Results 30,821-30,840 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: International Agreements (12 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has not conducted a cost benefit analysis on the impact of Ireland signing the Antarctic Treaty. As the Deputy will be aware, principal responsibility for international treaties and agreement lies with my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. In that regard, I would draw the Deputy's attention to his answer to Parliamentary Question 65 of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services Provision (12 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is committed to the new independent Shannon Airport company being a success and sustaining employment opportunities in the mid-west region and in that context I would, of course, prefer that, if possible,  the base at Shannon remain open. I welcome the current talks taking place at the Labour Relations Commission on the matter, and hope that it will be possible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Project Funding (12 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 536 together. The matters raised by the Deputy are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland.  I have referred the Deputy's questions to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.

Other Questions: Tourism Project Funding (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am reluctant to answer that question because I do not know the answer yet. We did appoint consultants to do a scoping study. However, I do not want to appoint too many consultants to do everything. There have been a dozen different proposals, some very advanced and considered, others little more than just a bright idea in PowerPoint. The next step is to call for expressions of interest,...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clause (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 8 and 241 together. My colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, who has overall responsibility for public procurement has advised the House that it has been decided to adopt a targeted approach to the inclusion of a social clause in public works contracts in the context of the Government's €2.25 billion stimulus...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts Social Clause (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the Deputy's comments. This is very positive news. The social clause will apply such that some people who are long-term unemployed will be employed on these contracts. The requirement to take on apprentices is also very positive and particularly important in the construction sector. However, we must always be aware of the law of unintended consequences. Many people who run...

Other Questions: Tourism Project Funding (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 47 and 237 together. The Government’s infrastructure and capital investment framework 2012-16, published in November 2011, includes a commitment to support for a Diaspora centre or museum, should a suitable project and partner be available. Accordingly, I asked Fáilte Ireland to carry out a scoping study of the development of...

Other Questions: Tourism Project Funding (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The scoping study is very interesting and shows a broad range of options. It envisages a building of 6,000 sq. m, half of which would be visitor space, and visitor numbers of 300,000 per year. It estimates that the cost of delivering the facility could be between €20 million and €30 million for a new building, €13 million to €25 million for an existing building...

Other Questions: Tourism Project Funding (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, it will be. That is one of the five points to which I referred. Point No. 4 refers to the sea, given the history of emigration from Ireland by sea, although these days people emigrate by air. There are a lot of very good ideas and I do not have a favourite. The committee established to make a decision will have to do so independently. A key aspect will be the capacity of any...

Other Questions: Driving Licence Issues (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Under the terms of the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, became the national driver licensing authority as of January this year. With effect from 19 January, the new credit card-style plastic card driving licence was introduced in all EU member states, replacing existing...

Other Questions: Driving Licence Issues (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I accept that there were considerable difficulties, particularly in the first week, for a number of reasons. They were just teething problems. This is always the case with a new service. No matter how much testing one does on a computer system, the model is never the same as the one that applies in reality. There was a lot of demand. It was a half-term week so it was busier than...

Other Questions: Driving Licence Issues (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: It operates not through the local authority but through the new service. It will now be possible to book an appointment at a particular time, which means it will be less likely that people will have to queue.

Other Questions: Driving Licence Issues (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to locations, it is important to bear in mind that the licences are licences for drivers. By and large, people with driving licences have access to a car even if they do not necessarily own one. Applying for the licence is something one has to do once in one's life, not every year or couple of months. Even people who live in remote rural areas drive to the cities or big towns...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Services Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The value is evident in a number of ways, including the value of the stake itself and the dividends the company can pay every year. Value is also evident in the employment Aer Lingus provides and the connectivity it provides to the rest of the world. We are an island nation and that is more important to us than to most nations. We cannot rule out the possibility that there could be a buyer...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Improvement Schemes (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: One might get sick of saying some of this stuff. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme. The implementation of individual national 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. The improvement...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Improvement Schemes (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I can guarantee that I have an ongoing battle to find money to repair roads and I am of the view that it is more important to maintain existing infrastructure than build new infrastructure. The Minister of State, Deputy Ring, is very active in that space as well, and particularly with regard to county roads. There has been some success: the State grants for regional and local roads last...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Services Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In 2006 the State retained a minority stake of 25.1% in Aer Lingus when the initial public offering of shares in the company took place. The minority stake was retained to protect the State's interests at that time. Since that time, the trend towards consolidation in the airline industry has accelerated and competition for short haul and, in particular, long...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Services Provision (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: To be clear, Aer Lingus is not our national airline and we do not have a national airline per se. It is a public limited company traded on the stock market and the Government owns a share of that company. The Government's position is as it has been for quite some time and we are willing to sell the stake but only at the right price and only to the right buyer. It should be under the right...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Fares (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The average cash fare increase approved for Dublin Bus is 8.9%, but the Leap fare increase is substantially lower. I encourage people to move move to the Leap card or Leap card products. Dublin Bus passenger numbers are stabilising and have stopped falling. This is a positive sign of the economy beginning to recover. In the next couple of weeks the cost savings which eluded us in the past...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Fares (7 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Oireachtas transferred the power to make these decisions from the Minister to the regulator. I have conversations with the regulator, with whom the legal power rests. The impact analysis is made every year by the National Transport Authority as part of the fare determination process. To clarify the matter, I will be proposing to the Government that there be no further cuts in...