Results 29,361-29,380 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Issues (25 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Following the collapse of the Pilot Training College in 2012, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) made every effort to assist the students of the College to complete their training. I understand that, the IAA engaged with the relevant stakeholders in Florida and here in Ireland to enable the continuation of training for a number of students who were in a position to fund the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have never met or spoken with Prime Minister David Cameron.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) operates according to the SAFE 2 standard of ID verification.  Among other requirements this means that, as a rule, the individual needs to be photographed once at an NDLS centre in order to obtain their driving licence. However, there have been a number of cases such as the Deputy mentions, where individuals are working abroad and are not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I cannot comment on or intervene in individual cases.  I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct response.  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: Public Transport Services for People with Disabilities (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Accessibility improvements to public transport services are being advanced in the context of Transport Access for All, the Transport Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005. The Plan is available on my Department’s website and is premised on the principle that through accessibility improvements to the public transport system for people with disabilities including people with visual...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Regulations (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has been engaging with the Office of the Attorney General for some time in order to finalise regulations in this area.  As can often be the case, a matter which may be expressed easily in lay terms can sometimes require a surprising amount of work to draft properly in legal terms.  It is important to get the legal details right but I understand that most of the work is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The number of  persons recorded on the National Vehicle and Driver File as disqualified from driving in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014, by statutory basis for the disqualification, is set out in the following tabular statement. STATUTORY BASIS 2012 2013 2014 (to31st May) SEC. 182 - FISHERIES (CONS.) ACT 1959 TO 2010 2 - SEC. 9 -...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Safety (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Certificate of Professional Competence system derives from EU legislation and is a requirement for professional drivers in all EU Member States. The operation of the system is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (24 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. When considering entrances and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS), operated by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), applies ID verification to what is called the SAFE 2 standard.  Among other things, this requires that the individual appear in person for ID verification and image capture at an NDLS centre. Once authenticated under SAFE 2, the person does not need to have their identity verified again.  I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Charges (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Bodies (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The individual referred to by the Deputy was engaged by the company concerned in 2001. However, the contract itself was not signed until 15 December 2004 and was done so without the approval of the then Minister. However, in 2008 the then Minister accepted that it was not a "Hay" contract. With the exception of some amendments to the salary, I am not aware of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I established an Interdepartmental group in January 2014 to assess the implications of introducing a ‘pay-as-you-go’ road tax system for Heavy Goods Vehicles, in response to concerns raised by hauliers about the cost running a haulage operation in Ireland.  This group is examining the technical, regulatory and economic dimensions of introducing a pay-as-you-go charging...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax Rates (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Both my Department and I are well aware of this issue. Considerable discussion have been held with my UK and Northern Ireland counterparts on the issue of the HGV road user levy, which came into effect in the UK and Northern Ireland on April 1.  Arising from the representations and discussions to date, approximately 7 km of roads that criss-cross the border between...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Airports (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Sligo Airport plays an important and meaningful role in Ireland's marine emergency services as it is one of four helicopter bases for the Irish Coast Guard, which is part of my Department. CHC Ireland Limited are under a long-term contract to provide search and rescue services to my Department. As part of this, it is required to provide a helicopter base at Sligo, as well...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I very much welcome the re-opening of Lissadell House to the public, which should assist in attracting more visitors to Co. Sligo and look forward to visiting Lissadell over the summer. However marketing initiatives are a decision for the boards and managements of the State tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Accordingly I have referred the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposed Legislation (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Officials in my Department, in consultation with An Garda Síochána are currently examining whether the law governing the use of animal drawn vehicles, including the use of sulkies, on public roads  needs to be strengthened.  Depending on the outcome of these discussions, I will address this matter either in the context of the Road Traffic Bill 2014 or, if...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Signage (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993-2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. More specifically, the NRA has responsibility for the provision of signage under Section 19 of the Act. Directional signage on national roads is provided in accordance with guidelines set...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Regulations (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister I have responsibility for determining the laws generally as they relate to parking on public roads.  As part of the legislation, it is a matter for each local authority to decide the appropriate controls to apply to parking within their own areas of responsibility, including the location of signage. The matter is one for the Local Authority and I have no function...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (24 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Details of the regional and local road grant payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road grant payment booklets which are available in the Dáil Library.  Details of the 2014 regional and local road grant allocations to each county council are also available in the Dáil library. With regard to national roads, details of the...