Results 10,481-10,500 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Funding (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the allocation of funding to female athletes and sports persons. I have referred the Deputy's question to the Irish Sports Council for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Statistics (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As of 1st April  2014, the total number of fatalities on our roads in 2014 is 43.  That is a decrease of 5 on the same period last year.  From 415 deaths on our roads in 2001, we have seen a dramatic reduction to 190 deaths in 2013. However I am concerned that in the year 2013 there was an increase in road deaths from 2012. I meet regularly with all of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have overall responsibility for  policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The implementation of individual national road schemes which provide for tolling, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2007.  Moreover, the statutory power...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (2 Apr 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.   The Gort-Tuam PPP...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service - including the complaints procedures - is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.  I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct response.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office is a response has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Penalty Points System (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Section 44 of the Road Traffic act 2010 deals with the payment of a fixed charge on service of a summons to court, known as the "3rd payment option". This section has not yet been commenced because the administrative structure for dealing with the option is not yet in place. The Courts Service and An Garda Siochána have been in discussion regarding the matter and I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Penalty Points System (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Following the publication of the Garda Inspectorate report 'The Fixed Charge Processing System, A 21st Century Strategy', the Minister for Justice and Equality and I established a Criminal Justice Working Group, as recommended in the first Chapter of the report. The Working Group, which will be jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality will oversee and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Wild Atlantic Way Project (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Wild Atlantic Way is set to be Ireland's first long-distance touring route, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Donegal to West Cork.  It is planned to develop it into an attraction of international scale, on a par with the Garden Route in South Africa or the Great Ocean Road in Australia, that will achieve greater visibility for the west coast of Ireland in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sporting Events (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 277 together. The hosting of major sports events can deliver additional international visits and helps to put Ireland onto travel itineraries as a holiday destination.  I am supportive of the ongoing efforts of the Tourism Agencies and the National Governing Bodies of Sport to attract international events,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 266 and 270 together. Figures published last week show that 2013 was a very successful year for Irish tourism with overseas visit numbers up by over 7% and the associated revenue up by 11.9%. My aim is to maintain this momentum this year and early indications are positive in this regard. Overseas visits for December 2013 to February...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: My Department and I constantly monitor our national transport facilities to ensure that, given the resources available, they are achieving their greatest potential. An integrated and co-ordinated transport system is an important consideration when it comes to future decisions on transport investment. In making decisions as to future expenditure, my Department has been active to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Issues (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to Ireland's connectivity in the global market. As an island nation, with a peripheral location, access infrastructure is of vital strategic importance to the Irish economy. Irish airports have a critical role in supporting economic development by facilitating trade, tourism and inward investment. Foreign direct investment continues to be a key driver of the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Funding (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the High Performance programme and elite athletes.  The Council also has responsibility for initiating research concerning sport. I have referred the Deputy's question to the Irish Sports Council for direct response....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airlines Regulations (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Since Ryanair was first established in the 1980s, Ireland’s aviation policy has favoured competition by having at least two major airlines competing in the Irish market. Between them Aer Lingus and Ryanair currently provide over 80% of the seat capacity in the Irish market, thus making the competitive dynamic between these two airlines particularly important. Competition between...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ferry Services Provision (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland is well served by ferry links to the UK and continental Europe and offers a diverse range of maritime links to and from the State to facilitate trade and tourism, providing vital income streams to the Irish economy. Over 90% of Ireland’s trade moves by sea and there are currently 22 shipping operators providing a mixture of daily to weekly scheduled shipping services from...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Job Creation (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As an Island, accessibility is a major focus and I am constantly seeking to ensure that synergies between transport, tourism and sport are exploited to improve access to the country, enhance competitiveness and also create job opportunities. My Department’s Mission Statement is to ensure that the transport, tourism and sport sectors make the greatest possible contribution to economic...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland has made huge progress in road safety in the last decade and has one of the best road safety records in the EU. Countless lives have been saved through improved legislation, widespread changes in driver behaviour, better engineering and enhanced enforcement. The establishment of the Road Safety Authority, the introduction of the fixed charge and penalty points system, random...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Ensuring the safety of vulnerable road users is an essential priority of my Department and the Road Safety Authority.  As in all areas of road safety, this involves a range of measures, but, ultimately, it is also important that cyclists and pedestrians, like all road-users, take responsibility for their own safety. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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. The M50 upgrade project, approved in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: VAT Rate Reductions (2 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I strongly supported the continuation of the 9% VAT rate on the basis that the initiative had proved to be a major success.  This was based on the review of the impact of the reduced rate of VAT commissioned by Fáilte Ireland.  In summary, the report found there were a number of very positive developments in the tourism and hospitality industry after the...