Results 31,101-31,120 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Appointments to State Boards (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The question is about the selection of a chairperson for the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company. The Harbours Act 1996 requires a statutory consultation before appointments are made to the port company boards. On the appointment of the current chairperson, Mrs. Eithne Scott Lennon, I brought a memorandum to Government on this in July. Following Government approval, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aviation Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I saw the programme and I understand the point the Deputy is making and his concerns. The Oireachtas has conferred on the IAA the job of being the safety regulator and it does the job very well. I am fully satisfied with the job the IAA is doing. It is audited by International Air Transport Association, IATA, and the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, so we know that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aviation Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I meet regularly with the CEO and the chairman of the IAA. I have done so on three occasions in the past three months. Aviation safety is always on the agenda, not only in respect of Ryanair but also other airlines. We certainly discussed this matter and I am satisfied that the IAA has carried out investigations and that the allegations are without foundation. I am also satisfied that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Aviation Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question refers to allegations made in a Channel 4 programme on aviation safety. Aviation safety is overseen by the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, a statutory body under the remit of my Department.  The IAA operates on the basis of EU regulations and is audited by both the European Aviation Safety Agency and the International Civil Aviation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Policy (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: From time to time, my Department receives complaints from the public regarding the behaviour of some cyclists, including cycling on footpaths, colliding with pedestrians and going through red traffic lights. These are all offences under the Road Traffic Acts. Section 108 of the 1961 Act places an obligation on a cyclist to give a name, address and date of birth on demand to a member of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pension Provisions (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In common with many such schemes the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company defined benefit superannuation scheme is in deficit and must therefore submit a funding proposal to the Pensions Board. The preparation and submission of funding proposals is a statutory requirement of the Pensions Acts and regulated by the Pensions Board. I am aware that the Company and the trustees of the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to the Limerick to Cork motorway the proposed M20. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sporting Organisations (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to charitable status for sporting organisations. In order to sustain the development of sport it is important that sporting organisations can secure alternative sources of investment, including philanthropic donations. I believe that there is potential for philanthropy and charitable giving for areas of sport such as programme development...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sporting Organisations (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The question is about tax relief for donations to sporting bodies.  Section 41 of the Finance Act, 2002 inserts Section 847A into the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 to provide a scheme of tax relief for relevant donations to approved sports bodies for the funding of approved projects.  The Revenue Commissioners administer this scheme.  Under the scheme,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Policy (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 104, 118, 139, 654 and 658 together. One of my priorities for 2013 was to commence a review of tourism policy and I, along with Minister Ring, commenced that review with the launch of a public consultation on tourism policy on 11 September 2013.  The issues paper we published at the launch set the parameters for the most...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services Provision (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This question is about allegations made in a Channel 4 programme on aviation safety. I refer the Deputy to my earlier response to Question 57 which deals with the same issue.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Development (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The question relates to the progression of the new National Ports Policy that I launched in March of this year. The new policy provides an overarching framework for the future development of the Irish commercial ports sector. Since publication my officials have progressed implementation of the policy in a number of different areas: - A Regulatory Impact Analysis in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Due to the overall reduction in funding for transport infrastructure the priority in the capital plan to 2016  is to protect investments made to date and to maintain safety standards. The limited funding available over and above this priority will only be provided for projects which are affordable, meet overall transport objectives and deliver the best return in terms of economic...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: VAT Rate Increases (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to answer questions 82 and 96 together. I refer the Deputies to the answer to Priority PQ 58 which was answered earlier today.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Road Network (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road 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 the local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Provision (1 Oct 2013)

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 Bus Rapid Transport (BRT), comes under the remit of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for the relevant transport operators and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to CIÉ and the Railway Procurement Agency 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: Road Tolls (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 91, 122, 123, 135, 629 and 634 together. These questions relate to a toll free holiday for HGVs. I am concerned that large numbers of HGVs continue to use regional and local roads in order to avoid tolls, and are driving through towns, villages and rural areas with large populations. This has safety implications for other road users, residents and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Adventure Activities Regulation (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 113 together. The Adventure Activities Standards Authority Act, 2001 made provision for the establishment by the Minister for Marine and Natural Resources of an Adventure Activities Standards Authority, which would have responsibility for the regulation of adventure centres. However, the Act was not commenced and the body was not subsequently put in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The provision of the services referred to by the Deputy is a matter for the private operator concerned in conjunction with the licensing authority, the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.