O'Rourke, MaryTuesday, 28 March 2000 |
Dáil Eireann Debate
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Private Notice Questions. - Industrial Disputes.
I thank the Deputies who tabled the questions. On my own behalf and on behalf of the Government, I convey our sincere regrets to public transport users, the general public and business for the inconve...
Deputy Gilmore cannot have it every way.
Deputy Stagg cannot have it every way. He cannot tell me one week not to take any interest or have any involvement—
—whatsoever in anything to do with CIE except to dole out the money, and two weeks later demand that I effectively intervene. I apologise for addressing the Deputy by the wrong name. I apologise to De...
There are 1,640 drivers who work a 38 hour week for an average of £341. There are 203 drivers on £275 and 288 on £271. That is for an average week with no overtime.
The week before last I met with the separate unions and not once was the question of public service contracts raised.
I had said I would bring the matter to Cabinet. This can be read in the correspondence on the matter which I will send to the Deputy. I brought the matter to Cabinet and the Attorney General said I co...
I am not.
The greater number of established drivers, 1,640, receive an average weekly wage of £341 for a 38 hour week. These figures have been given to me and I cannot dispute them. Deputy Yates referred to the...
There will always be a need for a bus service on Saturday and Sunday and late at night. However, a more balanced approach to a basic wage can, I am sure, be part of the talks between management and wo...
I have said in the House on several occasions that the Government decided last November that the 1932 Act should be reviewed with a view to introducing competition in Dublin.
They have made submissions. We placed advertisements inviting submissions, which have been received from the two main trade unions and CIE. The process is ongoing. I reject totally that I am acting ar...
I would be very loath to go down the road of strike-breaking measures. The Labour Court and the Labour Relations Commission in particular are the bodies entrusted with the task of getting talks movin...
I shall not set about settling anything. I have no argument with the Deputy on the premia and other allowances which make up average weekly pay. That would be a sane approach to adopt and I have asked...
The Deputy should ask Mr. Joyce about that.
Indeed he was.
I humbly apologise.
I humbly apologise.
I withdraw the remark, but Deputies know what he said, that I should not interfere.
Which is exactly why he went.
When I answered questions last week I indicated to the Deputy that I had met the trade unions to which I had outlined our strategy and how we intended to move forward. There is no difficulty within th...
Some week I would like to invite the Deputies to look at the files on CIE – they are huge.
Is that the Deputy's viewpoint?
The Government will make an announcement on the Chair very soon. I hope that the various parties in the Dáil would welcome that but that is up to themselves.
There is a chief executive in the company.
I agree with Deputy Bruton.
No. On the second point, maybe the interpretation of it might not be cor rect. I said that in the talks which took place the week before last the trades unions and I talked about competition. I acknow...
No, it has not become part of them but it could well become so. On Deputy Higgins's question, the subsidy in 1996 was £3.4 million and now it is £13.2 million.
Written Answers. - Electricity Generation.
Was asked: the long-term proposals for the development of the peat power station in north Mayo; when the report commissioned on this station will be completed; if the plant will close in 2004 as previously propo...
Was asked: the long-term proposals for the future development of Bord na Móna in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together. In my reply to a parliamentary question on 29 September 1999, I indicated that it was the intention of the ESB to undertake a feasibility study a...
Written Answers. - Light Rail Project.
Was asked: the progress with the construction phase of the proposed Dublin light rail lines; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
To date, I have granted light railway orders to CIE for the Tallaght to Abbey Street, line A, and Sandyford to St. Stephen's Green, line B, lines. I have also approved CIE's proposal to extend line A ...
Written Answers. - Public Transport.
Was asked: the allocation of funds to CIE for the acquisition of additional rail rolling stock and extra buses for Bus Átha Cliath; the additional capacity the additional stock will allow; and if she will make a...
Proposals for investment in public transport for the period 2000-06 are set out in detail in the national development plan. A provision of £185 million is being made for a short-term suburban rail dev...
Written Answers. - Compensation Claims.
Was asked: the amount paid in compensation claims by her Department in 1999; and the heading under which payments were made.
There were no compensation claims paid by my Department in 1999.
Written Answers. - Air Services.
Was asked: the reason she sanctioned an increase in excess of 20% on the maximum return fare on the Sligo-Dublin, Galway-Dublin and Kerry-Dublin air routes; her views on whether this increase will reduce the num...
The Deputy is referring to a recent increase in the maximum return fare on the three public service obligation routes operating between Dublin and Kerry, Galway and Sligo airports. The terms under whi...
Written Answers. - Rail Safety.
Was asked: if she has satisfied herself with safety matters at Athenry Iarnród Éireann rail station; the reason for the problem which occurred there; if it has been satisfactorily resolved; if further repairs ha...
I presume the problem referred to by the Deputy is the unreasonable risk identified by IRMS in the safety audit report published earlier this month. The risk was reported as a class one rail defect, r...
Written Answers. - Electricity Generation.
Was asked: the independent power producers she met officially prior to 17 February 2000, where the opening of the full electricity market was discussed; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
According to the records in my office, in the period from 1 January 1998 to 19 February 2000, the date of the initial opening of the electricity market, I have had meetings with representatives of the...
Written Answers. - Rail Safety.
Was asked: her views on the recent IRMS report, A Review of Rail Safety in Ireland - Implementation Review, as it specifically relates to the Maynooth suburban line; the actions, if any, she will take in relatio...
The implementation review was published on 7 March last. On the same day, but prior to the publication, I met the managing director of Iarnród Éireann and his senior management team to express my seri...
Written Answers. - Air Services.
Was asked: the considerations, if any, given to the optimum or ultimate capacity for growth which remains at Dublin Airport in view of the proposals for a further runway; and the concerns about noise and air pol...
The issue of development capacity at Dublin Airport was considered by Warburg Dillon Read-AIB in their recent report on Aer Rianta's future strategic direction. The advisers considered this issue in t...
Written Answers. - Public Transport.
Was asked: her views on the statement by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce that the Government has prepared legislation to privatise bus transportation; and if she will ensure the issue is discussed in Dáil Éireann...
My Department has not prepared legislation to privatise bus transport. Following a Government decision last November, my officials are currently undertaking an urgent review of the Road Transport Act,...
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