Results 33,681-33,700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 47, 49 and 58 together. Erasmus for All is a new EU funding programme for education, training, youth and sport being proposed by the European Commission for the period 2014-2020. I support the inclusion of sport in this programme. The programme is one part of the wider EU budget currently being negotiated and the final allocation for Erasmus for All will...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 63 together. I assume the Deputy is referring to the "Flash Eurobarometer - Attitudes of Europeans Towards Tourism" Report which was published earlier this month. This survey is part of a regular telephone survey undertaken at the request of the European Commission and aims to get a general picture of sentiment among consumers rather than assess...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Officials in my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality have discussed the administrative arrangements required to ensure the consistent application of requirements on the production of a driving licence and a copy of that licence to the court, under section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 2002. Consistency in the application of section 22 and in particular, the recording by the...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The State does not own nor has it control over landing or take-off slots at Heathrow Airport. Access by airlines to landing and take-off slots at EU airports where there are capacity limitations, including Heathrow, is governed by EU Regulations. Aer Lingus has access to quite a large number of slots at London Heathrow on the basis of 'grandfather rights', that is, it has acquired the rights...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) on 1st December 2009, the provision of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as LUAS BXD, now comes under the remit of the NTA. There has been extensive engagement between the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) and both Dublin City Council (DCC) and Dublin Bus aimed at minimising the construction...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 53 together. I have received a number of representations regarding this issue, and I have consulted with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) about it. The issue arises from the fact that the RSA has introduced online registration for the Essential Driver Training (EDT) system. I understand that, when EDT was first introduced, Approved Driving Instructors...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for Bus Éireann. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 57 together. At its meeting in October 2011, the Road Safety Authority's Policy Advisory Panel reviewed the publication "An investigation into the effects of British Summer Time on road traffic accident casualties in Cheshire" which was published in 1996 in the Journal of Accidents and Emergency Medicine. The Panel found that it would be a suitable...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 52 together. The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for the relevant transport providers in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) whose function it is to promote an integrated public transport network. I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 45 and 61 together. I believe that cruise tourism has significant potential and the recent consultation document published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine "Our Ocean Wealth - Towards an Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland" confirmed that cruise ship tourism continues to grow with a 12% increase in 2010 with over 200 cruise liners...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 59 together. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The implementation of individual national road schemes is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2007 in conjunction with the relevant local authorities...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Obviously primary responsibility for the promotion of Derry-Londonderry as the UK City of Culture rests with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland. As the North-South body responsible for the promotion of the island of Ireland as a tourist destination, Tourism Ireland will play a significant role in the overseas marketing of the event and I understand that the agency's activity in...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 44 and 267 together. I presented proposals for "The Gathering 2013" at the Global Irish Economic Forum last October. Fáilte Ireland is the lead agency for the implementation of the initiative and have put in place a Project Board to oversee it, while Tourism Ireland Limited will have specific responsibility for promoting "The Gathering 2013" in overseas...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The International Olympic Committee agreed last December that the Olympic Flame will visit Dublin on 6 June as part of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. Responsibility for all operational aspects of the visit of the Olympic Torch Relay to Ireland, including the relay route, rests with the Olympic Council of Ireland. From a tourism perspective, it will be the responsibility of the tourism...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads network. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities in its report considered the possible disposal and part-disposal of the CIE companies. In their report they stated that "having regard to the unavoidable losses inherent in maintaining a nationwide railway and uneconomic urban and rural bus services, disposal or part-disposal of the main CIÉ companies is not a realistic short-term option."...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Currently all Irish registered fishing vessels are required to be fitted with Emergency Indicating Position Beacons (EPIRBS). All fishing vessels over 12 metres in length must carry an automatically activating float-free automatic EPIRB and vessels less than 12 metres LOA (length over all) only have to carry a manually operated EPIRB. Officials from my Department are examining, in...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, public transport services and fares are a matter for the CIÉ operating companies in conjunction with the National Transport Authority. I have referred the Deputy's question to the National Transport Authority for direct reply. Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days. I am aware that the NTA approved a range of fare...

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (28 Mar 2012)

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

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport I have overall responsibility for policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning and design of individual national primary and secondary roads is a statutory function of the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007. The NRA works closely with the local authorities in whose administrative area...