Results 29,301-29,320 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In the Good Friday Agreement, tourism is specifically designated as an area of cross-Border co-operation. Tourism Ireland was therefore established to market the entire island of Ireland as a destination in overseas markets.    Co-operation on tourism does not take place directly with the Assembly. Rather, the tourism Ministers from the Government here and the Northern...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure we have a problem with attracting repeat visitors.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Clearly, the statistics indicate we get fewer repeat visitors than other tourist destinations but that may be, in part, down to the nature of Ireland as a tourism destination. People may well go the Costa del Sol and Portugal every other year. Coming to Ireland is a different proposition especially for people coming from America or from long haul flights. In many cases, it is a once in a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps the Deputy's party might suggest getting that department in the next Executive.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am not particularly familiar with it. I have heard of it but I do not know very much about it and I have had no meetings about it. If the Deputy would pass on the details, I would certainly be happy to take a look at it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Airport Development Projects (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Exchequer support for infrastructural projects at the regional airports is confined to safety and security related projects under the Regional Airports Programme 2011-2014. The projects being funded at Waterford Airport under the current Programme, through the CAPEX scheme, include runway end safety areas, RESAs, which involve the purchase of land to facilitate this work, as well...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Airport Development Projects (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: We are all very keen that Waterford Airport should secure flights to London again. There are flights to Birmingham and Manchester. Deputy John Deasy told me yesterday that the load factors on those are improving considerably, which is encouraging. Whether the RESA will secure a flight to London is not clear. Some people say it is like a chicken and egg situation - which one comes first?...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Resolution of the funding difficulties in the Irish airlines superannuation scheme, where there is a deficit of more than €760 million, is primarily a matter for the trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme's members and the Pensions Board. The deficit in the scheme has arisen over many years as the companies and the members did not put...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The expert panel's report is the best chance we have to resolve this long-standing problem. I am concerned that it may be the last chance, because if the Pensions Authority winds up the pension scheme, current pensioners may be protected but the deferred pensioners and active members of the scheme may lose almost everything, which would be a disaster. We have an opportunity to grasp the...

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 provide...

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.