Results 30,721-30,740 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Referral to Select Committee (28 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport pursuant to Standing Orders Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (28 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The law as it stands is that, as a road authority, a local authority is not liable for a failure to maintain a public road (non-feasance) but is liable for any injury resulting from the negligent repair or maintenance of a public road (mis-feasance).  There can also be certain circumstances where a local authority may become liable if made aware of hazardous conditions. Ireland has...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Strategy (28 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I have no proposals to increase the current maximum speed limit on motorways. Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets maximum default speed limits for varying classes of roads in Ireland. Under that legislation, the maximum speed limit on motorways is set at 120 km/h, except where amended by a special speed limits order made by the relevant road authority.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Trans European Transport Network Programme (28 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The TEN-T network has been agreed between Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament. The Comprehensive network under TEN-T on both sides of the border includes road and rail links as well as ports and airports including the cross border M2N2/A4 Dublin Derry road, N16/A4 Sligo to Northern Ireland road and N13/N14 Donegal to Derry road.The regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (28 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements. In accordance with EU Directive 2009/40/EC, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (28 Nov 2013)

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, I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services Provision (28 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Aer Lingus announced last July that it will commence direct services from Dublin to San Francisco on 2nd April 2014. A direct service to the West Coast of the US was identified as a key action point in the Government's Action Plan for Jobs and I am delighted that this need is being fulfilled by an Irish airline. The IDA has been advocating the return of the service ever since it...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Provision (28 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger land transport services, including the provision of subvented PSO bus services and 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (27 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Since 1999 various EU directives have set common rules on distance-related tolls and time-based user charges (vignettes) for HGVs for the use of certain infrastructure. It is open to any Member State to introduce road use charges if it wishes. Road charging is an important revenue source option in relation to funding of roads infrastructure, particularly in the context of ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (27 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 221, inclusive, together. 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...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: We intend to put the speed limits on as well. We will be putting speed limits on the mapped roads, so that will be fun.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I will answer the Chairman's question first. The motorways chosen were the ones where there appeared to be the most diversion. For example, there is little diversion on the M50. The Westlink bridge is in my constituency, but huge numbers of trucks do not appear to avoid it. We tried to pick the motorways truckers divert from.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: That is the point. We tried to select the motorways where there appeared to be significant diversion. We also took account of what the cost would be to compensate the toll operators. The money goes to the PPP toll operators who built and own the road. The indication so far in regard to the tolled roads is that in the Limerick tunnel, admittedly from a very low base, there has been almost...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This year, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport requires a Supplementary Estimate of €50 million from the Oireachtas. A technical adjustment of €1 million is also required to reallocate savings between subheads within the Department's Vote No. 23. In June of this year, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, announced additional...

Topical Issues: Marine Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Not to be confused with the International Rugby Board.

Topical Issues: Marine Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. As they will be aware, an EPIRB is used to alert search and rescue services in the event of an emergency. It does this by transmitting a coded message via satellite and earth stations to the Coast Guard rescue co-ordination centres. All of a vessel's radio equipment, including EPIRBs, must comply with international standards, which are...

Topical Issues: Marine Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: With the Acting Chairman's indulgence, I would be able to cover the key points in 35 seconds.

Topical Issues: Marine Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: According to my Department's report, in July 2010 the Department had sent a number of queries to the manufacturer's agent on foot of concerns about EPIRB defects arising from possible tampering or improper battery replacement. In the ensuing examination, no evidence emerged that suggested a serious defect within the equipment type such as that associated with the microprocessor finding as...

Topical Issues: Marine Safety (26 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputies made two suggestions. First, people with EPIRBs from the batches in question or made by this manufacturer should be contacted individually to ensure that they are aware. I am happy to take that suggestion on board and to carry it out. Through the normal marine notice process and the attendant media coverage, the majority of all vessel owners should be aware of the recent...