Results 5,141-5,160 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (Resumed) (11 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I am indeed.

Jobs Initiative 2011: Statements (Resumed) (11 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Before attending the Chamber, I watched the Greek strikes and riots, which are occurring as we speak, on the "Six One" news. Given what I have seen on television, I am not convinced the Greeks have received a better deal. I would be interested in seeing what happens. If a country wants to be a guinea pig and default or exit the eurozone, I would rather it be someone else's country and not...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (11 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Last year my Department published a review of the Disabled Parking Scheme which was conducted in close consultation with the bodies responsible for issuing Disabled Parking Permits, the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) and the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA). One of the issues considered in the review was the question of criteria for eligibility for a Disabled Parking...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (11 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (11 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that the decision to reduce to two the number of routes covered by PSO air services was taken by the previous Government in line with the Value for Money Review of Exchequer Expenditure on the Regional Airports Programme. This Review took account of a number of factors including the performance of the services, the requirement to make best use of scarce Exchequer resources as...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (11 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As I stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question Nos. 28 and 30 of the 20th April, 2011, I do not intend to revisit the previous Government's decision in relation to the Derry Airport PSO. In the first instance this is a commercial issue with the provision of rail services between Derry, Belfast and Dublin being an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann in the Republic and for Translink...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (11 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: This is an operational matter for the airline. The Minister has no function in this matter. While the Minister for Finance holds a 25.1% stake in the airline, the day to day running of the company is a matter for the company's management and the board.

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (11 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body responsible for the promotion, development and coordination of sport which includes responsibility for dealing with the recognised sporting organisations and allocation of funding to same. The following is the funding allocated to the ISC from 2008 to 2011; 2008 €m 2009€m 2010€m 2011€m ...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy over a 20 year period is not readily available and would involve an inordinate amount of time and resources to compile. However, I can confirm from the records available that my Department is a corporate member and pays the standard annual membership fee to the Institute. As with all departmental spending, this will be reviewed as part of the...

Written Answers — Irish Coast Guard: Irish Coast Guard (11 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 to 183, inclusive, together. The Coast Guard is continuing to provide full day and night watch and rescue co-ordination services utilising the three centres in Dublin (National Maritime Operations Centre), Malin and Valentia. As part of my Department's commitment to the modernisation of the Coast Guard communications and coordination system a new national...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (12 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has responsibility for five Regional Harbours operating under the provisions of the Harbours Act 1946 including Baltimore Harbour. The Harbour is managed under the Harbours Act 1946 by Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour Authority, composed of commissioners whose duties include the management, control, maintenance and operation of the harbour. Policy in relation to the future...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (12 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Dublin Bus. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my private office if she does not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (12 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Road classifications are updated from time to time to take account of changes to the road network. My Department is currently in the process of reviewing road classifications and I expect to consider proposals for such shortly. The current classification of the ring of Kerry as a national secondary road is consistent with its role of serving major tourism traffic.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (12 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: To date over 7,400 projects have benefitted from the Sports Capital Programme with over €739m paid out to fund essential sports facilities at national, regional and local level. While no new round of the Programme has been advertised since 2008 the Programme is still very active with €33m being provided in the Estimates to fund the programme for 2011. No decision has been made about the...

Air Services (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies McLoughlin and Coffey for raising this matter. The Deputies will be aware that I am faced with dealing with the lack of funding available for the regional airports programme for 2011 and for future years, following the reductions made by the previous Government. At the same time, some of the regional airports are becoming more dependent on Exchequer support as the cost of...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test. In 2008, the RSA reviewed the car testing specification and, following this review, proposed that a number of new test items be introduced to the National Car Test (NCT). A public consultation process...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: While no new round of the Sports Capital Programme has been advertised since 2008, the Programme is still very active with €33m being provided in the Estimates to fund the programme for 2011. No decision has been made about the timing of further rounds of the Programme.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with local authorities concerned. In particular, the statutory power to levy tolls on...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland's four primary overseas tourist markets – Great Britain, North America, Germany and France - deliver almost three quarters of our overseas visitors and will continue to be the primary focus of our overseas marketing efforts in the short term. I recognise however, that new and developing markets such as those referred to by the Deputy present excellent opportunities for Irish...