Results 9,441-9,460 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Transport Authority (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and the overall funding of public transport.  Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructural projects in the greater Dublin area come within the remit of the authority. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Transport Authority (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am not familiar with the exact details of this issue or the bridge in question, but I will put the Deputy's proposal to the NTA. It is intended to run a green way and a cycling and walking way all along the Royal Canal. I run along the canal from time to time and know it is possible to get from Clonsilla as far as one of the bridges in the Sheriff Street and Seán MacDermott street...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Transport Authority (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: It would be nice to be able to get all the way into town or to the sea. I am not familiar with the details of the bridge, but I will ask the NTA to see whether it would be appropriate to include it in the study. As the Deputy noted, a large number of agencies are involved, which sometimes makes it difficult to get things done. That is not an excuse but perhaps a comment.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Improvement Schemes (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: One might get sick of saying some of this stuff. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme. The implementation of individual national 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 improvement...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Improvement Schemes (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I can guarantee that I have an ongoing battle to find money to repair roads and I am of the view that it is more important to maintain existing infrastructure than build new infrastructure. The Minister of State, Deputy Ring, is very active in that space as well, and particularly with regard to county roads. There has been some success: the State grants for regional and local roads last...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Services Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In 2006 the State retained a minority stake of 25.1% in Aer Lingus when the initial public offering of shares in the company took place. The minority stake was retained to protect the State's interests at that time. Since that time, the trend towards consolidation in the airline industry has accelerated and competition for short haul and, in particular, long...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Services Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: To be clear, Aer Lingus is not our national airline and we do not have a national airline per se. It is a public limited company traded on the stock market and the Government owns a share of that company. The Government's position is as it has been for quite some time and we are willing to sell the stake but only at the right price and only to the right buyer. It should be under the right...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Services Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The value is evident in a number of ways, including the value of the stake itself and the dividends the company can pay every year. Value is also evident in the employment Aer Lingus provides and the connectivity it provides to the rest of the world. We are an island nation and that is more important to us than to most nations. We cannot rule out the possibility that there could be a buyer...

Other Questions: Driving Licence Issues (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Under the terms of the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, became the national driver licensing authority as of January this year. With effect from 19 January, the new credit card-style plastic card driving licence was introduced in all EU member states, replacing existing...

Other Questions: Driving Licence Issues (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I accept that there were considerable difficulties, particularly in the first week, for a number of reasons. They were just teething problems. This is always the case with a new service. No matter how much testing one does on a computer system, the model is never the same as the one that applies in reality. There was a lot of demand. It was a half-term week so it was busier than...

Other Questions: Driving Licence Issues (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: It operates not through the local authority but through the new service. It will now be possible to book an appointment at a particular time, which means it will be less likely that people will have to queue.

Other Questions: Driving Licence Issues (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to locations, it is important to bear in mind that the licences are licences for drivers. By and large, people with driving licences have access to a car even if they do not necessarily own one. Applying for the licence is something one has to do once in one's life, not every year or couple of months. Even people who live in remote rural areas drive to the cities or big towns...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clause (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 8 and 241 together. My colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, who has overall responsibility for public procurement has advised the House that it has been decided to adopt a targeted approach to the inclusion of a social clause in public works contracts in the context of the Government's €2.25 billion stimulus...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clause (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the Deputy's comments. This is very positive news. The social clause will apply such that some people who are long-term unemployed will be employed on these contracts. The requirement to take on apprentices is also very positive and particularly important in the construction sector. However, we must always be aware of the law of unintended consequences. Many people who run...

Other Questions: Tourism Project Funding (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 47 and 237 together. The Government’s infrastructure and capital investment framework 2012-16, published in November 2011, includes a commitment to support for a Diaspora centre or museum, should a suitable project and partner be available. Accordingly, I asked Fáilte Ireland to carry out a scoping study of the development of...

Other Questions: Tourism Project Funding (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The scoping study is very interesting and shows a broad range of options. It envisages a building of 6,000 sq. m, half of which would be visitor space, and visitor numbers of 300,000 per year. It estimates that the cost of delivering the facility could be between €20 million and €30 million for a new building, €13 million to €25 million for an existing building...

Other Questions: Tourism Project Funding (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, it will be. That is one of the five points to which I referred. Point No. 4 refers to the sea, given the history of emigration from Ireland by sea, although these days people emigrate by air. There are a lot of very good ideas and I do not have a favourite. The committee established to make a decision will have to do so independently. A key aspect will be the capacity of any...

Other Questions: Tourism Project Funding (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am reluctant to answer that question because I do not know the answer yet. We did appoint consultants to do a scoping study. However, I do not want to appoint too many consultants to do everything. There have been a dozen different proposals, some very advanced and considered, others little more than just a bright idea in PowerPoint. The next step is to call for expressions of interest,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Capital Programme Expenditure (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar:  As part of the €200m Stimulus Package announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform in Budget 2014 additional capital funding is being allocated to my Department’s Vote. I hope that an announcement can be made before the end of the year in relation to a new round of the Sports Capital Programme. The Department has not yet been informed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar:  The difficult economic situation is having an impact on public spending across all sectors of society and spending on sport is no different. The cut in the budget for the Irish Sports Council for 2014 currently stands at €3m. It is hoped that we will be able to alleviate that somewhat through adjustments in the Department's Vote but we will have...