Results 6,581-6,600 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (27 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government transposed the EU Directive governing the use of Child Restraint Systems (CRS) into Irish law in September 2006 which requires infants from birth up to 13kgs (29lbs) in weight (Approximate Age Range from birth to 12-15 months) to be restrained in a rearward facing child restraint that conforms to EU product standards (ECR44). This affords significantly greater protection for a...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (27 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government recognises the key role that tourism can play in Ireland's economic recovery. I am glad to report that we saw growth in visitor numbers last year for the first time since 2007 with over 6.5 million overseas visits, representing an increase of 7.8% over 2010. Our aim is to continue to grow this number this year and into the future. St Patrick's Day has traditionally marked...

Written Answers — Taxi Licences: Taxi Licences (27 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Statistics relating to small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences, are a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), who regulate the SPSV sector. I have referred the Deputy's request for information to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (27 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I have no plans at this time to develop a so-called "Western Arc" from Cork to Belfast as this would require both the re-opening of the remaining phases of the Western Rail Corridor and also the development of new rail lines to connect with the rail network in Northern Ireland. The programme for the funding of capital projects to 2016 is set out in the Medium Term Exchequer Framework...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (27 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that the surplus generated by the National Lottery is transferred annually to the Exchequer and is applied to part-fund the Exchequer allocations to a specified range of expenditure subheads across various Votes. Details of the total Exchequer allocations to the relevant Lottery supported subheads are published in Appendix 1 of the 2012 Revised Estimates for Public Services ...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (27 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Road Traffic Act 2002, penalty points are required to be endorsed on the Irish driving licence record held on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) and a current driving licence is required to serve penalty points. For the majority of cases this endorsement takes place without difficulty against the relevant NVDF driver record. However, where a person is the holder of a...

Written Answers — Departmental Equipment: Departmental Equipment (27 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The information sought is set out in the following Table: Number of laptops in use in Department 88 Number of tablets in use in Department 2 Number of the laptops in use that are due to be upgraded in 2012 45 A number of Field Officers in this Department rely heavily on the use of laptops while working out of the office. It is this Departments policy to replace laptops at end of life....

State Airports (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the timeframe for making a decision on the future of Cork and Shannon Airports. As I previously informed the Deputy, following receipt of the Booz report on the future ownership and operation of Cork and Shannon Airports, my Department is currently involved in detailed engagement with all relevant stakeholders on the issues involved. When that process has...

State Airports (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the question. I will visit Limerick tomorrow and Clare the day after that to speak at a business function which I agreed to do several months ago and, therefore, there will not be any dramatic announcement on Friday that I would not make to the Dáil beforehand. The position is that the Booz report has gone to Cabinet. It is being considered and has been published in...

State Airports (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Whatever we do has to be a success and for an airport complex to be a success, it should not be reliant on subventions and should be able to break even, at the very least, and ideally turn a profit. We are moving away from the model of subventing airports. Subvention has had to be removed already from Galway and Sligo Airports as a result of cutbacks in public expenditure. The other...

Transport Costs (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to fuel costs and their impact on the haulage industry, and measures being undertaken to assist the industry. I am aware that costs generally for haulage operators are increasing, and fuel is a major component of this. The price of fuel is driven mainly by external factors such as the cost of oil, refining costs, and exchange rates. All of these are driven by...

Transport Costs (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the cost of fuel affects everyone and not only hauliers. It affects anyone in the general public who drives a car. It also affects the CIE companies and I have a good insight into what the balance sheets of a haulage firm looks like because I see the CIE accounts and I can see how the loss of the fuel rebate and increasing fuel costs hit it. The Minister for Finance did not...

Transport Costs (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The road haulage industry is extremely important and we will always have one of some size or another because it is how we get our goods to market and moved around the country. We will always have a haulage industry even if it is contracting and may contract more. The issue of laundered diesel is a matter for the Minister for Finance and I know he is taking an interest in it. The working...

Tourism Industry (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the number of jobs created in the tourism sector as a result of the lowering of the VAT rate for the tourist industry. As the Deputy will be aware, the jobs initiative introduced a reduced 9% VAT rate from July 2011 on a range of services, including hotels, restaurants and the leisure industry. The Government also halved employers' PRSI for those on modest...

Tourism Industry (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Deputy Bruton, referred during an interview to an increase of 6,000 people in employment in the tourism sector. The situation has improved further since the most recent figure became available. To date, there has been an increase of 11,000 in the number of people working in the food and accommodation sector. However, this represents only a partial recovery on the large number...

Tourism Industry (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The plan is that the reduced VAT rate of 9% will continue until the end of 2013. As stated by the Deputy, that is what is promised in the jobs initiative and the legislation and is what is stated on the Revenue website. The industry should work on the basis that the reduced rate will continue until the end of 2013, the year of The Gathering. Having said that, I am not writing the budget now.

Tourism Industry (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I do not want to give people an assurance which may change. We do not know what will happen between now and budget day or what will happen to the economy, the deficit or in regard to other matters. I do not want to be strung up by the Minister for Finance for making promises on his behalf. The intention is that the lower rate will continue to the end of 2013.

Tourism Employment (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has asked whether I will mandate SOLAS to work with the hotel sector in the training of workers for the sector. As she may be aware, SOLAS comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills. Accordingly, I am not in a position to direct its operations. Over the past two academic years, Fáilte Ireland in conjunction with the institutes of technology has...

Tourism Employment (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, I can do that. Deputies are aware that SOLAS has not yet been established on a statutory footing. It is designed to replace FÁS. It will come to the Cabinet in the next few weeks. I will discuss the matter with the Minister, Deputy Quinn. I understand that some industry groups will make a proposal with regard to training through SOLAS. Having said that, much of the entry-level...

Tourism Promotion (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has asked whether I will extend the programme of turning international buildings and landmarks green to public buildings in this State. St. Patrick's Day traditionally marks the start of the tourism season. Tourism Ireland's greening initiative had many famous additions this year. It signalled the start of a major push to increase visitor numbers from overseas by capturing...