Results 34,221-34,240 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (6 Dec 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, is a matter for the National Roads Authority 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 NRA...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (1 Dec 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority. I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply. He should inform my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (1 Dec 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As part of plans to reduce Government costs, this Government decided, on coming to power, to set an example by withdrawing State cars from all members of the Cabinet except the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence. It is estimated that this will result in an annual saving of €4m per annum to the State. Other members of the Government, and the Ceann...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (1 Dec 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Officials from my Department are continuing to work with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland towards the longer term objective of introducing mutual recognition of penalty points for driving offences. Unlike the bilateral arrangements between the UK and Ireland, under Article 15.4 of the 1998 EU Convention on driving disqualifications, which came into operation in January 2010, there...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As far as I understand it, the amendment would allow an operator to hire a vehicle from another operator and to operate it as part of his or her transport business, even while the vehicle in question was still authorised on another operator's licence. We are concerned that the amendment would create a loophole in the law, thereby creating legal uncertainty about who should be prosecuted if...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to Senator Barrett's query, if a vehicle is hired or leased without a driver, it must be authorised on the operator's licence. However, if the vehicle is hired with a driver, which happens commonly with CIE and with school buses, that is considered to be sub-contracting, which is allowed. In that case, the vehicle remains on the licence of the operator who owns the vehicle. In...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Amendment No. 8 would require that any certificate issued by the Department certifying that a particular operator was or was not licensed on a particular date would have to be accompanied by actual proof of the signature of the person in the Department who signed it. Currently, subsection (3) uses the standard wording for the provision in these kinds of certificates and legislation...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The maximum fine is €500,000. I cannot see anybody being fined that amount. The current penalty for this offence is only €1,905 which is very low considering the savings that can be made by a person using unscrupulous or illegal operators. The intention of this provision is not to catch people out but to allow us to prosecute customers who willingly and knowingly hire illegal...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Senator is correct that EU regulations governing this area allow member states to exempt types of slow vehicles from the licensing requirements. As I understand it, the central amendment would only apply to passenger vehicles that travel at speeds under 40km/h and the Senator's amendment would exempt them from the licensing process. I have two issues with this. First, it has never...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Do the vehicles jarveys drive count as passenger vehicles? That is a good question. It would not be a good idea to allow vehicles that travel at speeds under 40km/h to be exempt. From a competition point of view it would be unfair. One would be saying that this entire class of vehicle that can travel very slowly does not need a licence but that anybody who has a modern bus or coach or...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I must take that request under advisement. I cannot really give such an undertaking because I seek a well-regulated, competitive road haulage industry. One cannot put in place all these licensing criteria, regulations, safety requirements and requirements of good repute and state that while they apply to hauliers, if one uses agricultural vehicles it does not matter and one can do whatever...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: There are a number of exceptions. For example, there are exemptions if one is operating on one's own account. Moreover, there are exemptions for a wide range of things, encompassing everything from mail to corpses to milk and various other items. However, it would not be appropriate to have a blanket exemption for agricultural vehicles. It would be really unfair to the haulage industry to...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: It is not an opinion, it is a fact.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: It is not my opinion. That is a fact.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: This is about notification. The provision in the legislation does not ban anyone from having a road haulage licence or a passenger transport licence. It requires people to inform the Minister when they fill in their application form that they have been convicted of certain crimes in the past. The opportunity is there for them to explain that those crimes were committed in a particular...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I am loth to answer a hypothetical question. The legislation concerns someone who fills in an application form for a licence to be a haulier or passenger transport operator. On that application form the person concerned is required to provide various pieces of information on, for example, financial standing, establishment in the State and whether he or she is held in good repute. The...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: In regard to the time elapsed, this section does not require an amendment as it is taken into account as part of the consideration process of any convictions notified or discovered. Serious convictions and others are already provided for in the regulations, such as road safety issues or tachographs. Elapsed time will not necessarily mean that a conviction will be disregarded as it depends...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I hope I am not incorrect on this but if so I will correspond with the Senator. I understand that if the conviction was 40 years ago the Minister is already empowered to take that into account in the issuing of a licence. Nothing prevents a person from appealing to the District Court or seeking a judicial review subsequently.

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: While this is a difficult issue, I can understand where the Senator is coming from. Where this takes effect is if a person has a new conviction. It is not something that would be done arbitrarily. If a person who already has a licence is convicted of human trafficking, a serious sexual offence, murder or money laundering, the Minister is then empowered to withdraw or suspend the licence...

Seanad: Road Transport Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the legal provision is that the withdrawal or suspension occurs on conviction but that the District Court, even in these circumstances, could still allow a stay.