Results 30,121-30,140 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (25 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Hay contracts relate to commercial State Companies only. With the exception of three port companies, all Commercial State company CEOs under the remit of my Department are on Hay contracts. The CEOs of both New Ross Port Company and Wicklow Port Company have combined duties of CEO and Harbour Master. The CEO of Drogheda Port Company,  appointed in 2001, is on a non-Hay...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (20 Feb 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: Roads Maintenance Issues (20 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 776 on Tuesday, 18 February.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (20 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  When the NDLS came into operation in October 2013, there were a number of problems which caused delays in the processing of applications, and the build-up of a backlog. I have discussed these issues, and how they are being addressed, with the acting CEO...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Data Protection (20 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Department is registered as a Data Controller under the Data Protection Acts and there are established procedures within the Department for the management of personal data and for dealing with requests under the Acts. As part of these procedures, there is a Data Protection Contact Person within the Department and a Division with specific responsibility for data...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Vehicle Height Limits (20 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Statutory Instrument 366 of 2008 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008 sets the maximum vehicle height limit at 4.65 metres. These regulations were signed into law on the 1st of November 2008 by my predecessor, Minister Noel Dempsey. These regulations allowed a five year derogation from that limit for vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Airports (19 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised by Shannon Airport Authority that 101,108 US troops passed through the airport in 2012 and 69,840 in 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (19 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is engaging with provincial authorities in Canada - who are the driver licensing authorities in their respective jurisdictions - with a view to reaching mutual recognition and driver licence exchange agreements. The RSA has advised me that it is satisfied following discussions with Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Penalty Points System (19 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: All drivers referred to under the 1961 Road Traffic Act, although pending, are already serving non-penalty points related disqualifications under Part III of that Act. The remainder of drivers pending from 2008-2013 do not have current driving licences and are therefore not eligible to drive on our roads. However, the 17 licences pending for 2014 are currently undergoing the statutory 28...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Projects Funding (19 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have no direct role in the provision of business supports to individual enterprises as this is a matter for Fáilte Ireland and accordingly I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days. It should be noted that Fáilte Ireland does not generally fund...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that the amendment submitted today corrects the drafting errors contained in the amendment brought forward on Committee Stage. However, the reasons for my opposition to the proposal remain the same. The Garda has informed me that the current system is operating without difficulty. In fact, there is no evidence that the system is not working and there is no request from the...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Although I was unable to accept any amendments as the Bill progressed through the Seanad, I did make several commitments which I take this opportunity to reiterate. We agreed to make provision for a three-year look-back only in regard to penalty points in the service level agreements with insurers and to ensure the latter inform motorists when their records have been accessed for insurance...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Again, this amendment was presented on Committee Stage. As I indicated then, the National Roads Authority, NRA, already has a statutory duty to secure the provision of a safe, as well as an efficient, network of national roads. Regulations introduced in 2011, following from the EU directive on road infrastructure safety management, have greatly strengthened the powers of the NRA in respect...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The proposed unit is in the Government’s strategy but we have not set it up yet, so we will not know how it will work. Given that the MCIB and the air accident investigation unit already exist in my Department, there is a fair amount of competence and skill in place as to how this unit might do its work. I would envisage it would be a similar process to the MCIB and air accident...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senators for raising the issue. Since we were here last year I have seen interlocking in operation. It happened when I was on a Matthews bus to launch the CTCC roadshow or trade show that will take place later in the year. I saw the device on that occasion and it is very simple and straightforward. I was not asked to test it but I can assure Senators that I had not been...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (18 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: This amendment would place an obligation on the incumbent Minister to require the RSA to publish certain classes of statistics on penalty point offences. While I appreciate the importance of the kinds of figures to which the Senator refers, I do not believe that Acts of the Oireachtas are the appropriate place for such a level of detail. We already have a provision in the Road Safety...

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (18 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The planning, design and implementation of national road projects are matters for the National Roads Authority in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads are the statutory responsibility of each local authority, funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. I understand...

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (18 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is right. Local authorities are strapped for cash but so is central government. The cutback in funding for roads has been dramatic. The cutback in the National Roads Authority's budget is nearly 80% from its peak. This has been done to protect front-line services such as health, education, the Garda and others. As a result, all we are able to do this year, where something is...

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (18 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I will be blunt. The reason we have had to cut back on road spending so much is that the economy crashed under the watch of the Deputy's party.

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (18 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I would love to be able to look into a crystal ball and tell the Deputy when we will be able to undo the damage his party did. I cannot do that, but if there are signs in the economy, they are that a slow recovery is under way. I hope that in next year's budget we will see an increase in funding for roads. I cannot guarantee this, but that is what I am fighting for.