Results 7,321-7,340 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Appointments (2 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I appointed Mr Sean Benton, a former Chairman of the Office of Public Works,  as Chairman of the National Sports Campus Development Authority.   The Government, on my recommendation, appointed Mr Kevin Bonner, a former Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise and Employment, as Chairman of Dublin Bus and member of the CIE Board. Both of these appointments are to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Project Contracts (3 Oct 2012)

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 the local authorities concerned.  Noting this I have referred this part of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (3 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issued raised is a matter for Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have referred the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (3 Oct 2012)

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 is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this I have referred these questions to the NRA for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (3 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that the number of additional DART and Intercity railcars brought into service by Iarnród Eireann during the period in question is as follows: Iarnród Éireann - new rolling stock into operation dates Year Fleet 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011   2012 Total InterCity Railcars 12 114 51 0 0 57 234 DART Railcars 36 40 0 0 0 0 76...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus Services (3 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The provision of bus services is an operational matter for Dublin Bus in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and not one in which I have any role. I have referred the Deputy's question to both Dublin Bus and the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (3 Oct 2012)

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 is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this I have referred your question to the NRA for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Capital Investment Programme (3 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's role in relation to tourism is primarily concerned with national policy and it is not involved in providing support to individual tourism projects. Fáilte Ireland provides a range of non-financial supports and advice to new tourism businesses.  Should any person wish to establish a tourism business for the purpose of providing visitors with astronomy...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority Staff (3 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The staffing aspect of the centralisation of driver licensing in the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is being addressed in the context of the Croke Park Agreement and in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). DPER has indicated that there should be no overall increase in public sector numbers as a result of the centralisation of driver licensing....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: North-South Ministerial Council (4 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Transport is one of the areas of co-operation under the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) process.  Regular meetings of the Transport Sectoral Council are held, where transport issues, including investment, are discussed.  The next Transport Sectoral is due to take place on 5th October 2012. In relation to the A5 cross border roads project, as the Deputy will be aware, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (4 Oct 2012)

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.   As you are aware, this Government has had to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (4 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is an operational  matter for Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and not one in which I have any role.  I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (4 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the provision of public transport infrastructure and the effective management of traffic in the Greater Dublin Area comes under the remit of the NTA....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (4 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As part of my Department's 2012 Estimates, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) was allocated €300,000 to purchase EvidenzerIRL instruments. The Bureau is now ready to proceed with the purchase of 22 instruments for installation in Garda Stations and an additional 3 instruments are also being purchased to ensure sufficient spares are available.  The instruments...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pilot Training Colleges (4 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As I have previously stated the situation which arose is most unfortunate and came about from the failure of the Pilot Training College (PTC), a privately-owned and operated flight training school, to meet its contractual obligations to its students in relation to the completion of their training. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has responsibility for approving and overseeing...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Railway Stations Car Park Charges (4 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together. The management of car parks at train stations is a matter for Irish Rail. I have, however, on foot of representations from a number of Deputies and based on my own experience as a Deputy in a commuter area, raised certain concerns recently regarding car-parking charges policy with both the Chairman and Chief...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Services Provision (4 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. My Department has responsibility for policy in relation to the transport, tourism and sport sectors and regularly engages with Local Authorities on these issues either directly or indirectly through its agencies. In particular: funding is provided by the National Transport Authority to the local authorities in the...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (9 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I am taking this topical issue on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, who is currently travelling overseas. It is acknowledged that the fundamental problem facing occupational pension schemes is that pensions are significantly more expensive due to increasing life expectancy and lower than expected investment returns, which are reflected in increased annuity rates....

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (9 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: It is important to point out that the pensions regulator is independent and that we have an independent regulatory system for pensions. In Ireland, we are all suffering the consequences of the bad financial regulation of the banks, when the Financial Regulator did not require the banks to make proper provision for losses. I suppose what the pensions regulator is trying to do is to ensure...

Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (9 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Therefore, I will be my better self and not engage in that sort of speculation on what is in the budget. I take the Deputy's point with regard to the impact a reduction in the tax relief might have on people's behaviour.