Results 8,601-8,620 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Other Questions: State Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Shannon Airport is important and it is regrettable we have not had the opportunity to discuss it.

Other Questions: State Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputies' questions concerned Garda matters, which are the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Other Questions: State Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: They are not for me to answer in the first instance.

Other Questions: State Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I did not disallow any questions. Neither I nor any other Minister has the power to disallow questions. They were disallowed by the Ceann Comhairle.

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 43, 51, 86, 91 and 93 together. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in respect of the national roads programme.  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...

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for his intervention. If money from any source is available this year, the priority must be road maintenance. Some of the country's roads are in a bad way and need money to be repaired. It is important to make a distinction between Exchequer money and PPP money. By and large, the latter comes from the private sector - for example, banks, bondholders and other groups...

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to reiterate the Government's commitment to the Galway city outer bypass, which has a benefit-to-cost ratio, BCR, of 6:1. Of all of the projects on the books, this one has the highest BCR. It makes a great deal of sense. Anyone who knows Galway knows that this project needs to be progressed once we overcome the planning permission issues. The former Minister, Mr. Noel Dempsey,...

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am loth to put a date on it. In respect of the N11-Newlands Cross project, I kept predicting that it would happen in a few months' time, but it did not. On the day it happened, I did not believe that it actually would. In fact, I had a €5 bet with my Secretary General, which he won on the day. I do not want to apply a timeframe. The NRA is handling this commercial discussion on...

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry, but I cannot at this stage. However, I would be happy to reply to the Deputy's query by correspondence. Suffice it to say that the road infrastructure will be in place for the Kerry Group jobs that have been announced so far.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question Nos. 1 and 2 which I answered earlier.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, shipping costs are subject to myriad of factors. In particular, they are subject to external global factors such as fuel costs and currency fluctuations. The steady rise in fuel prices has impacted negatively on the shipping industry. In 2011 alone, oil prices rose sharply with bunker prices spiking by 40% over the course of the year. In 2012 oil prices...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Free Travel Scheme Administration (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The question relates to the review of the operation of the Department of Social Protection's free travel scheme. With regard to the review, an Inter Departmental Working Group was established  last year to carry out a review of the operation of the current Free Travel Scheme.  The purpose of this review is to examine and report on the current operation and future development of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Penalty Point System (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 88 together. The work on the mutual recognition of penalty points is focused on the four road traffic offences of speeding, drink/drug driving, non - wearing of seatbelts and using a mobile phone while driving.  A detailed timetable for the process was agreed last October at a meeting of the North South Ministerial...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 65, 78 and 83 together. These relate to the A5 road project. The Government's commitment to the A5 project, as outlined at the North South Ministerial Council in November 2011 remains in place. At that NSMC plenary session it was noted that the Irish Government would provide £25 million in 2015 and in 2016 towards the A5 road project. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Light Rail Projects Status (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 36 together. Following agreement with the Department of Finance, which takes the lead role on EIB matters, engagement has commenced with the EIB regarding a loan for Luas Cross City. The National Transport Authority, which is the sanctioning authority for the project, is taking the lead role in providing the detailed information and data required by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Light Rail Projects Status (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 31 together. These questions relate to the Cross City Luas project. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the proposed Luas Cross City line. This line is a priority project under the Government's five-year capital...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Maintenance (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 41 and 64 together. These questions deal with Ireland West Airport Knock and I would like to thank the Deputies for raising this subject and for affording me the opportunity to update the House on developments. As Deputies will be aware, the Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) Study Group was established following a meeting of the Airport Board with the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sale of State Assets (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the sale of State assets. The State's 25.1% shareholding in Aer Lingus is the only asset within my remit identified for possible sale under the State Assets Disposal Programme. The Government's decision in February 2012 was to seek to sell the shareholding when market conditions are favourable and on terms and at a price that are acceptable to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Bodies (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 61 together. Budgetary or other measures set by my Department for a State Body under the Department’s responsibility would, where relevant, be reflected in the business and financial planning or strategic planning processes of the body concerned. My Department has regular meetings with each State Body. Such meetings would discuss a range of...