Results 9,561-9,580 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have referred 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: Departmental Bodies Data (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will find a list of all agencies under the remit of my Department's website . Full details of board membership are also listed as are details of the approved level of board fees payable.  The fees actually paid by agencies are set out in the annual accounts of the relevant agency. In the case of commercial agencies, fees are paid by the...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Mountain Rescue Service (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. Mountain rescue is a 24/7 voluntary emergency support service provided by 12 mountain rescue teams located in various regions throughout the county. These teams come together as a co-operative association under an organisation called Mountain Rescue Ireland, MRI, which was founded in 1965. At the local level, each team also develops its own...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Mountain Rescue Service (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The mountain rescue team engages with the Coast Guard, which is part of my Department. To the best of my knowledge, we do not have any particular role in monitoring MRI.

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Mountain Rescue Service (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know the answer to that question for sure but to the best of my knowledge we do not. The Coast Guard's only role is to administer this grant. I do not have a budget line or statutory responsibility for this. The budget we do have is very tight and the priority at the moment is to renovate one coast guard station a year. Unfortunately, it is not possible to take on the capital...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Community Involvement Scheme (21 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In February 2013, a circular issued from my Department to local authorities inviting applications for funding under a pilot Community Involvement Scheme (CIS).  €10.6m has been allocated over 2 years (including 2014) for work to be undertaken at 377 locations with over 240kms of roads to be improved.  I have not yet decided whether to initiate a new round of the CIS in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (21 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008  provide that with effect from November 1st 2013 the maximum operating height for all vehicles in Ireland is 4.65 metres unless otherwise permitted by law.   The enforcement of road traffic legislation, including legislation relating to vehicle heights, is the responsibility of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Data (21 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The choice of locations for the front offices of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and I have no role in it.  However, I do note that when locations were being considered,  there was a generally agreed principle of making the service available within 50 kilometres to 95% of the population, and I understand that this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (21 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I announced new procedures for appointment to boards on Friday 8th April 2011 and all appointments from that date have followed these procedures. They include an open invitation for expressions of  interest in serving on the board of any of the agencies under the remit of my Department.  This invitation was renewed on 31 January 2013. Details of all...

Road Traffic Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the opportunity to address this Bill and thank Deputy Timmy Dooley for raising some very important issues through this proposed legislation. The area of road safety is one in which there has been always cross-party support and there is no disagreement on our overall objectives, as the Deputy stated. Collisions on the roads lead to unnecessary deaths and serious and sometimes...

Road Traffic Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This has been a very interesting debate and it has been interesting to hear what Deputies have had to say. Deputy Finian McGrath mentioned the specific case of Shane O'Farrell. I do not want to go into too much detail because I am very conscious of the separation of powers between the Legislature and the courts and the fact that the courts have to hear all of the evidence and all of the...

Road Traffic Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: It is not opposed.

Topical Issues: Marine Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. As they will be aware, an EPIRB is used to alert search and rescue services in the event of an emergency. It does this by transmitting a coded message via satellite and earth stations to the Coast Guard rescue co-ordination centres. All of a vessel's radio equipment, including EPIRBs, must comply with international standards, which are...

Topical Issues: Marine Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: With the Acting Chairman's indulgence, I would be able to cover the key points in 35 seconds.

Topical Issues: Marine Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: According to my Department's report, in July 2010 the Department had sent a number of queries to the manufacturer's agent on foot of concerns about EPIRB defects arising from possible tampering or improper battery replacement. In the ensuing examination, no evidence emerged that suggested a serious defect within the equipment type such as that associated with the microprocessor finding as...

Topical Issues: Marine Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputies made two suggestions. First, people with EPIRBs from the batches in question or made by this manufacturer should be contacted individually to ensure that they are aware. I am happy to take that suggestion on board and to carry it out. Through the normal marine notice process and the attendant media coverage, the majority of all vessel owners should be aware of the recent...

Topical Issues: Marine Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Not to be confused with the International Rugby Board.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (26 Nov 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 a matter for the local authority. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Banking (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: There are currently two areas of my Department which accept payment for services by credit or Debit card, these being the Driver and Vehicle Computer services division and the Mercantile Marine Office. The Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division of the Department processed in excess of 2.56 million motor tax applications with a value of €533 million in 2012,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: There is at present no legislation governing this area from a road safety perspective and none is proposed. If the Deputy has a proposal for legislation in this area, I would be happy to consider it.