Results 9,981-10,000 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Transport Tourism and Sport has a contract for the provision of a taxi service. This contract dates to 1992 and there has been no procurement process since then. The cost of these services was €9,349 in 2013. The service is mainly used  where other public transport options are unavailable. Following an internal review of the costs of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (30 Jan 2014)

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. These regulations were signed into law on the 1st of November 2008 by my predecessor, Minister Noel Dempsey. These regulations allowed a five year derogation from that limit for vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (30 Jan 2014)

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. These regulations were signed into law on the 1st of November 2008 by my predecessor, Minister Noel Dempsey. These regulations allowed a five year derogation from that limit for vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (30 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 228 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  I met with the acting CEO of the RSA in recent weeks to discuss the difficulties some people have experienced, and how the RSA proposed to address them. The RSA acknowledged that there were teething problems when the service opened for business on 29 October 2013....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax Collection (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The development of a road charging scheme for HGVs is one of my priorities for 2014. I have established a cross-Departmental working group, in conjunction with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, to examine the feasibility of introducing such a regime for HGVs in Ireland in the medium term.  The group began its work in January and is due to report by the middle...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Issues (4 Feb 2014)

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) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as provision of bus shelters, comes under the remit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 751 and 752 together. My Department has not availed of any external services or professional advice in the board membership appointment process. I announced new procedures for appointment to boards in April 2011 and all subsequent appointments have followed these procedures. They include an open invitation for expressions of  interest in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have no direct role in this matter. These are decisions for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland and are not subject to my approval. I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The subject matter of this question, which is the operation of the National Driver Licensing Service, is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.  I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority Campaigns (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I understand from the Road Safety Authority that it responded to the Deputy's original Parliamentary Question on 18th November 2013. To be of assistance to the Deputy, the response from the RSA is reproduced below:   "The Road Safety Authority has expensed the following amounts in the years 2011, 2012 and in the period to September 2013 in respect of Road Safety...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a 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: Road Tolls (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Since becoming Minister, I have had a regular engagement and meetings with the Irish Road Haulage Association. At my most recent meeting with the IRHA, I received proposals from them in relation to HGV motor tax reform in response to the UK road users levy. These proposals were also sent to the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, as since...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am, of course, aware that the International Dark-Sky Association recently declared almost 270 square miles of the Iveragh peninsula as the first International Dark Sky Place in Ireland. The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, which has been strongly supported by Failte Ireland and Kerry County Council, is the first Gold-tier Dark Sky Reserve in the northern hemisphere and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Following  the comprehensive review of capital expenditure carried out in 2011 a decision was taken to defer the Metro North project together with a number of other proposed projects. Metro North was not therefore included for funding in the Infrastructural and Capital Investment 2012-2016: Medium term Exchequer Framework.  As the project is not currently progressing,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: National aviation policy is aimed at facilitating maximum connectivity into and out of Ireland. The operation of air services between Ireland and non-EU states is governed either by bilateral air transport agreements or by EU-level air transport agreements.  Governments have no direct role in arranging the provision of international air services but can facilitate the market by having...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Information and Communications Technology Issues (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Coast Guard assisted in advising the developer; DeCare Systems Ireland, on some functional requirements for the Irish Sailing Association SafeTrx App.  No costs were paid to the developer. I have asked the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department to provide the Deputy with the information requested.  If you do not receive a reply from the agencies within 10...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposed Legislation (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have no proposals to provide legislation for the regulation of converting cars to the gas sector in relation to either equipment used or the associated installers.  Regulation in relation to such matters tends to be EU led.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Initiatives (4 Feb 2014)

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) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the development of DART projects, comes within the remit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Services (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Marine Survey Office has no function in relation to the Malin Head marine rescue co-ordination centre which is part of the Irish Coast Guard service. The Irish Maritime Administration is the collective name for all the maritime functions in my Department i.e. those undertaken by the Marine Survey Office, the Coast Guard, the Maritime Safety Policy Division, the Maritime Transport Division...