Results 34,421-34,440 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: This country is entirely dependent on the kindness of strangers, the IMF and the EU, to fund its budget deficit and pay its public servants and pensions. That is the situation we are in. In that context, difficult decisions must be made.

Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Within the emergency management framework structure, the lead Department for severe weather is the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Following that Department's review of the overall emergency response to last winter's snow, ice and flooding, 62 recommendations were made impacting on various Departments. Of the recommendations, nine directly affect areas in...

Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I will discuss the proposal with my officials and the Minister, Deputy Hogan. Deputy Butler might do the same. It was not his fault, but this issue should have been raised with the Minister's Department rather than mine. His proposal has merit.

State Airports (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Ireland-US pre-clearance agreement signed by both Governments in November 2008 provides for the pre-clearance of commercial aircraft as well as general aviation, both private and business aircraft. General aviation pre-clearance at Shannon Airport was always considered an important feature of pre-clearance given the number of such aircraft that already land there for refuelling en route...

State Airports (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I agree that pre-clearance of cargo would be helpful in terms of offering a competitive advantage to Irish airports. That is being pursued but, as Deputy Dooley will be aware from his time on these benches, there is a way of handling these matters. Contacts are first made at official level and site visits are then carried out. There is a right time to raise the matter at political level....

State Airports (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I have held discussions on the matter with the US ambassador in recent weeks. Opportunities will be taken at the right time and place and there will be visits in February or March. We do not want a Minister to fly to Washington for an unsuccessful meeting with the US Secretary of State because the groundwork was not done beforehand. The Deputy can rest assured that the Government sees the...

Public Transport Projects (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: 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 such funding, including decisions relating to the large public transport projects in the Dublin area such as metro north, immediately thereafter.

Public Transport Projects (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I do not accept that the measures introduced to boost tourism have not increased the number of jobs. The Restaurants Association of Ireland has indicated an increase in job numbers and we will see from the quarterly results whether job losses have stabilised or increased in the tourism and leisure sector. The ESRI report acknowledges that reducing VAT has increased the number of tourists...

Public Transport Projects (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The 0.6% levy on private pension funds is a temporary measure and will only be in place for three to four years. It brings in approximately €450 million per year, which would not pay for metro north. To be clear, the cost of the project is significantly higher than that, even when spread over a prolonged period. The money that is being raised from the 0.6% levy on private pension funds...

Written Answers — Local Improvements Scheme: Local Improvements Scheme (8 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the Local Improvements Scheme (LIS) and the Local Improvements Scheme Memorandum, which issued in February 2002, sets out the terms and conditions for the payment of LIS grants. Under the Scheme, grants are provided to county councils for the construction and improvement of non-public roads. The administration of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Legislation to provide for the roadworthiness testing of motor caravans in accordance with mandated EU standards is in preparation in my Department and will be finalised in the near future. This legislation will be in line with National Car Test requirements but, due to the broad spectrum of types and sizes of this vehicle, type testing will be carried out at Commercial Vehicle Test Centres,...

Written Answers — Road Signage: Road Signage (8 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Regulations governing the use of traffic signals specify the sequence in which red, amber and green signals must be displayed. Irish regulations do not provide for the use of amber in combination with red, immediately in advance of the green signal, to alert drivers to prepare for the green signal, as is done in the UK. The change in regulations proposed by the Deputy would appear to have...

Written Answers — Local Improvements Scheme: Local Improvements Scheme (8 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The local authorities that did not submit all relevant documents requested in RLR 2/2011 by the stated deadline are: Donegal County Council Galway County Council Kildare County Council Limerick County Council Longford County Council Mayo County Council Westmeath County Council.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (8 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Sports Capital Programme an allocation of €30,000 was made to the organisation referred to by the Deputy in 2006 towards the costs of floodlighting, ball-stop netting and the redevelopment of toilet facilities. All of this funding has been drawn down. No decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the Programme. The club might consider contacting the Sustainability...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (8 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The issues raised are operational matters for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. I should advise the Deputy that any proposals for rail service reductions or line closures require the approval of the National Transport Authority as it is responsible for ensuring best use of Public Service Obligation (PSO) subvention for rail and bus services provided by the CIE group. In this context,...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (8 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: A total of €10.67m was recently allocated to 33 local authorities for 56 swimming pools for energy updating and enhanced disabled access. No application was received under the initiative for the pool in question.

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (8 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: A total of €10.67m was recently allocated to 33 local authorities for 56 swimming pools for energy updating and enhanced disabled access. No application was received under the initiative in respect of the pool referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 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 planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (8 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Since my appointment as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on 9 March 2011, I have not established any State agencies, independent statutory bodies, State Boards or other bodies. A full list of the agencies for which I have responsibility is outlined in my reply to Dáil Question 624 on 25 October 2011. Dundalk Port Company was merged with Dublin Port Company on 12 July 2011. Tralee...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government provides that a number of positions on the Sports Council's governing Board will be made directly electable. This matter is under consideration in my Department at present, and I would welcome any views the Deputy may have on the matter. There are currently no vacancies on the Board of the Irish Sports Council, with the next vacancy due to arise in 2013.