at night – and cyclists knocked down by cars. A different view of this is taken on the Continent, where 20 mph speed limits are in operation. I do not propose to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matter. - Facilities at State Airports. (20 May 2003)

Séamus Brennan: I thank Senator Mansergh for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I listened carefully to what he said and I have no difficulty in agreeing 100% with his sentiments. How it deals with issues such as this is a measure of any civilised society. Certainly our society should be mature enough to deal in a sensitive and sensible way with these issues. I have taken careful note of what the...

Seanad: Strategic Rail Review Report: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Members of Seanad Éireann for giving me the opportunity to speak in this debate on the strategic rail review report. As they will know, the review was completed on 3 April. I thank my predecessor, the Leader of the House, Senator O'Rourke, who, when Minister for Public Enterprise, commissioned the report. Under her leadership, substantial investment was made in the rail network...

Seanad: Strategic Rail Review Report: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Séamus Brennan: Over the years I have tried to convince many Ministers with responsibility for transport of the need to reopen the line. In considering the position of Ireland today and what it may be like in ten or 15 years, it is necessary to be pro-railway. Greater economic growth will lead to more car ownership and greater congestion. No matter how much is invested in the road network, it will always be...

Seanad: Strategic Rail Review Report: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Séamus Brennan: It was €2 billion.

Seanad: Strategic Rail Review Report: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Séamus Brennan: The funding is €400 million per year over five years. That is my estimate – it is not legally secured.

Seanad: Strategic Rail Review Report: Statements. (21 May 2003)

Séamus Brennan: Was it a gold card?

Seanad: Taxi Regulation Bill 2003: Second Stage. (27 Jun 2003)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members for taking this debate today at fairly short notice. I appreciate this. The Bill has already been considered by the Dáil and, arising from that debate, there have been a number of amendments to the original Bill. As a result, the Bill is now much better than it was. What was useful about the debate in the other House was how unanimous the views were in...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Nov 2003)

Séamus Brennan: At the outset I thank Senators for facilitating the debate, particularly at short notice. I appreciate that the House has agreed to take it in this manner. The Bill is a technical instrument, designed to provide legal clarity to just one element of the legislation relating to drink driving and to remove a possible basis for a challenge to certain drink driving prosecutions. The particular...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Nov 2003)

Séamus Brennan: I thank Senators again for giving this Bill a speedy passage. It enables it to start on 1 December and the Garda will now have very important powers, assuming that the Senators approve of the legislation before them. If Senator Browne wants to visit me at home I guarantee to serve a fully baked dinner. He asked about advertising. I support the advertising by the National Safety Council. It is...

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Nov 2003)

Séamus Brennan: They are very good and I would like to see that extended. I will look at the Lisburn situation as I am not familiar with the detail.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Nov 2003)

Séamus Brennan: I understand what she said about bus shelters. We will certainly keep an eye on that. I thank Senator Moylan for his comments about a Garda blitz. The gardaí do that from time to time but unfortunately have to back off when some other crime crisis occurs. They are very committed and I thank them for their work.

Seanad: Road Traffic Bill 2003: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Nov 2003)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Senators. I will look into the point about the delay in penalty points. They will turn up, however, so no one should feel they will not. Whenever they turn up the points will show so people should be wary of allowing any laxity to enter in that area. I cannot think of finer work to be doing than this which will actually save lives. Question put and agreed to.

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (3 Feb 2004)

Séamus Brennan: As I have mentioned in previous replies to the House on this subject, the present red zones were formally established in 1968. The then Department of Transport and Power was originally responsible for proposing the establishment of the zones, which were approved and incorporated in the local authorities' development plans and development within those red zones is controlled by the local...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (3 Feb 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The proposal the Deputy is referring to is the recommendation in a report presented both to me and to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government by Environmental Resource Management, ERM. Obstacle clearance surfaces, which are based on the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, are designed to protect the safety of aircraft as they land...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (3 Feb 2004)

Séamus Brennan: As part of the planning and design of individual national road improvement projects, the National Roads Authority, NRA, and local authorities seek, in accordance with NRA project management guidelines, to identify from the earliest stages of project planning all potential environmental impacts including impacts on heritage sites or buildings. As part of this process, there is extensive...

Written Answers — Air Accidents: Air Accidents (3 Feb 2004)

Séamus Brennan: No third party fatalities have arisen from aircraft crashes in the State during the period 1998 to 2002.