Results 30,661-30,680 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy McEntee for tabling the amendment. This issue was raised on Second Stage. I am genuinely seeking the advice and views of the members on this as I am not 100% sure either way. The way things stand is that one is disqualified from driving after 12 penalty points and one gets two points every time one is caught speeding. Therefore, one must have been caught six times before...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know that for certain, but we are going from a position at present in which one is disqualified after six strikes to being disqualified after three strikes instead of two. The complicating factor is the alignment of penalty points North and South, in which case we may need to go six, but new legislation will be required at that point. That could be the time to review it. We have...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I suppose anything is temporary in the sense that the Oireachtas can amend the law at any time of its choosing. One could not have it operating for a year, and have a number of young drivers taken off the road for two offences, and then expunge that.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Or even on the same journey.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Application Centres (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The new national driver licensing application centres in Dublin are located at Leopardstown Shopping Centre, Citywest Shopping Centre and the Omni Park Shopping Centre. The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and the location of the centres is a matter for the RSA.  I have no role in this matter.  I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I have no proposals to change the re-test period set out in Statutory Instrument 567 of 2009 - Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2009. Current regulations allow for an application for a re-test to be made not more than 21 days after the day on which the test certificate was refused, and for a re-test to be carried out on a day which is not more than 30...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Broadband Services Expenditure (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  Matters relating to the implementation and development of individual projects, such as the installation of Wifi on Iarnród Éireann's services, is a matter coming under the remit of Iarnrod Eireann. Noting this I have referred the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Broadband Services Expenditure (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The expenditure incurred by Bus Éireann to install Wifi on its commercial services is solely a matter for the company. With regard to its PSO services, some funding is provided by the National Transport Authority for  the installation of Wifi. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply in relation to Wifi on...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Department’s policy in relation to accessible public transport is contained in my Department Sectoral Plan 2012 under the Disability Act 2005 Transport Access for All whichsets out a series of policy objectives and targets for accessible transport across all modes of transport. With regard to Iarnród Eireann this includes making all suburban and Inter-city passenger...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational one for Tourism Ireland Limited as the body responsible for promoting the island of Ireland as a visitor destination overseas. 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: Road Projects Status (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for each local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Safety (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of a Marine Notice is to notify relevant information to seafarers and mariners and to provide navigational information for maritime traffic, for example in an area where there are activities by vessels carrying out hydrographic or seismic surveys, fishing research or underwater operations. The overall aim is to target the information where it is needed, and in a cost effective...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Sports Council (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As this question is a matter for the Irish Sports Council, I have referred it to them for direct reply. I ask that the Deputy informs my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Sports Council (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I have just received the report referred to by the Deputy. I will consider its findings and recommendations and will then decide on what action, if any, that I need to take. I will publish the report on my Department's website in the New Year.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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 assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: EU Directives (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: There are currently two EU Directives under my Department's remit where the transposition deadline has passed but the Directives are not yet transposed into Irish Law. The first is Directive 2011/76/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2011, amending Directive 1999/62/EC on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has not incurred any costs as a result of legal challenges in the Courts initiated by Oireachtas members. 

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Staff (10 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 549, 550 and 558 to 560, inclusive, together. The issues raised are matters for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Staff (10 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 to 557, inclusive, and 570 together. The objective of Government is to ensure a system of public transport throughout the country that is as efficient and as widespread as possible and the National Transport Authority has a key role in realising this objective. The award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts for the bus market falls under the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Safety (10 Dec 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The working time rules applicable to all bus drivers, full-time or part-time, depend on whether or not the drivers concerned come within the scope of Regulation (EC) 561/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport, and are therefore required to use a...