Results 33,361-33,380 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 610 together. My Department's staff number is currently below its Employment Control Framework target which is set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. There are two staff of this Department on the Redeployment Resource Panel. One is currently on secondment to another organisation and the other is due to resume from a career break. I...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (26 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 607 together. The matter of conducting a study of major towns to establish the availability of tourist coach parking facilities is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland who are responsible for encouraging promoting and supporting the development of tourist traffic within the State. I am informed by Fáilte Ireland that, in association with the...

Written Answers — Driver Testing Centres: Driver Testing Centres (26 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The subject matter of this question, namely the operation of the driver testing service, is a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I understand from the RSA that they have been in contact with the Deputy on this matter and have now replied to him in this regard.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: There are two staff of this Department on the Redeployment Resource Panel. One is currently on secondment to another organisation and the other is due to resume from a career break. The staff member on secondment has been the longest waiting for redeployment and has been on the panel for 12 months. I have asked the State agencies under the aegis of my Department to provide the Deputy with...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (26 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 617 together. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Matters relating to the Sustainable Transport Measures Programme are the responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have no function in such matters. I have referred the Deputy's letter to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The table below provides the information requested by the Deputy. Year Number of staff who retired Total gratuity payments made 2009 45 €4,775,229.73 2010 22 €2,050,145.23 2011 21 €1,550,964.11 2012 (to date) 26 €1,764,196.01

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the question to Fáilte Ireland for directly reply. Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (26 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational one for Tourism Ireland Limited 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 — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (26 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has not paid out any redundancy payments to staff under the Croke Park Agreement. There has been no voluntary redundancy scheme available for staff in my Department. Any savings recently announced have been made in accordance with our commitments in the Croke Park Agreement. I have asked the State agencies under the aegis of my Department to provide the Deputy with the...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (21 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Review of the Irish Penalty Points System, which I recently published, recommends that, in order to effect a targeted reduction in the number of motor cyclist road fatalities, further research into specific penalties for motor cyclists may be merited. The Review is currently with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications. Once I have received the Committee's input I...

Written Answers — Road Maintenance Projects: Road Maintenance Projects (21 Jun 2012)

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 maintenance of individual road projects, including traffic junctions, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 acting in conjunction with the local authorities in whose...

Written Answers — Bus Services: Bus Services (21 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Bus Éireann operates expressway services as commercial services in what is a competitive bus market. Such services also require a licence from the National Transport Authority. I have referred the Deputy's letter to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Civil Aviation Regulation: Civil Aviation Regulation (21 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The aviation market in the EU was fully liberalised in 1992 and the operation of the internal market is governed by common rules which were updated in 2008 and are set out in EU Regulation (EC) 1008/2008 which is directly applicable in Ireland and other Member States. Therefore airlines are not subject to regulation in areas such as the setting of fares, other charges, routes to fly, etc....

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (20 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The James Joyce Tower and Museum was operated by Dublin Tourism up to 2011 but now falls within the area of responsibility of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have asked the agency to reply directly to the Deputy. If you do not receive a reply within ten working days, please contact my private office. I understand from Fáilte Ireland that the tower and museum were open throughout...

Written Answers — Road Openings: Road Openings (20 Jun 2012)

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. Noting the above position, I have referred...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (20 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The new plastic card driving licence, which will come into operation from next January under EU Directive 2006/126EC, offers an opportunity to modernise and streamline the system for driver licensing in Ireland and to improve identity security. The Government decided, shortly after coming into office last year, to direct the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to take charge of a new centralised...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Section 3 (1) of the Road Traffic Act 2006 and Statutory Instruments 443 and 444 of 2006 provide for the offence of driving a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place while holding a mobile phone. Offences relating to using a mobile phone for texting or emailing while driving can also be dealt with under Section 52 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (as substituted by Section 50 of the Road...

Written Answers — Road Improvement Schemes: Road Improvement Schemes (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Section 10 of the Roads Act 1993 as amended by the Roads Act 2007 provides for the classification of national, regional and local roads. As part of the recently completed 2012 roads classification review, many national roads within the M50 were re-classified to regional road status. This was to reflect their changed role in the overall road network. However, the resultant change in...

Written Answers — Irish Coast Guard: Irish Coast Guard (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The complaint refers to the use of coast guard resources in the context of an incident on 26th May 2012. On that day the Kilkee Coast Guard Unit was tasked at 3.51pm to an incident but was stood down shortly afterwards. I understand that the complainant has been in direct communication with the Coast Guard on the matter and the allegations were investigated by Coast Guard management who...