Results 8,101-8,120 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (12 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 759 and 760 together. The matters raised are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland.  I have referred the Deputy's questions to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if a reply is not received with ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Port Facilities (12 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: At the outset, I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department does not  provide Exchequer funding to ports as such an investment is contrary to State Aid rules and we have no budget line from which to do so in any case. Individual ports are responsible for their own investment decisions around their infrastructure and facilities, and must fund such investment from their...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Expenditure (12 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not assess the means of individual citizens and does not incur such costs.

Promissory Notes Arrangement: Motion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Acting Chairman for the opportunity to speak in this important debate. The deal the Government has secured to eliminate the promissory notes and replace them with a long-term bond is a very big step forward in our efforts to restore Ireland's debt sustainability and sustainable growth. It comes a year later than we had hoped, and there are more steps to take in the coming months...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (13 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Driver licensing law in Ireland operates within the overall framework of EU legislation on driver licensing.  The purpose of both EU and Irish law in this regard is ultimately to promote safety on our roads.  Experience is a vital component in good driving, but it is also essential that we have measurable standards against which we can assess the level of knowledge and skills...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (13 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: It is the responsibility of airports (be they State airports or regional airports) to secure routes and negotiate deals with airlines. As such, it is a commercial matter for the airports and airlines themselves and not a matter in which I have any function.  However, Tourism Ireland work closely with airports and airlines on developing new routes to drive demand for air services from key...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (13 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The implementation of individual national road schemes, including Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2007. In addition, the statutory power to levy tolls on...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (13 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In 2012, I announced that a review of speed limits would be undertaken and, to that end, my Department established a stakeholders group to progress this work. Representatives of the Automobile Association, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, local authorities and the National Transport Authority accepted my invitation to participate in the stakeholders group, which has met...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pension Provisions (13 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is a matter for the bodies under the aegis of my Department. I have asked them to provide the Deputy with the information. If you do not receive a reply from the agencies within 10 workings days please advise my private office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (14 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: My Department’s Vote 31 budget allocations and provisional outturns are published and available on the website of the  Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department's gross provisional outturn for 2012 expenditure  totalled €2.050m comprising current expenditure of €825m and capital expenditure of €1,225m.   I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (14 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The operation of the driver licensing system is a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and I have no power to intervene in individual cases.  As such, I have referred this matter to the RSA for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days, please contact my private office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (14 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to 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: Departmental Expenditure (14 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 374 and 375 together. The information requested by the Deputy is in the process of being compiled at present. I will forward the information as soon as possible.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sale of State Assets (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to the Government's shareholding in Aer Lingus and its strategic value. The Government retained a minority stake of 25.1% in Aer Lingus in the initial public offering of shares in the group in 2006 primarily to protect what were perceived to be the State's strategic aviation interests at that time. However, the importance of the Government's minority stake,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sale of State Assets (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: There are strategic issues involved and cargo is certainly one of them. I met the Irish Exporters Association on a number of occasions and discussed that very point. The association is also represented on the Tánaiste's export trade council, so I meet its members from time to time in that forum. Almost all airlines, other than Ryanair, provide cargo services and it was its intention...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sale of State Assets (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: That analysis is under way and is being done by the NewERA unit on behalf of the Department and the Government. Aer Lingus is a very good company and is very profitable. In fairness to the management and staff, they have made a huge contribution in recent years to turning the company around. It is a company I want to see continue to grow and be successful. To date, the Government's...

Other Questions: Road Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 132, 158, 168, 180, 801 and 802 together.  It is almost like Taoiseach's questions, with all of the questions being taken together. These questions relate to the maintenance and repair of the network of national, regional and local roads. The protection of the existing investment in the Irish national, regional and local roads network is the...

Other Questions: Road Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am very much open to providing more flexibility to local authorities, thus allowing them to move funds from one heading to another. My Department has received a proposal from one local authority and my officials are due to meet with the City and County Managers' Association to see if that can be progressed in the coming weeks. However, I want to be sure that the money actually goes into...

Other Questions: Road Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Dooley makes a valid point in stating that local authorities are under pressure and I fully acknowledge that. Central government also is under a lot of pressure and I find it a little disingenuous of local authorities to point the finger at central government, which perhaps has cut its allocation by 20% or 30%, when the local authorities actually have cut their own by 60%. It is...

Other Questions: Road Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to Deputy Ellis's question, it is a fact that local authorities have cut their contribution by more than the Government's and I provided the figures in my reply. They used to provide 40% of the cost but that has fallen to 32%. Local authorities are, therefore, cutting their funding faster than the Government is cutting their grants. If additional money becomes available, we...