Results 11,001-11,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question 8.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The most recent CSO figures for overseas visits to Ireland show that visitor numbers grew by 7.5% in the period from February to April 2014 when compared to the corresponding period of 2013. 2014 looks set to be the fourth year of consecutive growth in overseas visitor numbers according to these figures. Since the Government came to office, the total number of international...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: It should be noted that the overall Ballyvourney to Ovens scheme has been divided into 2 sections; namely Ballyvourney to Macroom and Macroom to Ovens and that the first section (Ballyvourney to Macroom) is considered the higher priority by the NRA.    The general approach I have taken to future capital projects is to keep under review projects at various stages of planning and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (26 Jun 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. Furthermore, within its capital...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I refer to my earlier answer to the same question from the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that the matter raised by the Deputy concerns the Explore Ireland map, which is jointly produced by Tourism Ireland and the Ordnance Survey of Ireland.  As the Deputy will be aware, Tourism Ireland is the organisation that markets the island of Ireland overseas as a compelling holiday and business tourism destination. Fáilte Ireland did not produce the map. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.  Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I welcomed the report of the Expert Panel that was published on 16 June. It has been clear for a long time that any solution to this issue will require significant contributions from both the employers and the members of the scheme.  The Panel’s task was to identify the fairest way to distribute the burden, while addressing a range of other impediments. I have urged all...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Mountain Rescue Service (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware the current arrangements concerning mountain rescue teams (MRTs) creates some confusion. Under Ireland's Framework for Emergency Management, MRTs fall under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality and are coordinated and tasked by An Garda Síochána. However, my Department does administers a grant scheme to the mountain...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to my answer to question 15 answered earlier.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The first report of the Criminal Justice Working Group, established following the publication of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate report into the Fixed Charge Processing System, will be submitted to Government in July and the progress made to date towards resolving the technical and administrative issues to allow for commencement of Section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 will form...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Policy (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Following on from the public consultation process over the last year, a draft National Aviation Policy for Ireland was published on 21 May 2014 and is available on my Department’s website. The consultation process covered all elements of aviation policy and the draft National Aviation Policy takes account of the submissions received. Stakeholders now have an opportunity to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: The Gathering Revenue (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Working closely with Fáilte Ireland which supported local communities and other stakeholders in creating the many gatherings and events around the country, the Gathering Ireland 2013 was also a major focus of Tourism Ireland’s overseas promotions throughout 2012 and 2013. In this regard, the agency engaged with the Irish diaspora worldwide and undertook an increased...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Policy (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Tourism Policy Review commenced in September 2013 when Minister Ring and I launched a consultation document, raising a series of questions regarding policy priorities, and inviting comments and responses from tourism industry stakeholders.  Over 170 submissions were received in response to the consultation document, from a wide variety of interested parties. Reflecting the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The most recent CSO figures for overseas visits to Ireland show that visitor numbers grew by 7.5% in the period from February to April 2014 when compared to the corresponding period of 2013. Since the Government came to office, the annual total number of international visitors coming to Ireland has increased by more than a million and is almost certain to exceed 7 million...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Capital Programme Expenditure (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Around 95% of the capital allocation in my Department's Vote relates to infrastructural investment in land transport, mainly in roads and public transport. A key element of this expenditure relates to the maintenance of existing assets. Apart from the land transport programme, capital funding is directed mainly towards Sports and Tourism programmes which are...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Airports (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Department was represented on and provided secretarial support to the IWA Knock Study Group which reported in December 2013. The recommendations of the Study Group were fed into the Regional Airports Programme 2015 to 2019 which is currently being finalised in my Department and Ireland's Aviation Policy, which has been circulated in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Sponsorship (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In October 2013, as part of a suite of measures to deal with alcohol misuse, the Government decided to establish a working group to consider the impact of regulating alcohol sponsorship of major sporting events by alcohol companies. This group is due to report to Government by October of this year.  The working group is chaired by the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I take it that the Deputy is referring to incidents of anti-social behaviour and other problems on the streets of Dublin city centre, which are matters for the Minister for Justice and Equality, given her responsibility for policing.In my capacity as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I am aware of the negative impact such incidents can have on visitors’ holiday...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: While my Department provides capital funding for investment in tourism attractions through Fáilte Ireland, neither my Department nor I are directly involved in the development of specific tourist attractions and locations.  The development of the Wild Atlantic Way is a matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland, while the development of tourism...