Results 32,301-32,320 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Seanad: The Gathering Ireland 2013: Statements (31 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Did the Senator say "leprechaun hunt"?

Seanad: The Gathering Ireland 2013: Statements (31 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the opportunity to address the House today about The Gathering Ireland 2013 and outline progress on the initiative at the beginning of a very significant year for Irish tourism. Tourism has always been an important driver of economic activity for Ireland. It is estimated that the tourism and hospitality industry employs approximately 185,000 people and every year generates in the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts (31 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Under the provisions of the Road Traffic (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012, responsibility for driver licensing nationally has been transferred to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  The new national driver licensing system consists of three outsourced elements: a front office for dealing with customers, a back office to process applications, and a card producer to manufacture...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry (31 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has had previous correspondence with the person referred to in the question and is looking into the issues raised in his email.  A further reply will issue to that person as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Agencies (31 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The information sought by the Deputy is in the following table. It should be noted that in total there are 29 agencies under my Department's remit with a total of 236 individuals currently serving on boards. It is important to note that the boards of each body are appointed in different fashions, with some positions being ex officio positions, some worker directors or others directly...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Maintenance (31 Jan 2013)

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

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Project Contracts (31 Jan 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (31 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012 these are matters for the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct reply, and would ask her to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licence Renewals (31 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Recently, in conjunction with the introduction of the new plastic card driving licence and the centralisation of driver licensing nationally under the Road Safety Authority (RSA), I introduced a new fee structure for driver licensing.  This represents the first time that fees have been increased since 1989. Driver licence fees have not been keeping pace with inflation since 1989 and,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (31 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of the future provision of bus services the Programme for Government contains a commitment “to establish a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Infrastructure to explore the benefits to the public transport passenger of a more diverse bus service provision”.  In line with this commitment the National Transport Authority (NTA) conducted a non-statutory public consultation in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (31 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together. A letter was received by the National Sustainable Travel Office of my Department in relation to the Limerick/Kerry railway line.  I understand CIÉ also received a similar letter and in its response has stated that CIÉ is the owner of the property and will continue to access its property as...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (30 Jan 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 the proposed Luas Cross City Line, comes under the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (30 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of the future provision of bus services the Programme for Government contains a commitment “to establish a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Infrastructure to explore the benefits to the public transport passenger of a more diverse bus service provision”.  In line with this commitment the National Transport Authority (NTA) conducted a non - statutory public consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Garda Equipment (30 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The purchase of evidential breath testing instruments is a matter for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS). I have therefore forwarded the question to the MBRS for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my Office if no response has been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Signage (30 Jan 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 have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (30 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational one for Tourism Ireland 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 Traffic Legislation (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Given the unprecedented progress in road safety in recent years, I find it difficult to respond to a proposal that would undermine so much of that achievement.  For the seventh year in a row, the number of people killed on Irish roads has dropped.  In 2012, the loss of life was the lowest ever recorded. The on-going effort to reduce the tragedy of road deaths is working...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Authority Funding (29 Jan 2013)

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

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: An audit of speed limits within its functional area is a matter for each local authority which I am informed is carried out at periodic intervals.  Under the Road Traffic Acts, varying default speed limits have been set for general classes of roads. However, the power to decide the speed limit applying to individual roads within an area rests with the relevant road authority, i.e. City...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The only existing vacancy on the board of Port of Cork Company is that of Chairperson. With the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I intend to nominate a Chairperson designate to this position in the near future. The Chairperson designate will be required to appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications to outline...