Results 33,721-33,740 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Tourism Promotion (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: We should definitely have a campaign internationally to have the Irish overseas convince their universities or towns to go green. It would be very nice to achieve this at home also. One should bear in mind many foreign tourists come to Ireland over the St. Patrick's Day period, at which time the tourism season really begins. Tourists would comment if they noticed the entire city of Cork or...

Aircraft Operations (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the flight time limitations of air crews. The current EU rules on flight time limitations for commercial air transport operations are in place since July 2008 and were agreed following difficult negotiations in the European Council and Parliament. Under EU regulations, the European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, is now charged with developing detailed...

Aircraft Operations (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: This is largely a regulatory issue. The IAA is the competent authority in this regard but I am keeping abreast of the matter. I agree with Deputy Dooley that this is primarily a matter of safety, and decisions will be based on scientific research. It is not primarily a labour relations issue. There has been much scientific research published but it can be somewhat subjective taken in...

Aircraft Operations (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: It was not discussed at the Council meeting as it was not on the agenda, but there was an informal discussion over lunch among the Ministers. Participants just compared notes and no decision was made.

Aircraft Operations (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As I stated, under Irish law the IAA is the competent authority regarding the EASA regulations. The IAA represents Ireland on the Commission's EASA committee and EASA's Advisory Group of National Authorities. As such, I have every confidence in the professional and technical expertise of the IAA to carry out its statutory duties in this regard.

Regional Airports (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I have no information on the matters raised by the Deputy. Galway Airport is a privately owned entity. Its future plans, including any possible sale, are matters for the owners and management of the company in which I have no function.

Regional Airports (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The airport is not a publicly owned but privately owned entity. I understand the current owners are looking for a buyer but I have no involvement in that. It is no longer subsidised by the State. The only airport subsidies are regional airports in the west are for Ireland West Airport at Knock which obviously will not be able to go for ever either.

International Sporting Events (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Who paid Deputy Boyd Barrett's fees?

Pension Provisions (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 42 together. The Deputies' questions relate to the Irish airlines superannuation scheme, IASS, and its relationship with the proposed sale of the Government's minority shareholding in Aer Lingus. The pension deficit in the IASS, the multi-employer scheme involving Aer Lingus, the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, and SR Technics, was not a factor in the...

Pension Provisions (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I have not taken a hands-on approach because I do not want to create the impression that the State, Exchequer or taxpayer is in any way liable in this case. The taxpayer and the Exchequer are not liable for deficits in semi-State companies' pension funds, be that company the ESB, CIE or Bord Gáis. In this case the company is not even a semi-State. In this three-employer fund, one employer...

Pension Provisions (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The individuals in question are not State employees or public servants. The contributions they made through their working lives went into this pension fund. Public servants and officeholders make their pension contributions directly to the Exchequer, which subsequently pays their pensions. As the contributions in this case were made to a pension fund rather than the Exchequer, the...

Pension Provisions (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: To clear up any confusion that may have arisen, there is no connection between the State's minority stake in Aer Lingus and the pension deficit. The size of the State's stake in Aer Lingus has no bearing on the situation. The taxpayer is not liable for deficits in private pension funds. That applies equally to CIE, Irish Rail, Cork Port and the other bodies which we are not considering for...

Pension Provisions (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The reason for setting up State companies is because they can operate on a commercial basis. The State is the shareholder but they are not part of the public service and their workers are not State employees. The Exchequer is no more liable for their pension costs than the shareholders in Tesco or any other private company. The pension contributions were not paid to the State. They were...

State Airports (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the timeframe for making a decision on the future of Cork and Shannon Airports. As I previously informed the Deputy, following receipt of the Booz report on the future ownership and operation of Cork and Shannon Airports, my Department is currently involved in detailed engagement with all relevant stakeholders on the issues involved. When that process has...

State Airports (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the question. I will visit Limerick tomorrow and Clare the day after that to speak at a business function which I agreed to do several months ago and, therefore, there will not be any dramatic announcement on Friday that I would not make to the Dáil beforehand. The position is that the Booz report has gone to Cabinet. It is being considered and has been published in...

State Airports (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Whatever we do has to be a success and for an airport complex to be a success, it should not be reliant on subventions and should be able to break even, at the very least, and ideally turn a profit. We are moving away from the model of subventing airports. Subvention has had to be removed already from Galway and Sligo Airports as a result of cutbacks in public expenditure. The other...

Transport Costs (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to fuel costs and their impact on the haulage industry, and measures being undertaken to assist the industry. I am aware that costs generally for haulage operators are increasing, and fuel is a major component of this. The price of fuel is driven mainly by external factors such as the cost of oil, refining costs, and exchange rates. All of these are driven by...

Transport Costs (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the cost of fuel affects everyone and not only hauliers. It affects anyone in the general public who drives a car. It also affects the CIE companies and I have a good insight into what the balance sheets of a haulage firm looks like because I see the CIE accounts and I can see how the loss of the fuel rebate and increasing fuel costs hit it. The Minister for Finance did not...

Transport Costs (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The road haulage industry is extremely important and we will always have one of some size or another because it is how we get our goods to market and moved around the country. We will always have a haulage industry even if it is contracting and may contract more. The issue of laundered diesel is a matter for the Minister for Finance and I know he is taking an interest in it. The working...

Tourism Industry (28 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the number of jobs created in the tourism sector as a result of the lowering of the VAT rate for the tourist industry. As the Deputy will be aware, the jobs initiative introduced a reduced 9% VAT rate from July 2011 on a range of services, including hotels, restaurants and the leisure industry. The Government also halved employers' PRSI for those on modest...