Results 7,401-7,420 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Banking (16 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The list of bank accounts operated by or on behalf of my Department is in the attached table.  In 2011 bank charges amounted to €914.00.  It is anticipated that the total figure for 2012 will be less due to increased use of the banking-on-line facility.  Standard banking terms and conditions apply to all accounts and there are no special arrangements in place relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tribunals of Inquiry Reports (16 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is not involved in any proceedings arising out of the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Staff Career Breaks (16 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 741 and 742 together. In my Department, thirteen staff availed of the incentivised career break scheme.  Two of the thirteen applied successfully for a further extension.  In total there are currently eight staff on career breaks, three of whom are on the incentivised scheme.  Staff on career breaks are not included in staff...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (17 Oct 2012)

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 promotion of public awareness of road safety. I have referred the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority 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: Prompt Payments (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Information about the number of payments issued by my Department and its non-commercial agencies more than thirty days after invoice receipts is published every quarter on the Department's website.  The site address is   and the information can be found under 'Other Information, supplier payment reports'. The number of payments made more than 30 days after invoice...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The N2-A5 project does not form part of the St Andrew's Agreement. Following on from the Agreement and in the context of the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive, an investment package including a roads element, was agreed.  The A5 project was part of that package. At the NSMC Plenary meeting, on 8th November 2011, Ministers noted that the provision of further...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is an operational matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded 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 — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Consultancy Contracts (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 318 together. Details of consultancy and other contracts are already published on my Department's website at the following link (). This information is updated on a periodic basis. Contracts are normally awarded following a competitive process and details from 2011 are included in most cases with the remainder in the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Legal Matters (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table below. With regard to legal advice provided to the agencies, this is a matter for the agencies themselves. The Deputy's question will be forwarded to them for direct reply. If you do not hear back within 10 working days please contact my Private Office.  Year Name of Senior/Junior/solicitor (Please...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ferry Services Provision (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Irish ferry market is an extremely important element of the Irish tourism transport network. There are currently six shipping lines providing passenger services, with approximately 500 sailings weekly between Ireland and Britain and continental Europe depending on the time of year.  The Irish passenger ferry market also played a vital role in keeping Ireland's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Museum Projects (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I believe that a sports museum would be an excellent addition to Ireland's sporting and cultural experience and  has the potential to attract widespread public interest. A committee has been established to examine the feasibility of developing a Museum of Irish Sport. The committee, which is being chaired by Minister of State Michael Ring, is scheduled to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: The Gathering Expenditure (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I am pleased to report continued good progress in the preparations for "The Gathering Ireland 2013" which will be Ireland's biggest ever tourism initiative. Fáilte Ireland is the lead agency for the implementation of  the initiative and has put in place a Project Executive Team to implement it.  Tourism Ireland has specific responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Offshore Exploration (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The oil exploration site off Dalkey is the subject of an exploration licence awarded by the Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources. The exploration company is required to comply with all the Rules and Procedures of the Petroleum Affairs Division of that Department prior to commencing operations at the site. Also part of the conditions on the development of the site is the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland.  I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (17 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 325 together. As demonstrated by last year's Jobs Initiative and the Action Plan for Jobs 2012, the Government recognises the vital contribution that tourism makes to employment.  The VAT reduction on a range of tourism services from 13.5% to 9% enhances the competitiveness of our tourism product and this lower rate of VAT will be maintained...

Topical Issue Debate: Tourism Ireland Website (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: First, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am aware has received some media coverage in recent days. However, the decision to purchase the domain name Ireland.com from The Irish Times was an operational decision by Tourism Ireland and its board. Tourism Ireland is a North-South body that is jointly funded by the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. The issue...

Topical Issue Debate: Tourism Ireland Website (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate the Deputy's comments and concerns. I agree that Ireland.com is a good purchase for Tourism Ireland. It will be in public ownership, or at least in the ownership of a North-South body. A lady in the United States whom I know quite well and with whom I stayed for some time has an Ireland.com address, and she asked me what .ie meant at the end of all my e-mail addresses. In...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The CIE group is struggling with a very difficult financial situation. On 24 July last, the Government decided to provide additional funding of €36 million to CIE to ensure that the companies could continue to operate for the rest of 2012. This would bring the total subvention for this year to €278 million, higher than the subvention level for 2010 and the fifth highest level of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The €36 million is still available and to the extent that I can, I will not allow public transport to collapse. The money is available but it will only get the companies to the end of the year. I will not have enough money next year and €36 million will not solve the problems of the company next year. In the past, Governments could come up with more money if it was needed but...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Department and the National Transport Authority are working with public transport operators to increase the efficiency and attractiveness of existing public transport services.  We are not in a financial position to make significant investment in our public transport network but we can get a better return from our existing public transport system, through targeted investment, better...