Results 29,481-29,500 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax Collection (10 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have no plans to introduce a levy on heavy goods vehicles. For the Deputy's information consideration is being given to the introduction of a pay as you go motor tax regime for HGVs. I draw his attention to my response to Parliamentary Question 964 of May 27th.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Superannuation Schemes (10 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Resolution of the funding difficulties in the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS), where there is a deficit of over €760 million, is a matter for the Trustees, the companies participating in the Scheme, the members and the Pensions Board. The deficit in the scheme has arisen over the years as the companies and the members did not put enough into the scheme to match the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Tests Waiting Lists (10 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Driver testing is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in relation to individual cases. I have therefore forwarded 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

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Applications (5 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases.  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.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (5 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Traffic Act 2006 (restriction on Use of Mobile Phones) Regulations 2014, which came into effect on 1 May 2014, make it an offence to send or read a text message from a mobile phone while driving a mechanically propelled vehicle. These regulations apply to mobile phones which are not being held, i.e. to hands-free devices. A text message in these regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (5 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 129 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Industrial Disputes (5 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Expert Panel, established to carry out an investigation of how a final resolution of the industrial relations issues relating to the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS) can be secured, updated the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ibec and Congress on progress to date on the 30 May.  The Panel has confirmed that it...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I covered almost everything in my earlier remarks, but I will comment on one or two other issues. While we all agree that this is very much a private pensions scheme, it is slightly different from other private pension schemes in the sense that it is provided for in legislation. Therefore, any agreement to resolve the difficulties in the IAS pensions scheme would probably involve some...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: This is a State Airports Bill which mainly deals with Shannon Airport, but also deals with a number of other issues, including aviation security and the use of lasers to blind pilots. It is not just a Shannon Bill this matter has been tagged on to. If that had been the case, the Bill would not have been cleared by the Attorney General. Therefore, I cannot accept Senator Cullinane's charge...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The amendment involves the correction of a typographical error.

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have checked with the DAA since we previously debated this issue and very little is involved. There will be new headed paper as paper runs out and a sign must be replaced at the airport, but it is only intended to do this as part of natural maintenance works. It is not anticipated that there will be an added cost.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Theory Test (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The operation of the driver testing service is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases. I have received the same correspondence from the individual in question, and am replying directly.  While I cannot comment on individual cases, the legal issues are as follows.  The Licensing of Drivers Regulations define design gross vehicle...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Projects Funding (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Further to the parliamentary question referred to by the Deputy, I regret the delay and I understand that a letter on the matter was sent to him by Fáilte Ireland on 28 May.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Statutory responsibility for the management and operation of the driver licensing service rests with the Road Safety Authority. It is a legal requirement for drivers to carry a valid licence of the appropriate category whenever they drive on public roads. A driving licence may be renewed up to ten years after it has lapsed without the requirement to undergo a driving test. In cases...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Resolution of the funding difficulties in the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS), where there is a deficit of over €760 million, is a matter for the Trustees, the companies participating in the Scheme, the members and the Pensions Board. The deficit in the scheme has arisen over the years as the companies and the members did not put enough into the scheme to match the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The resolution of the funding difficulties in the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS) is a matter for the trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the members of the schemes and the Pensions Authority. However, following consultations among the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, IBEC and ICTU, an Expert Panel was...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Irish legislation on driver licensing operates within the framework of EU legislation.  The principal EU law on driver licensing is Directive 126 of 2006.  This has been amended a number of times, including by Directive 36 of 2012. Directive 36 allows Member States the option that drivers who have passed a test for vehicles of categories C, CE, D, and DE with an...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (4 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 to 237, inclusive, together. The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Test Regulations (29 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I replied to this same Question from the Deputy on 17th April 2014 and the position has not changed. It is not the case that all vehicles used in driving tests must have anti-lock brakes (ABS).  However  vehicles used in tests for categories C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE must have ABS. The requirements for vehicles to be used in driving tests are set at EU rather than...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Test Regulations (29 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I replied to an identical question from the Deputy on 17th April 2014 and the position has not changed. Directive 126 of 2006 is the EU driver licensing directive.  Among other aspects of driver licensing, this Directive sets out minimum requirements to be met by vehicles used in driving tests.  These are described in Annex II, section 5.2 of the...