Results 10,681-10,700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff Data (13 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The current average age of staff in my Department is 48, a small increase from the average age in 2010 which was of 46.  This compares to the average age of civil servants in the relevant years which is 47.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Travel (13 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Both Minister Ring and I regularly attend European Council meetings relating to our various responsibilities. Currently I expect to attend the European Transport Council meeting on the 5th June.  The date of the next European Sports Council meeting is yet to confirmed.  In relation to other travel, I intend to travel to Canada on the 17th May to attend the WADA (World Anti-Doping...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Second Stage (13 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the House for giving me the opportunity to introduce the State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014. When we last had a debate about Shannon Airport in this House in December 2012, I was about to make the order that would trigger the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA. Separation took effect on 31 December that year when responsibility for the...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Second Stage (13 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I shall reserve all my absences for the region.

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Second Stage (13 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: With the agreement of the Acting Chairman, I will conclude within three minutes. I will undertake to address on Committee and Report Stages any issue I do not address today. Probably the most important issue that has been raised on many occasions by Members concerns pensions. The Government has a duty to plan for the best outcome but also to prepare for the worst, if the worst is to happen....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Promotion (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Following a consultation over the last year I intend to publish a draft National Aviation Policy next week. This will be available on my Department’s website - www.dttas.ie The consultation covered all elements of aviation policy. The draft Policy takes account of all the submissions received. When published, stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide further input before...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Initiatives (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including Metro, Rail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects. The design and planning of  BRT is  therefore a matter for them. In its Integrated Implementation Plan 2013 - 2018 the NTA has proposed a BRT Scheme as an interim...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposed Legislation (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Action 92 of the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 contains a commitment to extend the fixed charge system to offences involving cyclists. This will require primary legislation. My Department is currently consulting with relevant stakeholders, such as the Gardaí, regarding the steps necessary to implement the Action.  I hope to include provisions for fixed charge notices for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Roads Authority Projects (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Provision (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Rickshaws do not come within the small public service vehicle (SPSV) regulatory regime. The SPSV regulatory regime applies to mechanically propelled vehicles only. The use of rickshaws on public roads must comply with general road traffic legislation and any bye-laws made by local authorities.   Insurance requirements apply only to mechanically propelled...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Subsections (1) and (2) are standard provisions regarding the Short Title of the Bill and the collective citation as part of the Merchant Shipping Acts dating from 1894. I propose an amendment to section 1(2) which deals with the collective citation of the Merchant Shipping Acts. The amendment is necessary following the enactment of the Local Government Reform Act 2014. That Act includes...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Section 6 is a standard provision in legislation relating to the making of regulations or orders by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport under the Act. I am proposing an amendment to section 6, amendment No. 4, in order to correct a section cross-reference. The reference in section 6 should be to an order made under section 30, dealing with ports of registry, rather than to section...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: One of the fundamental gaps in the existing ship registration legislation, which I hope to address in the Bill, is that there is no provision for ship registration renewal. The absence of a requirement to renew ship registration has led to a situation in which ships remain registered on the existing register books even though they have ceased to exist. They stay on the register forever. To...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Essentially, we are changing the term "rescue" to "emergency response", because all emergency responses are not necessarily rescues. They may be, for example, the recovery of a body or something similar.

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for his remarks. When the Bill comes into effect and people have to register their jet skis and small fast-powered craft, we might run into a slightly different issue, but the vast majority of people who use beaches or lakes will be glad to see them properly registered. I wish to clarify something I mentioned earlier in respect of registration. Renewal of registration...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Amendment No. 8 proposes to address the issue of ships that should be entitled to register on the Irish register of ships but do not yet hold the requisite certificates or licences to allow this to happen. For example, a ship that requires certification or a licence to register on the register as a particular type of ship, such as a passenger ship or a sea-fishing boat, can be granted a...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Amendments Nos. 9 and 10 are textual amendments to improve the wording of section 18(2), which relates to provisional registration. Amendment No. 11 relates to section 18(3), which provides for the granting of non-operative registration in respect of a ship owned by a qualified person to facilitate the certification or licensing of the ship. The purpose of non-operative registration is to...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Similarly to other countries, Ireland is entitled and obliged by international maritime law to fix the conditions that will apply to the granting of its nationality to ships, the registration of ships in its territory and the right to fly the Irish flag. My Department is the national authority when it comes to preparing legislation relating to ship registration requirements in Ireland. When...

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Ideally, he or she would have to do it prior to arrival. Technically, if he or she arrived without being registered, he or she would be in breach.

Seanad: Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (14 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Certainly, it is not intended to do so. Everything we do is designed to facilitate tourism but not at the expense of safety or search and rescue operations. If we find that it is too onerous or that it creates complications for tourism or the tourism industry, we can certainly look at it again. I am happy to undertake to do this. When it comes to all of these things, whether it be people...