Results 10,001-10,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: As I explained in reply to the Deputy's previous PQ on this matter on 16th May 2013 the National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the development of public transport infrastructure projects in the GDA.  I understand that the NTA responded to the Deputy's question on 23rd May 2013, advising that the pedestrian bridge at this level crossing had...

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

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: Public Transport Issues (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In accordance with the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 (Public Service Contracts) (Commencement) Order 2013, which came into effect on 1st January 2014, the functions of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to public transport infrastructure have been extended to include securing or providing bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations, stands and bus fleets in the State. Noting this I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Negotiations with the Canadian provinces on mutual recognition of diving licences are being dealt with by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), which has statutory responsibility for driver licensing in Ireland. I understand from the RSA that agreement is close with Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland.  It was decided at an early stage to prioritise Ontario due to the large number of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Applications (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The RSA acknowledged that there were teething problems when the service opened for business on 29 October 2013.  Some were technical and systems issues, while others related to new staff becoming familiar with rules and processes around driving licences and permits. The...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for the amendment. Section 5 of the Bill will allow vehicle insurers to access certain information such as endorsements on individual licence records. This replaces similar provisions in the 2010 Act which turned out to have been poorly drafted and in need of revision. Senator Quinn has proposed two amendments to section 5. The first would limit access by insurers to...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Dare I ask the Senator how long it took to get his licence?

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Was it within eight days?

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure the Senator heard we were having some teething problems, so I am glad to hear the system is working for someone. Under section 40 of the 1961 Act, as amended, a garda may demand of a driver the production of a driving licence or a learner permit. Where the driver fails to produce the licence or permit, the garda may require the driver to produce the licence or permit at a Garda...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: We looked into that. I believe that came from the Oireachtas Library and Research Service, which pointed out that 37% of penalty points could not be matched to a particular driver licence number. That has come about because over the years when it has been impossible to match penalty points to a licence for some reason, they stay there and do not get counted down after three years. It is...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I suppose the deed is done now, but I am not sure if it was a good idea to group all of these amendments together, given that some of them propose to increase penalty points and others propose to decrease them. The Senator has made a number of proposals to adjust the number of penalty points for particular offences. The Bill, as it stands, contains a large number of adjustments to the...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senators for their contributions. When this Bill has been passed and the section commenced there will be three penalty points for three years, not two. The Senator should watch out for those speed limit signs as he drives around. There are speed limits around the country that are not right. That is why we had the speed limit review. I have set up a high level task force...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The speed limit review was published a couple of months ago. The first action will be the removal of the 80 km/h signs on boríns and small roads, which, unfortunately, some people see as a target rather than a limit. We will go back to the future and bring back the old white sign with the grey slash with underneath the words “drive slowly”. This will remind drivers to be...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the Senator's amendment but I believe it is already catered for in existing legislation and in an amendment from Deputy Dooley that was brought through in the Dáil. Under that amendment, which is now contained in this Bill, if an injury has been caused to a person, or any person appears to require assistance, the driver of the vehicle shall offer assistance. This puts the...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for his amendment and appreciate the motivation behind them. The matter of people driving while intoxicated is a serious one and one on which the law has been enhanced greatly over recent years. We have reduced the legal blood alcohol content limit for all drivers, with lower limits again for learners and newly qualified drivers. In addition, powers for the Garda...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Road conditions can be responsible for collisions. The last figures I saw suggest it is somewhere between 3% and 6%. I very much support the spirit of this amendment but it is covered already in a relatively new EU directive. As the Senator will be aware, the NRA has responsibility for the national roads network. Section 17 of the Roads Act already states that it shall be the general duty...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: There is a lot of merit in the ideas put forward in this amendment. In fact, under the road safety strategy, we have made a commitment that we will: "Make it compulsory for a breakdown emergency pack including a first aid kit, a high visibility vest, a breakdown triangle and a torch to be carried in all vehicles by end 2014." I commend Senator Quinn on making this proposal. We have no...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: That would be very onerous to implement.

Roads Bill 2014: Order for Second Stage (6 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Roads Bill 2014: Second Stage (6 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce the Roads Bill 2014, the main purpose of which is to merge the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, with the National Roads Authority, NRA, by dissolving the RPA and transferring its functions and staff to the NRA. It also provides a timely opportunity to update existing provisions in the Roads Acts. Almost six...