Results 33,561-33,580 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Tourism Industry (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The website for the Gathering initiative is now active and it contains the information. The initiative will be launched on this Friday and more information will be available then. The events and festivals programme is not yet fully developed but we are getting there. There has been engagement with the City and County Managers' Association and also with the cultural institutions. The...

Sale of State Assets (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 22 together. The Deputies' questions relate to the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus. Two working groups were established by the Government in 2011 on State asset disposals, one to consider the best approach in progressing the proposed part-sale of ESB, and the other to undertake a similar analysis of a number of other State assets identified by...

Sale of State Assets (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Of course there is interest in the stake. The Deputy will be aware that Etihad has acquired 3% of Aer Lingus on the open market.

Sale of State Assets (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Those kind of discussions are commercially sensitive and do not necessarily involve me directly. It would not be appropriate for me to meet with individual potential buyers. It is being done through a group made up of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and my Department, and is led by NewERA.

Sale of State Assets (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question would be better asked of Aer Lingus. It is a plc which the Government does not own or control. I cannot answer questions on behalf of Aer Lingus, or on behalf of Transaero for that matter. When I read reports about this in the media, which is where I heard about it, I contacted the chairman of Aer Lingus and the Government representatives on the Aer Lingus board to...

Sale of State Assets (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Have we done this already?

Car Parking Charges (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to car parking charges at railway stations in Cork. This is a day-to-day operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and not one in which I have any role. I have, however, been informed by Iarnród Éireann that the stations at Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Glounthaune and Little Island in County Cork have car parks which are charged on the same basis as commuter...

Tourism Sector (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The question relates to the temporary lower 9% VAT rate that applies to a range of services in the tourism and leisure sector, including hotels and restaurants. The initiative is aimed at supporting the creation and maintenance of employment as well as helping tourism businesses to lower their cost base. This allows those businesses to offer a more competitive product offering to tourists....

Tourism Sector (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the question. The reduction in the VAT rate has been successful in increasing employment in the sector and it is clear that, by and large, it has been passed on to consumers. It is important the reduced rate be continued until the end of 2013. That was always the intention. That was the announcement made at the time of the introduction of the jobs initiative and it...

Tourism Sector (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the Deputies' comments. I do my best to keep in close contact with my Northern counterpart, Arlene Foster. We even managed to attend a rugby match in Ravenhill together two weeks ago. We try to keep in contact as much as possible. One thing I would like to see happen which has not happened yet is for Derry to get involved in the Gathering, particularly with it being the City of...

State Airports (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Dooley's question relates to the timeframe for making a decision on the future of Shannon Airport. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that at its meeting yesterday the Government decided in principle that Shannon Airport will be separated from the Dublin Airport Authority and merged with parts of Shannon Development, including its property portfolio, to form a new entity in public...

State Airports (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has set out a clear strategy for the region. We intend to recapture the pioneering spirit that existed at the foundation of Shannon Airport and the duty free zone. Shannon will become independent of the DAA and no longer will it have to carry its current debt burden. It will be able to set its own charges and compete properly with other airports. This strategy could work...

State Airports (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: It is our intention that the new State company will have no net debt. It will either be debt free or it will have a small amount of debt equal to its cash reserves. It may be important for the company to have cash reserves if it needs to make capital investments or absorb losses in its initial years. The reason it will be debt free is to recognise Shannon's contribution to the...

Public Transport (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to commercial bus service licensing by the National Transport Authority and the impact on Bus Éireann services. I have no function in this matter. The responsibility for the licensing of public bus passenger services was transferred under Statutory Instrument No. 566 of 2010 from my Department to the National Transport Authority with effect from 1 December...

Public Transport (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I will first answer about Expressway. As the Deputy is aware Expressway covers interurban services. It is already deregulated and is fully competitive. Bus Éireann has made profits out of its Expressway services in the past. While Expressway is not currently profitable, it could become profitable again. The NTA adjudicates on whether licences are given on those routes. Bus Éireann has...

Public Transport (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I agree that needs to be taken into consideration. CIE and the CIE companies are State-owned companies. We always take in mind that we want State-owned companies to be successful. It is also important to bear in mind that some of the new intercity private bus services are very popular. Passengers like the quality of service to be very good and find them relatively inexpensive. Of course...

Parking Regulations (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy asked if I will refuse any application to raise clamping charges in view of the increased pressures already felt by motorists. The programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to regulate the vehicle clamping industry. In this regard, I presented a discussion document to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht in...

Parking Regulations (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I can confirm that. I have not received any application from Dublin City Council or any other council. I can increase the cap by order, but I am not going to do so if asked. I want to build on the recommendations made by the joint committee and bring legislation to the House. The recommendation made by the joint committee was that the release fees should be reasonable and that clamping...

Road Safety Education (9 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The junior certificate is, in the first instance, a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. However, I believe that the reformed junior certificate, and the proposed short courses in particular, offer significant opportunities for important cross-subject learning. Education in the area of road safety is one such possibility....

Written Answers — Commissioners of Irish Lights: Commissioners of Irish Lights (8 May 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matters raised are the responsibility of the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL). However, my understanding is that a final decision has not been made with regard to changes to the design and layout of the lighthouse referred to by the Deputy. CIL should be in a position to provide further information on this. CIL is the General Lighthouse Authority for all of the island of Ireland and...