Results 9,781-9,800 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Harbour Authorities Staff (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Within the State commercial ports sector, the establishment and operation of superannuation schemes for employees is a matter for the company concerned subject to sections 40 and 41 of the Harbours Act 1996.   Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company operates a defined benefit superannuation scheme that is now closed to new members. As with any other scheme, the Dún Laoghaire...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sporting Organisations (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: There are no directly electable positions on the Irish Sports Council (ISC). In accordance with the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, all members of the Council are appointed by the Minister.   The Programme for Government contains a commitment to elect a number of positions on the Irish Sports Council's Board. It was envisaged that the sporting national governing bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sporting Organisations (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In order to sustain the development of sport it is important that sporting organisations can secure alternative sources of investment, including philanthropic donations.  I believe that there is potential for philanthropy and charitable giving for areas of sport such as programme development and high performance.     I have had discussions...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Following consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, it was agreed that we would establish a working group to look at the feasibility of introducing a road charging regime for HGVs in Ireland in the medium term. Obviously the introduction of any such regime raises a number of issues and will require the input from a wide variety of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Bodies Mergers (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The proposal to amalgamate the NRA and RPA is consistent with Government plans for Public Sector reform and, in particular, its programme for rationalisation of State Agencies.   It is envisaged that the value created by RPA, in terms of organisation and specialist project management skills, will be combinted with the NRA, in a new agency Transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance (19 Dec 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware of the difficulties being experienced at present in relation to the driver licences. I have met with the interim Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) who, since the end of October,  have taken over full responsibility for the operation of the national driver licensing service. I am assured that measures have been taken to deal with the difficulties and that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Physical Education (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: There has been improved coordination and partnership between Government Departments in the area of sport and physical activity in recent years.  One of the commitments in Healthy Ireland - the Government Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025, is to develop a plan to promote increased physical activity levels across the population.  A cross-sectoral working...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Statutory Instrument 366 of 2008 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008 sets the maximum vehicle height limit at 4.65 metres. Following a public consultation undertaken prior to the completion of the Regulations, it was agreed that a five year derogation from that limit would apply to vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to 1...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pilot Training Colleges (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Pilot Training College Waterford (PTC) was a privately owned and operated flight training organisation  that  reneged on its contractual obligations and failed its students. On 28 September 2012 the High Court ordered the liquidation of PTC.  Neither the IAA nor the taxpayer are liable for the failure of this private sector company.   The IAA's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Railway Safety Issues (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar:  I understand that this matter is about the elimination of rights of way at some level crossings on this line. As this issue is a matter for Iarnród Éireann, I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.  Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Enterprise Support Schemes (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I have no such plans. If there is a demand as described by the Deputy, I am confident the general marketplace will address it without a need for a government intervention.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Roadworthiness testing in Ireland is carried out in conformity with Directive 2009/40/EC which does not currently include a mandatory requirement for the roadworthiness testing of motorcycles and other L class vehicles.  My position is that any proposal to do so would require extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders in advance of reaching a decision on the matter. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (19 Dec 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 each local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Freedom of Information Requests (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: 123 FOI requests were received in my Department in 2012 with a further 84 requests being received to date in 2013. Fees were sought for search and retrieval in 13 cases in 2012 and 4 in the current year. Of the above cases involving search and retrieval, 3 requests were deemed to be withdrawn as deposits were not paid. These related to 2012. One of these was...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to my response to question number 13 and 30 of the 19th December 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 408 together. The planning, design and 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. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Issues (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Existing aviation policy is to encourage competition in the market for long and short haul air services in and out of Irelandon policy for decades. This policy recognises that the best outcomes in terms of prices and connectivity are likely to come from a healthy competitive market with multiple airlines competing on multiple routes. Since Ryanair was first set up in the 1980s,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry Issues (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The most recent published figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that there were over 6 million overseas visits to Ireland in the ten month period between January and October 2013 representing a 7.3% increase on the corresponding period of 2012. All of our main target overseas markets show growth levels with the number of visits from Mainland Europe up 5.6% for the first ten...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The market for air services in the European Union is fully liberalised and EU State Aid rules do not permit specific financial incentives for airlines. As the Deputy will be aware, the reduction in the travel tax rate to zero that was announced as part of Budget 2014 will be effective from April 2014. This initiative is part of a process aimed at generating...