Blog Archive
Costello congratulates Irish Wheelchair Association on their 50th birthday
Posted on September 08, 2010
Deputy Joe Costello, Labour Spokesperson on Transport, today warmly congratulated the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) on its fiftieth birthday. The group was founded in 1960 by a small group of wheelchair users committed to improving the lives of people with physical disabilities in Ireland.
Deputy Costello said: “As we celebrate with them we should be cognizant of the fact that there is still some way to go before people with disabilities have their full entitlements as citizens of this country.
“To take one example in the transport area, only 6% of Dublin’s taxi stock is wheelchair accessible compared to 100/% in London. Moreover serious concerns have been raised about the state of the current wheelchair accessible fleet especially in terms of their ramp and entry/exit facilities.
Costello accuses govt of abandoning the homeless
Posted on September 07, 2010
The Annual Report by the Simon Community, showing that the number of people sleeping rough and accessing emergency homeless services had risen 20 per cent over the past 18 months, has been described as alarming by Deputy Joe Costello Labour TD for Dublin Central.” I experience the rise of homelessness in my own constituency which houses much of the emergency accommodation in the city “said Deputy Costello. “The Government in its Homeless Strategy had given a commitment to end long-term homelessness by the end of this year.
Neutrality compromised since Iraq war, Costello tells foreign policy conference
Posted on September 05, 2010
Since the invasion of Iraq, Ireland's neutrality has been severely compromised. The war in Iraq did not have a UN mandate and was not in accordance with the rule of international law. Even though 100,000 people marched against the war on the streets of Dublin and elsewhere, Ireland became embroiled in that conflict.
Costello condemns decision to close Rossslare - Waterford railway line
Posted on September 03, 2010
The decision today of the National Transport Authority (NTA) to accept the proposal from Iarnrod Eireann to close down the Rosslare to Waterford railway line is deeply disappointing and will come as a shock to the people of the South East.
Iarnrod Eireann has allowed the service to wither and has shown no interest in promoting a robust commuter and freight service for the line.
It makes no sense to shut this rail line down as it is a key link to the Western Rail Corridor. The publication of the SERA (South East Regional Authority) report on the future of the Rosslare-Waterford-Limerick rail line identified a number of critical shortcomings in the Iarnród Éireann business case for terminating passenger services on the Rosslare-Waterford line.
Learner driver plans welcome, but practical problems must be overcome
Posted on September 01, 2010
The new proposals drawn up by the Road Safety Authority and announced today in relation to learner and inexperienced drivers are welcome in principle and will hopefully help to improve the quality of driving and reduce the number of accidents on our roads. However, there remain a number of important issues to be addressed to make the proposals effective.
Decline in haulage business is a major concern
Posted on September 01, 2010
The National Survey of Transport of Goods by Road for 2009 published by the Central Statistic Office makes grim reading. It shows a massive reduction in the haulage of goods by road from 246 million tonnes in 2008 to 148 million tonnes in 2009.
This is a catastrophic decline of 40% in the space of a single year. Not since the late nineteen nineties, before the full flush of the Celtic Tiger, twelve or thirteen years ago were quantities of goods transferred on our roads so low.
This is ironic considering it is only now that Ireland has had a quality road system.
Costello concerned at number of young people injured on roads
Posted on August 30, 2010
The serious traffic accident in Mayo in the early hours of this morning, in which seven young people were injured and hospitalised, is the latest in a series of such incidents on Irish roads. The numbers of young people who have either been seriously injured or have lost their lives on Irish roads recently is worryingly high.
It is essential that measures are taken to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads. In particular, it is important to create awareness among young people of the dangers of speed and reckless driving and to better educate young drivers on proper road safety.
Every effort must be made to secure future of Aer Arran
Posted on August 27, 2010
“The appointment of an interim examiner Aer Arran is a matter of serious concern and every effort must be made to secure the future of the airline.
“Apart from the need to protect the jobs of the more than 300 employees of the company, Aer Arran is a vital cog in air travel infrastructure. The airline provides flights from eleven airports on the island of Ireland, serving thirteen airports in the U.K. and France.
“Were the company to fail it would greatly reduce services to our regional airports and would be a further blow to our tourism industry which is already under great pressure.
Costello deeply saddened by Kerry road deaths
Posted on August 26, 2010
Yesterday's accident in Kerry in which four young people lost their lives is a tragedy of immense proportions. I would like to extend my sympathies to the families of those who have died and to the family of the young man who survived the crash and who remains hospitalised.
My thoughts are also with the communities in Killarney, Castleisland & Farranfore where I am sure many people, especially the young, are grief stricken.
It is a devastating blow to any community to lose four young people in such a tragic manner and I am sure that many families all around the country were deeply affected by their deaths.
Costello urges use of older carriages to allow hourly service to Belfast
Posted on August 24, 2010
The Labour Party Spokesperson on Transport, Deputy Joe Costello, has urged Iarnrod Eireann to proceed with a plan, now under consideration, to refurbish a fleet of withdrawn rail carriages, to allow for the introduction of a hourly service on the Dublin/ Belfast Enterprise service.
“The hourly rail service between Dublin and Cork has proven to be a significant success and a similar service should be available between the two capital cities on the island.
“While the Mark III inter-city carriages have been withdrawn for a number of years, I understand that they are in relatively good condition and could be refurbished and put in service more economically than buying new rolling stock.
“The aim should then be to introduce new carriages when the economic situation recovers.
