Results 9,041-9,060 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Exchequer Savings (18 Jul 2013)

Leo Varadkar: There are two Special Advisers in my Department. If their pay was capped at the first point on the Principal Officer Scale there would be a net saving of less than €16,000 per annum to the Exchequer.  As the Deputy is aware, both Special Advisers had their pay cut as of the 1st of July 2013 as part of the Haddington Road Agreement. In stark...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Airports (18 Jul 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, in the context of the decision in principle in May 2012 to separate Shannon airport from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), the Government also decided that the existing ownership of Cork airport by the DAA would be maintained for the present. That decision is consistent with the report by Booz & Co (January 2012) which found that Cork airport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Strategy (18 Jul 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Safety Strategy 2013 - 2020 was approved by Government and formally launched by me at a EU Presidency Road Transport Safety Conference on Serious Injuries held in Dublin Castle in March.   Action 92 of the Strategy states "Legislate for the extension of fixed charge notices to other offences including those related to cyclists and drivers' hours."...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jul 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The commitment in the Programme for Government is to have at least 40% of each gender on State boards. Since my appointment as Minister in March 2011 the percentage of women on State Boards under the aegis of my Department has risen from 21.3% to 25.5%. My intention is to achieve the commitment in the Programme for Government in the context of future appointments to State...

Topical Issue Debate: Air Services Provision (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Enhanced air access to key business and tourism markets around the world has always been a key element of Ireland's aviation policy. A direct service between Ireland and Asia, particularly to and from China, would be of huge benefit to our trade relations with key Asian economies and for inbound tourism. Our export trade to China alone is worth around €3.8 billion, with an import...

Topical Issue Debate: Air Services Provision (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Doyle and I are in broad agreement on this matter. Direct services from Ireland to Asia, and China in particular, would be beneficial. One stop access is useful but not as good as direct services by any means. Routes would of course have to operate on a commercial basis because we are not going to use taxpayers' money to subsidise businessmen travelling to and from China. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Road Traffic legislation does not provide for minimum fines, as the level of a fine to be imposed following conviction must be at the discretion of the Judge hearing the case.  Furthermore, the fine suggested by the Deputy would mean that such cases could no longer be dealt with summarily in the District Courts. At present, District Court Judges have the discretion to deal with the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland.  I have referred the Deputy's Question to the agency 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: Vehicle Testing Centres (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The subject matter of this question is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have forwarded it to them for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my Office if a reply has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licence Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: All categories of vehicles a person may be permitted to drive as per the back of the new plastic card driving licences may not necessarily be contained in Section 9 on the front of the new plastic driving licence. The display of categories on the front of a licence will not show all categories if, for example, the holder of a licence in one category is automatically entitled to a licence in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Noise Pollution Issues (18 Sep 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 a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting the above position, I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) as ownership of certain property in the area referred to by the Deputy is in the process of  transfer to it from Irish Rail in connection with the development of Luas BXD. However, as the full extent of the property is not clear from the Deputy's question, I am referring the matter to both the RPA and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Regulations (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1602 and 1616 together. The derogation contained in Statutory Instrument 366 of 2008 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008, permitting certain classes of vehicles which were first registered, licensed or in use before 1st  November 2008 to exceed 4.65 metres in height, terminates on 31st October 2013 and I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Expenditure (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Details of the regional and local road grant allocations for the years in question can be found in the regional and local road grant allocation booklets which are available in the Dáil Library. With regard to national roads, as Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is an operational matter for Iarnród 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: Rail Services (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) on December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as installing a ticket machine at a train station in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Single European Sky (SES) is a policy initiative agreed in 2004 with the central objective of reforming and improving the performance of air traffic management in Europe. The Commission's current legislative proposals are designed to accelerate the achievement of these policy objectives.  Whilst air traffic management is a key element in the overall air transport market and thus...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have passed 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: Road Safety Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1608, 1674 and 1691 together.  As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licence Applications (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy may be aware, we are currently in a transition period in the operation of driver licensing.   The Road Safety Authority (RSA) formally became the national driver licensing authority in January 2013.  As an interim measure, the local authority motor taxation offices are continuing to process driver licence applications and issue licences...