Results 6,201-6,220 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Jobs Initiative (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Corcoran Kennedy for her comments and I concur with everything she said. Tourism is a product in terms of marketing Ireland abroad and it is the aim of Tourism Ireland to increase the number of visitors to Ireland back to 9 million by 2016. This would recover the position to where we were some time ago.

Jobs Initiative (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Deputy McLellan will be aware, the UEFA European Championships will be in Poland, so I do not believe it will bring many tourists to Ireland. With regard to the Olympic Games, the visa waiver was designed to allow people who will visit the United Kingdom to come to Ireland afterwards. I hope that will work. Quite a large number of people will avoid the south east of England and London...

Jobs Initiative (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The number of tourists coming in from Australia and the developing markets - mainly India, China and the Middle East - has seen double digit growth in 2011. Growth was at 18% up until the middle of the year, albeit coming from a very low base, and the overall figure was 10%, which is really good. Our biggest growth was from those new emerging markets, albeit a small part of the tourist...

Jobs Initiative (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Growth has been quite bumpy. Growth was very high in the first half of the year, which probably reflected the fact that the ash cloud depressed the number of tourists coming to Ireland in the second half of the previous year. Growth was slightly negative in some of the later months of the year, but if the airport figures area anything to go by, December is very good. There was an 11%...

Jobs Initiative (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: There has not been a big fall off in domestic tourism. There has been a big fall off in the number of people flying domestically, which is a different thing. That is because people can drive on motorways to almost anywhere in Ireland in two hours. Why would someone get on a aeroplane when he or she can travel quicker and cheaper by car? There has been some contact with the North. Tourism...

National Sports Campus (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to developments at the Sports Campus at Abbotstown in Blanchardstown in Dublin. At its meeting on 21 June, the Government approved my proposals for the development of the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown in Blanchardstown on an incremental basis. In particular I have asked the National Sports Campus Development Authority, NSCDA, to proceed with the...

National Sports Campus (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Sports Council is working from rented offices in Blanchardstown and it is proposed that it will move to Abbotstown House. No decision on this has been made for certain because we need to examine the house and work out how much it would cost to refurbish it so it would be able to take the Irish Sports Council. We must also work out when the lease where it is ends to ensure any move...

National Sports Campus (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for his comments and I agree with him wholeheartedly in this regard. I must be fair to the previous Government. I also agree with Deputy McLellan as I am also glad the Bertie bowl was not built. I do not think it was necessary as the Aviva is a great stadium, as is Croke Park. One thing the previous Government did was to build the National Aquatic Centre and...

National Sports Campus (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: -----it is an outstanding facility. In fairness to the previous Government it was a good decision and quite visionary to go ahead with the project when people were critical at the time.

Departmental Bodies (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 34 together. The question relates to the issue of expenses by a board member of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company. I previously responded to Deputy Boyd Barrett's questions on this matter on 29 September and 14 December last. Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company confirms each year that it complies with the relevant travel and subsistence regulations. As I...

Departmental Bodies (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have day-to-day involvement in the running of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company. It is a semi-State body governed by its board and managed by its CEO. However, I am advised in writing by the chairman that the director in question has made a written commitment and that he will repay the cost of the flights and that such payment will be made in full by mid-2012.

Departmental Bodies (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The fees paid to the chairman and members of the board are modest and much less than what the staff are paid.

Departmental Bodies (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know his remuneration package off the top of my head but I can provide those details to the Deputy by correspondence. I imagine the figures are much lower in 2012 than they were in 2010, in line with reductions in CEO pay and remuneration. I am very sad that workers have lost their jobs at Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company but this has come about because of a loss of business. People...

Departmental Bodies (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: There is a dispute which is being dealt with by the Labour Relations Commission.

Rail Services (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Under the new capital investment programme for transport to 2016 the priority for funding is to ensure that investment made to date is protected and safety standards are maintained. Beyond that I have provided funds to advance a small number of projects which will add value to the existing network and support economic recovery. In this regard I have provided funds to allow the commencement...

Rail Services (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I concur with the Deputy's comments. We must wait to see if we get a rail order, which will have conditions attached. Only then can this go to tender. With regard to the capital investment plan, we only have funds to start construction from 2015, and it is hoped the project will be running by 2017. If a funding mechanism can be provided to bring forward the commencement of works to next...

Rail Services (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: It is important to bear in mind with regard to contributions made along the metro line, they are much less than the amount spent on the preparatory planning and enabling works.

Rail Services (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Some €180 million has been spent. Currently there is no development contribution scheme along the BXD route. It is a matter for the city council and it would be appropriate to have discussions with the council on some form of contribution, particularly with regard to property along the route, including undeveloped sites that will increase in value because of the project.

State Airports (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 13, 16, 35, and 40 to 42, inclusive, together. I have already outlined in the House today the current position on the future of Cork and Shannon airports and the background to the commissioning of consultants to carry out a study of the options for the future ownership and operation of both airports. The tender process used to select the consultants took...

State Airports (12 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Many questions were asked and I hope I do justice to Deputies in terms of replying to their questions. Booz & Co. has had extensive experience both in terms of infrastructure and airports. I can provide the Deputy with a more detailed document if he requires on the background to some work it did internationally. Many people would accept the company did a very good job, although I accept...