Results 7,441-7,460 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Other Questions: State Airports (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has made a very valid point. The new Shannon company needs to be on a sustainable financial footing. Quite evidently there is no point in doing it otherwise. However, it also needs to be commercial. Quangos and State agencies are on a sustainable financial footing because they receive money from the Government. I do not want this to be a quango or a State agency. I want it to...

Other Questions: State Airports (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The plan is to publish the plan for all to see and begin implementation in November, and if not in November by the end of the year. We are in limbo and huge patience has been shown in the region on this point. I do not want us to be in limbo for much longer. The plan is to have everything done and dusted and agreed by Cabinet by mid-November, or at the end of the year by the latest, and...

Other Questions: State Airports (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: There is no question of the State taking on the debts of any airport. There is potential to work out the debt whereby the debt would stay with the DAA which would continue to pay interest on it but it would no longer have to cover the operating losses which exist at Shannon Airport. It could be done in such a way that it would not seriously impact on the balance sheet of the DAA, or what...

Other Questions: State Airports (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: To advise Deputy Dooley, it would be a major mistake to start a new company by telling it that it would be underwritten and that it would have a pile of money as a safety net if something went wrong. One way to ensure that a commercial venture fails is to tell it that it does not need to succeed. We must put it up to Shannon Airport to succeed on a commercial basis. It can do it. The...

Other Questions: State Airports (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: That is a question for the Minister for Defence. Deputy Mathews can ask him about the matter. As we have a small airforce, moving to Shannon Airport would mean closing Baldonnel. The Coast Guard is doing well operating out of Shannon Airport. I would need to pass the Deputy's suggestion on to the Minister for Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to penalty points for taxi drivers. Minister of State Alan Kelly, who is in Brussels today, has responsibility for this area. This month, on behalf of Minister Kelly, I will bring a proposal to Cabinet for the publication a Taxi Regulation Bill 2012, which will strengthen the legislative basis for the regulation of the taxi sector and the enforcement...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry Issues (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 17, 23 and 63 together. These questions relate to the performance of the tourist sector in 2012, and efforts to improve visitor numbers and employment in that sector over the coming years. The tourism sector is central to Government strategies for economic recovery and jobs. According to the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 248, 250 and 251 together. These questions relate to the Haulage Industry. The predominant element of transport costs is fuel. My Department has no direct control over this cost but keeps under review all costs over which we do have an influence, including the cost of services provided through our agencies.  In this context,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry Issues (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 47 and 249 together. The Government believes that Tourism and Hospitality is a key sector that will contribute to Ireland's economic recovery. Up to 180,000 people are employed in the industry and total tourism revenues in 2011 are estimated at €5.5 billion. That is why - despite our enormous national financial difficulties - the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Penalty Point System (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 40 and 51 together. The mutual recognition of penalty points between Ireland and Northern Ireland is being dealt with under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC). This work involves the mutual recognition, rather than harmonisation, of certain road traffic offences, along with the penalty points associated with those offences...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos.19, 28 and 71 together. These questions relate to the N2 in the Republic of Ireland, in particular the section from Clontibret to the Northern Irish Border and the A5 in Northern Ireland. As the Deputies will be aware, the previous Government gave a commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5 in Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 24 and 43 together. These questions relate to drug driving. Drug driving is a matter of great concern particularly as evidence suggests a growing prevalence of people driving under the influence of drugs in Ireland. In order to better inform our understanding of the drug driving problem and the options available to tackle it, I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Staff Issues (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: In keeping with the reforms and economies that are taking place across the public sector, the tourism agencies have reconfigured and prioritised the services they provide in order to ensure that the core services required of the tourism sector are delivered.   Over the last year, Fáilte Ireland has merged with Dublin Tourism and is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Diaspora Centre Establishment (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 64 together. There is significant potential for Irish tourism in the development of an appropriate centre focusing on the Irish diaspora. The Government’s Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework 2012-2016, published in November 2011, includes a commitment of support for a Diaspora Centre or Diaspora Museum should a suitable project...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Development (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Rosslare Europort is an important part of our commercial port network and the fourth largest port in the State in terms of total tonnage handled. In addition to its importance as a commercial freight port, it also serves as the State's second biggest passenger port after Dublin. Clearly therefore the port has functions of a national significance in terms of trade...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Funding (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The current financial and economic crisis is having a major impact on public spending across all sectors of society and spending on sport is no different. Several European countries have measured the economic importance of sport but each country adopted different definitions of sport, and used different methodologies, and consequently the results were non-comparable. However, there...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Harbour Authorities (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I have previously responded to questions from the deputy on this matter, on 12 January 2012 and on 14 December and 29 September 2011. The Deputy is aware that the Company arranged for an external audit of various allegations published in the national press, including that of alleged overpayment of expenses, and that this review found those allegations were false. A...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The process has begun of introducing a Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS) for Ireland, which is a stepped approach to driver learning which focuses on the acquisition of skills and experience rather than simply passing a test.  There are nine components to this System, including for example compulsory lessons for learners, lower blood alcohol limits, and a new category of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Responsibility to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the integrated ticketing Leap Card system in the Greater Dublin Area became a function of the National Transport Authority (NTA) with effect from 30th September 2010. Noting this, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (18 Oct 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I am acutely aware of the importance of the tourism and hospitality sector in providing job opportunities across the country for our young people.  The measures put in place to support tourism in last year's Jobs Initiative and the Government's Action Plan for Jobs 2012 helped to contribute to growth of almost 8% in visitor numbers in 2011.  In addition, the CSO Quarterly...