Results 30,521-30,540 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The use of written-off vehicles on Irish roads is of concern to me and their effective control is an important factor in ensuring a high standard of safety on Irish roads. It is an offence under road traffic law to drive an unsafe vehicle that presents a danger to road users. My Department has an administrative arrangement whereby motor vehicle insurers notify us of vehicles that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Copies of booklets detailing the road allocations in respect of regional and local roads for 2013 to each Local Authority are available to Deputies in the Dáil Library.  Details of the 2014 regional and local road grants will be communicated to local authorities shortly. These will also be available in the Dáil Library.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pilot Training Colleges (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The difficulty in this case was the amount of money lost by the students. Many of them paid their fees up front and lost a significant amount of money. It is the case that businesses fail. For example, driving schools are licensed by the State and if they fail we do not compensate everyone who did not receive the lessons they paid for. Shops, restaurants, hotels, are all licensed by the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pilot Training Colleges (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. The situation that arose with regard to the Pilot Training College, PTC, Waterford, in July 2012 was most regrettable and came about from the failure of PTC, a privately-owned and operated flight training school, that reneged on its contractual obligations to its client students in respect of the completion of their training in Florida. I met with...

Other Questions: Ports Development (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Five ports are designated as being of national importance, Dublin, Cork, Shannon Foynes, Rosslare and Waterford. Within that, there are three tier 1 ports, Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes. All of them have their challenges. Dublin Port is a great port but it is in the middle of a city and its main channel needs to be deepened. Cork needs improved road access to Ringaskiddy. Shannon...

Other Questions: Ports Development (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: A proper study needs to be undertaken of routes and constraints for a road upgrade. Limerick County Council has gone out to tender for reports on upgrades to the N69 and Adare bypass. These will help us make a decision in this regard. Connecting the port to the national network is not just a political priority but also a European regulatory priority because of the TEN-T CEF project. I am...

Other Questions: Public Transport Issues (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know about that.

Other Questions: Public Transport Issues (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am only happy because it is Christmas.

Other Questions: Ports Development (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Shannon Foynes Port Company, SFPC, with the ports of Dublin and Cork, was designated as a tier 1 port of national significance in the national ports policy published earlier this year. The tier 1 ports are also designated as core ports in the trans European network - transport, TEN-T, thus making them eligible to apply for EU funding under TEN-T and the...

Other Questions: Haulage Industry Regulation (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This law was introduced in 2008 and companies were given five years to comply with it. It is not a case of whether it is applied - it has been the law for several weeks now and I assume that it is being applied. I am not aware of the company that the Deputy specifically mentioned, but I am aware of other companies that say they can carry bales three-high in their vehicles because they have...

Other Questions: Haulage Industry Regulation (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly examine that matter. I can see the Deputy's point that it is onerous if somebody with an abnormal load must go to seven or eight local authorities to obtain permits, particularly if the rules are different in each local authority. It is important to bear in mind, however, that the abnormal load permit scheme is in place for very large, wide or unusual exceptions, such as a...

Other Questions: Mountain Recue Funding (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In total there are 12 mountain rescue teams in Ireland. These teams, staffed by volunteers, are called upon to operate in all weather conditions and provide a hugely important service. As we approach the end of 2013, I want to thank them and all our volunteer rescue teams for the amazing work they do. My Department, through the Irish Coast Guard, administers an annual grant...

Other Questions: Mountain Recue Funding (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As far as I understand it, that applies to some of the existing grant schemes. In 2007, there was a funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector. There are one or two other schemes which have an arrangement with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I do not quite know the details of that, but there are some other...

Other Questions: Mountain Recue Funding (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly take the Deputy's comments on board.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Harbour Authorities Expenditure (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, DLHC, is a commercial State company that operates under the harbours Acts. It is statutorily independent of the Government and not in receipt of any State funding. My Department is in regular contact with the company.  Neither my Department nor I is aware of any significant unexplained additional payment or expense, due to be returned, to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Harbour Authorities Expenditure (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot respond in any detail to the Deputy's question on the pension fund. It is a matter that would have to be raised with the company and the trustees. On the issue of board fees, the CEO does not receive such fees. In regard to the payment of approximately €20,000 referred to by the Deputy, that payment related to 2011 and was made in lieu of untaken leave of 38 days. I have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Harbour Authorities Expenditure (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is a State-owned enterprise. It does not receive any public money and is not part of the public sector. As such, comparisons with the CRC are invalid. The issue raised by the Deputy relates to 2011, the year in which I took up office. As I understand it, the CEO was paid for 38 days untaken leave. The chairman has confirmed that this practice will not...

Other Questions: Haulage Industry Regulation (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 set the maximum height limit of vehicles at 4.65 m.  This maximum height limit was decided following a public consultation process undertaken in 2005.  Originally, it was proposed that there be a two year derogation to allow for vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Investigations (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: That investigation was never really completed because of the court challenge that arose. The recommendations in the report I had commissioned mostly relate to the Irish Sports Council. Two relate to my Department: one on the issuing of letters when somebody is appointed to the Irish Sports Council very clearly setting out his or her role; and the second relating to the communications...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Semi-State Bodies Issues (19 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: My Department and I are in regular contact with Aer Lingus from both a shareholder and aviation policy perspective. The airline continues to compete well as an independent airline and is due to start a number of important new direct services in 2014, including to San Francisco and Toronto. In 2012 the Government included its shareholding in Aer Lingus among the possible assets to be sold...