Results 30,321-30,340 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Dare I ask the Senator how long it took to get his licence?

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Was it within eight days?

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure the Senator heard we were having some teething problems, so I am glad to hear the system is working for someone. Under section 40 of the 1961 Act, as amended, a garda may demand of a driver the production of a driving licence or a learner permit. Where the driver fails to produce the licence or permit, the garda may require the driver to produce the licence or permit at a Garda...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: We looked into that. I believe that came from the Oireachtas Library and Research Service, which pointed out that 37% of penalty points could not be matched to a particular driver licence number. That has come about because over the years when it has been impossible to match penalty points to a licence for some reason, they stay there and do not get counted down after three years. It is...

Seanad: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for the amendment. Section 5 of the Bill will allow vehicle insurers to access certain information such as endorsements on individual licence records. This replaces similar provisions in the 2010 Act which turned out to have been poorly drafted and in need of revision. Senator Quinn has proposed two amendments to section 5. The first would limit access by insurers to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Issues (5 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In accordance with the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 (Public Service Contracts) (Commencement) Order 2013, which came into effect on 1st January 2014, the functions of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in relation to public transport infrastructure have been extended to include securing or providing bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations, stands and bus fleets in the State. Noting this I...

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

Leo Varadkar: Negotiations with the Canadian provinces on mutual recognition of diving licences are being dealt with by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), which has statutory responsibility for driver licensing in Ireland. I understand from the RSA that agreement is close with Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland.  It was decided at an early stage to prioritise Ontario due to the large number of Irish...

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

Leo Varadkar: The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The RSA acknowledged that there were teething problems when the service opened for business on 29 October 2013.  Some were technical and systems issues, while others related to new staff becoming familiar with rules and processes around driving licences and permits. The...

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

Leo Varadkar: The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  I met with the acting CEO of the RSA in recent weeks to discuss the difficulties some people have experienced, and how the RSA proposed to address them. The RSA acknowledged that there were teething problems when the service opened for business on 29 October 2013....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax Collection (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The development of a road charging scheme for HGVs is one of my priorities for 2014. I have established a cross-Departmental working group, in conjunction with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, to examine the feasibility of introducing such a regime for HGVs in Ireland in the medium term.  The group began its work in January and is due to report by the middle...

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

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as provision of bus shelters, comes under the remit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 751 and 752 together. My Department has not availed of any external services or professional advice in the board membership appointment process. I announced new procedures for appointment to boards in April 2011 and all subsequent appointments have followed these procedures. They include an open invitation for expressions of  interest in...

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

Leo Varadkar: I have no direct role in this matter. These are decisions for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland and are not subject to my approval. I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

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

Leo Varadkar: The subject matter of this question, which is the operation of the National Driver Licensing Service, is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.  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 Safety Authority Campaigns (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I understand from the Road Safety Authority that it responded to the Deputy's original Parliamentary Question on 18th November 2013. To be of assistance to the Deputy, the response from the RSA is reproduced below:   "The Road Safety Authority has expensed the following amounts in the years 2011, 2012 and in the period to September 2013 in respect of Road Safety...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Issues (4 Feb 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 reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (4 Feb 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Since becoming Minister, I have had a regular engagement and meetings with the Irish Road Haulage Association. At my most recent meeting with the IRHA, I received proposals from them in relation to HGV motor tax reform in response to the UK road users levy. These proposals were also sent to the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, as since...

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

Leo Varadkar: I am, of course, aware that the International Dark-Sky Association recently declared almost 270 square miles of the Iveragh peninsula as the first International Dark Sky Place in Ireland. The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, which has been strongly supported by Failte Ireland and Kerry County Council, is the first Gold-tier Dark Sky Reserve in the northern hemisphere and...

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

Leo Varadkar: Following  the comprehensive review of capital expenditure carried out in 2011 a decision was taken to defer the Metro North project together with a number of other proposed projects. Metro North was not therefore included for funding in the Infrastructural and Capital Investment 2012-2016: Medium term Exchequer Framework.  As the project is not currently progressing,...

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

Leo Varadkar: National aviation policy is aimed at facilitating maximum connectivity into and out of Ireland. The operation of air services between Ireland and non-EU states is governed either by bilateral air transport agreements or by EU-level air transport agreements.  Governments have no direct role in arranging the provision of international air services but can facilitate the market by having...