Results 32,601-32,620 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Other Questions: Sports Capital Programme (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: With the agreement of the House I wish to take Questions Nos. 99, 102, 130, 132, 141, 152, 154, 163, 164, 722 and 725 together.

Other Questions: Sports Capital Programme (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: These questions relate to this year's sports capital programme and any future such programmes. The question is whether there should be changes to the taxation regime to support sporting organisations and clubs. The sports capital programme is an area delegated to the Minister of State, Deputy Ring. Deputies will be aware that the Department has received 2,170 applications for funding under...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: The Gathering (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that question was disallowed but not by me. I imagine it was disallowed by the Ceann Comhairle's office. We have received those allegations, which I take seriously. My officials have met the person making them, as has the chief executive officer of the RSA. However, they are allegations and they need to be investigated. That is why they have been sent to the Department of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: The Gathering (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has not had the allegations since January. Once we received the information, we acted expeditiously. I asked my officials to meet the person and they did. The chief executive officer of the RSA has also met the person in question. As it is a Garda matter, it was passed on to the Department of Justice and Equality to investigate. It is something we take seriously and I have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sports Capital Programme (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot understand how that can be the case because no allocations have been made or signed off on. People may well find out that they have been made promises that cannot be delivered upon but no allocations have been made at this stage.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: The Gathering (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to The Gathering. There has been a fantastic response thereto across the board, from local communities, voluntary bodies, public bodies, businesses and government.  That is why I was surprised at the tone of some recent adverse comments. Tourism is a valuable service export.  Encouraging those from overseas, whether Irish or not, to sample...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sports Capital Programme (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The question relates to the allocation criteria for the sports capital programme and changes since the last sports capital round in 2008. Responsibility for the sports capital programme has been delegated to the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring. However, he is unable to attend the House today as he is in Brussels attending the European Council of Sports Ministers. As the Deputy will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sports Capital Programme (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As there is no prohibition on lobbying, people are free to lobby if they so wish. I have received letters from all parties, including the Deputy's. I would need to check my diary, but off the top of my head, I have not had any such meeting. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, is handling this matter on my behalf and that of the Department. He is the person who has attended most of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: During the past seven years the FAI has supported the grassroots street leagues programme throughout the country to the tune of €280,000. It contributed €130,000 towards the cost of the Irish international Homeless World Cup squad in the same period. In addition to these financial contributions, the FAI has supported some local leagues - by means of its development officers who...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Airports (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: This question is about the Chicago Convention which relates to civil aviation and section 33 of the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1988. The latter conveys powers on authorised persons to be used, inter alia, in the interests of ensuring the proper operation or the security or safety of an airport.  These powers may also be exercised by members of An Garda Síochana.  I can...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Airports (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I do not believe I stated inspections had never been carried out. I said the powers under section 33 of the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1988 had never been used by officials of my Department. I cannot state whether the Garda has ever used these or other powers available to it. Where investigations have ensued, files have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Further...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Airports (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The assurance we have been given from the highest level is that no prisoners are being rendered, extraordinarily or otherwise, through Irish airports. We have no evidence that renditions have taken place and I have no reason to believe they have occurred. There is a difference between military and civil aviation. My Department deals only with civil aviation. Civil aircraft carrying weapons...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to the homeless soccer street leagues. I am aware of the work the leagues do in cities and towns, including prisons.  The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, had the pleasure of meeting those involved during Ireland's participation in this year's Homeless World Cup when he attended a reception for the team in Leinster House last...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I certainly agree the leagues do very valuable work, targeting a group that is very difficult to reach. I should have mentioned that the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, sends his apologies. He is in Brussels today attending a meeting of the Council of Sports Ministers. He has informed me that he is due to meet Deputy Sandra McLellan and Mr. Sean Kavanagh of the Big Issue street...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Reports (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 134 together.   Value for Money reviews into the Coast Guard and Marine Surveying functions of my Department, which were undertaken by independent consultants, identified a number of issues which need to be addressed in Ireland's maritime transport safety and marine emergency response regimes. These include enhancing...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Wild Atlantic Way Project (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 159 together. These questions relate to the development of the Wild Atlantic Way by Fáilte Ireland.  My Department’s role in relation to tourism is primarily concerned with national policy, and I do not have responsibility for the development of individual tourism projects.  The development of the Wild Atlantic Way is an...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: The Gathering (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 108, 109, 121, 124, 128, 135, 151, 158, 723, 729, 730, 737 to 743, inclusive, and 748 together. The question all relate to the Gathering. Aspects of these questions were answered earlier as part of my response to Deputy Wallace's priority question on the Gathering 2013.  The full list of committed or pledged events for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: This question is in relation to the regulations governing the new driving licence. I understand that the Deputy is interested in whether we could put emergency medical information on the new plastic card driving licence.  This would involve details such as blood group, allergies to penicillin, for example, and perhaps contact information for next of kin. The requirement to switch to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 120 together. These questions relate to practices relating to car rental and the Deputy's concerns about practices in that industry. Firstly, I must state that I have no regulatory function in relation to the car rental industry. The National Consumer Agency, which comes within the remit of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Alcohol Advertising (27 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I fully support the central aim of the National Substance Misuse Strategy in reducing the level of alcohol consumption and binge drinking in Ireland. However, I also recognise that moderate and responsible alcohol consumption is not harmful and that there is no case for denormalising alcohol consumption in the way that was appropriate for tobacco. Any measures introduced...