Results 34,401-34,420 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Pension Provisions (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Both Aer Lingus and the DAA maintain that they have no liability in this regard. We have to wait for the trustees of the pension fund to bring forward their proposals and I have asked for this to be done by the end of the year. That should be done in the normal way. The trustees will put forward options for how the deficit issue can be resolved. I want it to be resolved. DAA staff are...

National Sports Campus (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: This questions relates to the national sports campus. At its meeting on 21 June the Government approved my proposals for the development of the national sports campus at Abbotstown-Blanchardstown on an incremental basis. In particular, I have asked the National Sports Campus Development Authority, NSCDA, to proceed with the development of a national indoor training arena, to include an...

National Sports Campus (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The sports capital programme announcement will be made tomorrow. This budget line is the responsibility of the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, and I am sure there will be information on it tomorrow. The amount of Exchequer funding for the national sports campus is small. Given the state the country is in, we cannot put millions of euro into the project. We are, therefore, pursuing...

Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The question relates to the renegotiation of public private partnership, PPP, contracts. I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in regard to the national roads programme. The implementation of individual national road schemes, including PPPs, is a matter for the National Roads Authority In particular, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, make toll by-laws and...

Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: These arrangements will not be made again under my watch and it would have been better if they had not been made. I will not gratuitously condemn the previous Government for agreeing to them because, at the time, nobody could have predicted the economy would crash by more than 20%. Perhaps their projections at the time were reasonable. One must have two parties to renegotiate a contract....

Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: At this stage there is major uncertainty with PPPs which does not relate to traffic levels. As neither road would be tolled, traffic levels are not relevant. The major issue with PPPs is that banks are not willing to lend money to Ireland on a 30 year basis at an interest rate we can afford. That could get even harder because next year. European banks must hoard capital to raise their...

Driving Licences (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Under EU Directive 126/2006, all member states are required to introduce a standard format plastic card driving licence by January 2013. Under the terms of the directive, the licence must feature the name and date of birth of the individual, the dates of issue and expiry of the licence, the licence number, and a photo and signature of the holder. The licence must also specify the category...

Driving Licences (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: We could do that, although we would need to pass legislation to invalidate the old paper licences from a certain date, but I do not rule it out. The first thing we should do, however, is get the new system up and running and then we can consider making the old licences invalid. The new licence will be so convenient - it will be a standard form of identity recognised across Europe - that...

Driving Licences (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: It is included in the existing paper licence. If it is not included in the Deputy's, it should be; it is in mine. It states I must wear corrective lenses. I have since had laser surgery and no longer need them, although I have yet to have my licence amended.

Driving Licences (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know, but I will find out.

Driving Licences (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I hope there is because someone who requires glasses to drive should wear them.

Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

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 implementation of individual national road schemes, including toll roads, is a matter for the National Roads Authority. In particular, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, make toll by-laws and enter into toll agreements with...

Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The proposals for additional tolls on the M50, for using the Jack Lynch tunnel and in other places were originally made in the local government efficiency review report last year. No decisions have been made on the matter which is still open to consideration by the Government. As I have said several times, if it was to happen, it would not happen for a number of years and would require EU...

Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure what the Deputy says is entirely true because port traffic has increased as a result of the rise in exports. I will take the matter under advisement. It is an option and I will certainly give it some consideration.

Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to capital expenditure on transport outside the major Dublin projects. Funding for all transport capital projects for the next five years will be determined in the context of the capital review which will be published tomorrow. I will announce my Department's plans for capital expenditure immediately thereafter.

Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter which, ultimately, must be decided at the North-South Ministerial Council next week. What I can say is that arising from the St. Andrews Agreement, the Government is committed to co-funding the construction of the A5 through Northern Ireland to Derry, thus improving access to Letterkenny and north Donegal. We remain politically committed to the project and expect some work...

Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps Deputy Dooley did not hear me correctly. I stated that we remain politically committed to the project and expect work to commence during the lifetime of the 2012-2016 capital programme. That is neither shelving nor mothballing. However, the commitment of €560 million over the next four or five years is an enormous and difficult commitment to honour given the financial situation we...

Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The situation we face North and South of the Border is difficult. I spent the bank holiday weekend in Belfast and one of the major issues being discussed when I was there was a decision of the Northern Ireland Executive, which includes members of Sinn Féin, to close the accident and emergency department at Belfast City Hospital. These are the kind of decisions being made North and South of...

Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: -----relative to the position it takes here.

Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Ellis states that his party does not have fiscal control in the Six Counties. We do not have fiscal controls in the 26 Counties either.