Results 30,041-30,060 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport I have no function in relation to the administration of the IASS. The resolution of the funding difficulties in the scheme, which has a substantial and unsustainable deficit of over €700 million, is primarily a matter for the trustees, the members of the scheme, the companies participating in the scheme and the regulator of such pensions...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Policy (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Tourism Policy Review was launched on 11th September 2013 by Minister Ring and me, with the publication of an issues paper and request for submissions.  A total of 174 submissions were received from a wide variety of interested parties. In addition to inviting submissions, Minister Ring and I carried out a series of workshops around the country, with regional and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (4 Mar 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. Noting the above position,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (4 Mar 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. Within its capital budget, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance Issues (4 Mar 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 maintenance of individual sections of national roads (including motorways) is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have met Ministers from the Northern Ireland administration on a number of occasions, under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council to discuss matters of mutual interest, including the development of the Dublin-Belfast service. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 16 April 2014 and I anticipate that, in line with previous meetings, matters relating to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Meetings (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have periodic meetings with the CEO and Chairman of the CIE and the three subsidiary companies. I do not attend board meetings. I have the objective of meeting the full Boards of CIÉ and its subsidiaries at least once a year, where practical. I met with the Bus Éireann Board on the 17th January 2014.  I have not yet scheduled meetings with...

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

Leo Varadkar: Yes. The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).   The NDLS is structured with a central unit in the RSA and three outsourced contractors.  These are: a card producer for the plastic card licence; a front office to engage with the public; and a back office to process applications. ...

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

Leo Varadkar: I do not set public transport fares.  It is the responsibility of the regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), to adjudicate on applications from Dublin Bus for fare increases or changes to fares.  I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days. The NTA approved...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roadworthiness Testing (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In accordance with EU Directive 2009/40/EC, the minimum requirement for roadworthiness testing of commercial trucks and trailers is that a roadworthiness test is undertaken annually from date of first registration. Vehicles which are temporarily not in use can deteriorate during the period while they are off the road and, in the interest of road safety, I have no proposals to...

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

Leo Varadkar: The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  As such, the RSA designed the new NDLS and was responsible for the tendering process for outside contractors.  Neither I nor my Department had any role in this process.  I have therefore referred this question to the RSA for direct reply.  I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Harbour Authorities Appointments (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is available on my Department’s website at the following link

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

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport I have no function in relation to the administration of the IASS.  The resolution of the funding difficulties in the scheme, which has a substantial and unsustainable deficit of over €700 million, is primarily a matter for the trustees, the members of the scheme, the companies participating in the scheme and the regulator of...

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

Leo Varadkar: Negotiations on agreements for mutual exchange of driving licences are handled by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), which is the national driver licensing authority. Negotiations have been under way for some time with the authorities in Canada.  As driver licensing in Canada operates at provincial rather than national level, this process involves comparison of multiple licensing regimes...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have no direct role in this matter. These are decisions for Tourism Ireland Limited as the body responsible for promoting the island of Ireland as a visitor destination overseas and are not subject to my approval. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Tourism Ireland 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: Penalty Points Working Group (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 18 February 2014, I indicated a number of the short term actions that the Penalty Point Working Group has identified to help address issues raised on the effectiveness of the penalty point system.   The next phase of the Group’s work will focus on issues that require more detailed attention over the medium term, in particular,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Disabled Drivers Permits (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: On the basis of an agreement reached with my Department some years ago, Disabled Parking Permits are issued on behalf of my Department by the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland and I have no function in the matter. The bodies concerned should be contacted directly in relation to the application mentioned in the Deputy's question.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Services Provision (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the licensing of public bus passenger services. I have forwarded the Deputy's question 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: Road Tolls (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The East Link toll bridge was opened in October 1984. It was built on foot of an agreement between Dublin City Council and NTR and therefore my Department was not a party to the agreement.  Under agreements dated the 16 March 1983 and 24 November 1983, the latter being in consideration for the loss of limited berthage and the disposal of certain lands, Dublin Port Company acquired the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Landing Rights (4 Mar 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973 prohibits the carriage of munitions of war by civilian aircraft without a permit granted by the Minister under Section 5 of the Order.  My Department consults the following organisations on all applications: the Irish Aviation Authority on air safety, the Department of Foreign Affairs and...