Results 6,181-6,200 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The implementation of individual national road schemes, including the N11 Arklow-Rathnew/N7 Newlands Cross PPP, is a matter for the NRA under the Roads Acts 1993-2007. The funding arrangements as proposed for the N11 PPP project involve annual...

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The discussions that took place in January 2011 related to an Aero Medical Pilot Scheme for the West Clare area. The pilot scheme was to identify suitable landing sites in that area from which air ambulance transfers could take place for critical patients. The current helicopter craft in use by the Irish Coast Guard (an S61 model) requires certification relating to specific landing sites to...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The regulation of the taxi industry, including all matters relating to the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003, is the overall responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA). Authorised persons may be appointed under Section 49 of the 2003 Act to perform the enforcement functions necessary to support the regulation of the taxi sector....

Written Answers — Clamping Industry: Clamping Industry (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware of a range of issues which have been raised by members of the public regarding difficulties they have encountered with elements of the clamping industry. While current legislation permits local authorities to clamp vehicles in public places, either directly or by contract with a clamping company, there is no legislation covering clamping on private property. In line with the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1051 and 1057 together. Statistics show that there were 186 fatalities on Irish roads in 2011. This represents the lowest number of annual fatalities since records began, is a reduction of 26 (or 12.5%) on 2010 and is half the number of fatalities (376) of ten years ago in 2002. The challenge for everyone involved, including legislators, enforcement agencies...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1053, 1060 and 1062 together. The Government set out in the Public Service Reform document published on 17th November 2011 a comprehensive State agency rationalisation programme. The Plan is available on www.per.gov.ie. I refer the Deputy in particular to Appendix IIa which lists all State bodies, including those under the aegis of my Department, which are to...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Funding for Public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is provided to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for allocation to projects and programmes. In 2011 projects funded included the following - The Luas extension to Citywest and Saggart was completed and opened for service in July 2011; A new Park and Ride facility with 350 spaces was opened for Luas...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects, including the provision of service areas, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned....

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The development of cycle routes similar to that proposed is driven in the first instance by the relevant local authorities around the country. My Department has provided funding to Dublin City Council, at a cost of approximately €5.5 million, for the recently completed city centre elements of the Dublin Canals Premium Cycle route. The route runs from Portobello to the junction of Upper...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Statutory requirements in relation to the wearing of personal flotation devices (PFDs) on fishing vessels are set out in the Fishing Vessel (Personal Flotation Devices) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 586 of 2001) as amended by the Fishing Vessel (Personal Flotation Devices) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 63 of 2008). Under the Regulations, every fishing vessel shall carry a suitable...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Department provides current expenditure funding for twelve agencies. The number of Board members for each agency together with details of directors' remuneration, including expenses, is set out in the Agency Annual Report. Details of Board membership are also available on my Department's website. The management of directors and their attendance is a matter for the Board Chairperson....

State Airports (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question refers to the report on the ownership and management of Cork and Shannon airports, whether I intend to publish the report and if I have plans to amend legislation to give effect to the proposals arising from the report. The report was undertaken by consultants at my request to provide me with wide-ranging advice on all possible options for the future ownership and...

State Airports (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: First, there really has been no delay but it takes a bit of time to make the right decision. In making the right decision, I wished to ensure I had the advice from the various airport authorities and from independent consultants, as well as having time to give other members of the Cabinet, and other Departments in particular, an opportunity to consider the recommendations and proposals that...

Road Network (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to the route selection report for the Oilgate to Rosslare roads scheme. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding of the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with...

Road Network (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister does have a certain role in this regard in the sense that it is the Minister's role to set policy, allocate budgets and oversee corporate governance. In this regard, the decision is not to spend additional moneys on this road for the time being because the money is not available to complete the project. Therefore, it does not make sense to spend further millions just to bring...

Road Network (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I am conscious of the planning issue the Deputy raised, "planning blight" as it is described in other jurisdictions. The NRA has issued new guidelines to local authorities in the past few weeks giving them the criteria under which they could allow development to occur in these corridors, as in the case of developments such as agricultural sheds. Development in these route corridors is a...

Dublin Airport Authority (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Under Article 29 of the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act 1998, the recruitment of a CEO is a matter for the board of the Dublin Airport Authority and not one in which I have a legal function. I understand, however, that the authority has advertised the post in the national press. The contract of the current CEO runs until next April. The terms and conditions under which...

Dublin Airport Authority (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: To clarify, the position of CEO was advertised in the press in recent weeks. In general, the search for a CEO to head up a company of this size and nature can take up to nine months. The chairman designate who was approached in November is soon to be appointed. As the Deputy stated, he appeared before the joint committee earlier in the week. I understand he gave an extremely good account...

Dublin Airport Authority (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I reassure Deputy Dooley that there will be an acting chief executive in place during the interregnum and the acting chief executive will have a great deal of experience of running airports. The chairman-designate stated that he believed the salary cap would inhibit the DAA in its search for a new chief executive but he made his position clear. He stated that the board and the chairman of...

Jobs Initiative (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 11, 29, 53 and 259 together. The jobs initiative introduced a reduced 9% VAT rate from 1 July on a range of services, including hotels and restaurants. The Government also halved employers' PRSI for those on modest wages and introduced a visa waiver scheme that makes Ireland more accessible for tourists from important new and emerging markets. These...