Results 8,581-8,600 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Planning Issues (14 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is very specifically a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (14 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to staff in the Department is set out in Table 1 below.  This is gross income, before pension levy, tax and other statutory deductions.  No individual in the Department is in an earnings bracket in excess of €200,000.   Table 1 Earnings at 31st Dec 2012 Personnel in whole-time equivalent terms...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (14 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that Department is in ongoing consultation with the EIB with a view to exploring possibilities for funding.  I understand that Department is in ongoing consultation with the EIB with a view to exploring possibilities for funding.   I recently met with senior officials from the European Investment Bank where I took the opportunity to outline...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (14 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten working days.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Issues (14 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 752 to 755, inclusive, together. The commitment of the Irish Government as set out in November 2011 to this project remains in place at this time. I have no specific plans to meet the Northern Ireland First Minister or Deputy First Minister on this issue. However contact between our two sponsoring Departments is ongoing, I am kept appraised of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Expenditure (14 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The figures relating to overtime payments made to Ministerial appointees are contained in Tables 1 and 2 below. The Secretary General of the Department and my advisors do not receive payments in respect of overtime.   Table 1: Overtime Payments from 2007 to March 2011   Minister/ Minister of State Position Overtime in 2007 Overtime in 2008 Overtime in 2009...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Issues (14 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. These questions are about the viability of the CIE group. In the three years from 2009 to 2011, CIE as a group suffered a total loss of €137 million after exceptional items. Clearly, this level of loss cannot be sustained and must be addressed. While progress has been made over recent years in reducing costs and headcount, these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Lest there be any confusion, it is not Government policy to privatise any of the CIE companies; nor was it proposed to do so by my party in opposition. The issue of allowing more private licences for bus operators is a different one, but is not pertinent at present. It is something to be considered in due course. I have no difficulty with doing a strategic review, but Deputy Dooley knows...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I remind the Deputy that while Sinn Féin's alternative budget did propose additional funding in a number of areas, it did not propose any additional funding for public transport. I can only conclude from that, therefore, that the Deputy supports the levels of subvention that the Government is currently giving to the CIE companies. If a privatisation agenda is being pursued by this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I really do not buy Deputy Dooley's point. His proposal to cut the free travel scheme and take another €3 million off CIE and over €1 million off Bus Éireann was made in December 2012, which was after the announcement that CIE was in serious financial trouble and required a bailout of €36 million. Therefore, even after the Deputy knew all that, and it had been in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: We have to bear in mind that the money for a subvention comes from people's taxes. Taxes have gone up dramatically and people really cannot afford many more tax hikes. That is the truth of it. If the Deputy wants the subvention to go back up to record levels - even higher than in the boom - then one needs to have record taxes. People cannot afford very many more tax hikes, or fare hikes,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I would be happy to.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Transport Costs (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Forfás Cost of doing Business in Ireland 2012 report identifies the key components in transport competitiveness as fuel costs, distance from markets, competition and efficiency in the provision of transport services. My Department has no direct control over many of these issues but keeps under close review costs arising from the services provided through our agencies....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Transport Costs (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Dooley raises two valid issues. Regarding motor tax on heavy goods vehicles, people who have trucks and lorries pay motor tax, and so they should. Heavy vehicles do much damage to roads, so it is appropriate that they contribute to the cost of them as everyone else does. The Irish Road Haulage Association has suggested we move to the model used in Britain, whereby one pays on a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Dublin Bus Services (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I did not disallow the question.

Other Questions: State Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 63 together.   These relate to the merger of Shannon Airport and Shannon Development. Work on the preparation of the heads of a Bill to provide for the merger of the Shannon Airport Authority, SAA, and a restructured Shannon Development is ongoing in my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and with the...

Other Questions: State Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The heads of the Bill are not yet ready but I anticipate they will be ready to go to Cabinet and the committee before the summer recess, thus allowing drafting to be completed in time to publish the legislation by autumn and the Bill to be brought through the Houses during the autumn session. The appointment of CEO is being handled by the board and chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority...

Other Questions: State Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As an Aer Lingus worker with a full-time job as a politician, I hope Deputy Daly is not receiving remuneration from Aer Lingus, holding a post open or using the car park or other privileges. One job is enough for anyone. The report will be published by the Minister for Justice and Equality at 3.30 p.m. I ask Deputies to withhold judgment until they have had a chance to read it.

Other Questions: State Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to repeat what I said earlier today. The report gives me confidence that the penalty point system has integrity. It has been hugely successful in terms of freeing up Garda time and changing Garda behaviour. The report found that a small number of gardaí may not have used their discretionary powers appropriately but that is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality...