Results 34,901-34,920 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Tourism Promotion (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Our aim is to have a united Ireland and it is the aspiration in Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. However, the Deputy will know better than me that these issues are sensitive and complex and we do not wish the Unionist community to perceive a threat or that we are trying to take over their authority. I understand the Deputy's viewpoint and I have sympathy with what he is suggesting,...

Public Transport (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 52 and 54 together. I am aware of the report referred to in the questions. Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus strongly dispute the conclusions in the report. All figures included in the published financial statements of the companies are subject to independent audit by the companies' auditors. Claims provisions are also reviewed by external consultant...

State Airports (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The question relates to practical assistance for Galway and Sligo airports. As I announced on 7 June, the Government has agreed to provide practical assistance in the form of additional funding to Galway and Sligo airports in 2011, along with the other four airports at Donegal, Ireland West at Knock, Kerry and Waterford. This involves providing an additional €5.9 million on top of the...

State Airports (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The airports should first make contact on their own behalf and have probably already done so. In Sligo, airport authorities should talk to the Coast Guard and the search and rescue helicopter contractor. They should also have discussions with the local authorities, as the two authorities own the airport. Officials at Galway should have discussions with the airlines, particularly Aer Arann,...

Road Network (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the roads funding to be allocated to County Wexford in the next three years. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding under the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of national primary and national secondary roads are matters for the National Roads Authority, under...

Road Network (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have total control over the NRA. Similarly, I do not have control over the local authorities which take the lead in planning new road projects. I appoint the board of the NRA and provide funding for it in the context of the overall Government budget. I can also issue policy directions to it, although I have not done so to date. However, I will be in a position to do so after the...

Road Network (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I agree that there was over-specification. If one examines the files, one will find much of it was politically driven by politicians and Ministers who decided a motorway was needed, even though a dual carriageway might have done. Many State companies were put under pressure by the previous Government to build bigger and greater things than were necessary. I do not share that kind of "if...

Air Services (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: In line with the commitments in the programme for Government, the Government announced a three-pronged strategy to encourage in-bound tourism as part of the jobs initiative. The first element is the proposed suspension of the air travel tax, the second is a new growth incentive scheme which has been introduced by the Dublin Airport Authority applying to all of the three airports under its...

Air Services (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The tax remains in place. The order has not been signed. In the jobs initiative it was pencilled in for 1 July. That date has passed because I have not been comfortable in advising the Minister for Finance that the responses have been sufficient. There are meetings ongoing with the airlines. There will be another meeting on Monday next. I hope in the next few weeks to be in a position...

Air Services (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The discussions are ongoing. They certainly have not yet concluded. The real issue arises around the schedules for the winter and for next spring. It is in the next few weeks that the airlines will determine their schedules for the winter. What they do will be the best test of whether they have responded not what they say. In the event that it does not go ahead for the winter schedules,...

Public Transport (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, I do not have an operational role in Dublin Bus. As such, a meeting would be more appropriate with the management of Dublin Bus rather than with me and I am happy facilitate that for the group. I generally support Dublin Bus efforts to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness under the Network Direct programme. The Deloitte report on the cost and efficiency...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (5 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. Louth County Council submitted an economic appraisal and the...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (5 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The penalty points system has been designed and structured to ensure that any person who is accused of the commission of a penalty point offence is afforded a significant time period to choose whether or not to allow the matter to proceed to court. One of the main purposes of introducing the system was to relieve the administrative burden on the courts. Persons accused of committing certain...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (5 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Tourism Ireland has recently launched a campaign, Visit Ireland: Home of Champions which features the three golfers mentioned. I have asked Tourism Ireland to provide further details to the Deputy, and if you have not received an answer within 10 working days, please contact my private office.

Written Answers — Departmental Equipment: Departmental Equipment (5 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: There are currently no additional costs involved for the storage of the ICS equipment bought for MRSC Malin Head. The equipment is currently in storage at IRCG Stores in Ballycoolin.

Written Answers — Irish Coast Guard: Irish Coast Guard (5 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: An Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) was carried out in the Coast Guards Marine Rescue Sub co-ordination Centre at Malin Head on 10 November 2010. The Centre passed the inspection to the satisfaction of the Irish Coast Guard. The timescale for the next inspection will be July/August 2011.

Written Answers — Irish Coast Guard: Irish Coast Guard (5 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 635 to 637, inclusive, together. The number of staff required to operate the Marine Rescue Sub co-ordination Centre (MRSC) at Malin Head is 14 Watch Officers, 1 Engineer, 1 Deputy Divisional Controller and 1 Divisional Controller. The number of watch officers can reduce to twelve for periods but this will entail overtime requirements to cover leave and...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Services: Search and Rescue Services (5 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is responsible for administering payment of grants to the Mountain and Cave Rescue Teams in Ireland. Responsibility for the co-ordination of mountain rescue rests with An Garda Síochána under the Framework for Major Emergency Management. Notwithstanding the current difficult economic climate, the mountain and cave rescue teams will receive current funding grants of the...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (5 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I fully recognise the value of Galway Airport in terms of the numbers employed directly and indirectly at the Airport and the role it has played in the economic development of the region. However, I do not accept the argument that compares the cost of Exchequer support to the airport with the loss of revenue to the Exchequer in the form of taxation arising from the loss of direct employment...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (5 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources and are supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded is also a matter for the...