Results 10,901-10,920 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Agreements on mutual recognition of driving licences involve very detailed negotiations.  On the Irish side, these negotiations are undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  In Canada, each individual province is responsible for its own driver licensing rules.  The RSA has therefore been in negotiations with the various provinces in Canada, with a priority given to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects. The NTA's Integrated Implementation Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance Funding (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Local Improvement Scheme provides funding for roads and laneways that Councils have not taken in charge.  However, the maintenance and improvement of these is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner. There is no separate allocation for the Local Improvement Scheme.  Instead, local authorities may use up to 15% (up from 7% in 2013) of their initial...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Projects Funding (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have no direct role in the allocation of funding to projects as part of the development of the Wild Atlantic Way.  It is a matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland.  Accordingly I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Capital Programme Expenditure (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 760 and 761 together.  The bulk of spend in my Department is capital (around 60%), and most of this (over 90%) relates to transport investment in roads and public transport projects which naturally involve construction. These programmes are managed by Agencies under my remit - principally, the National Roads Authority (roads...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Ireland Staff (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As a North-South Body, any request from Tourism Ireland to employ additional staff requires the approval of the North South Ministerial Council. No such requests were made in 2013. As part of the Government's Employment Control Framework targets for reducing overall public sector employees, Tourism Ireland did have discussions with my Department in 2013 with a view to reducing its staff...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Industrial Relations (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: There is one such case that is currently being appealed to the Labour Court. There is also another such case that has been heard by the EAT, where a decision is awaited.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: A Road Passenger Transport Operator Licence is issued with a transport disc for each vehicle authorised on the licence.  There is no fee per transport disc; a flat fee of €110 applies for a licence application, regardless of the number of vehicles to be authorised on the licence.  The table below shows details of the numbers of licences and authorised vehicles since...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The subject of this question is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have referred the question to it for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days. 

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The subject of this question is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have referred the question to it for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days. 

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Safety (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: My Department received an application for a Load Line Certificate of the vessel in question at the end of January. As there was no certificate of this type issued previously, an Initial Survey was required to be conducted.  An Initial Survey can be a detailed and time consuming exercise, particularly in the case of an older vessel. The survey...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff Expenses (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy regarding subsistence and taxi payments is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.  My Department has been audited recently by the Revenue Commissioners for tax compliance on these payments as well as other benefits in kind and no issues were raised in this regard.  Travel and taxi usage policies are reviewed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 772 and 773 together.  EU Directive 36 of 2012 allows Member States the option of allowing drivers who have passed a test for vehicles of categories C, CE, D and DE with an automatic transmission to also drive vehicles of those categories with a manual transmission, providing that they have a licence to drive vehicles of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill provides for amendments to the existing provisions governing the State airport authorities' superannuation schemes.  The Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS) is a multi-employer scheme involving DAA, SAA, Aer Lingus and former SR Technics staff. Resolution of the funding difficulties in the IAS scheme, where there is a deficit of over...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Legal Cases (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: This matter is the subject of legal proceedings currently underway and is therefore sub-judice. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter raised.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road User Levy (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Following clarification of the question, I understand it refers to the possibility of a shared HGV road charging regime with the UK. The issue of the HGV road user levy introduced on April 1 2014 in the UK, including Northern Ireland, has been discussed at the North South Ministerial Council.  It has been acknowledged in these discussions that this issue is an excepted matter under the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Policy (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The State's shareholding in Aer Lingus does not allow it to interfere in any way in the commercial operations of the company.  Aer Lingus reported an operating profit of €61.1 m in 2013 which was the company's fourth consecutive year of profitability.  The Government continues to manage its shareholding actively, with the aim of maximising the value of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The position remains as outlined in the response to an identical PQ, Question No. 707 of 8 April 2014. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Vehicle Clamping (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate for vehicle clamping. Following approval by Government, I published the Vehicle Clamping Bill 2014 on the 9th June 2014. I hope to introduce the Bill in the Oireachtas in the near future. The provisions of the Bill, including the provisions for non-compliance, together with an Explanatory Memorandum, is available for download...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Applications (17 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) 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.