Results 35,101-35,120 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Tourism Promotion (1 Jun 2011)

Leo Varadkar: On the first point, I have had discussions with the chief executive officers of Aer Lingus, CityJet, Ryanair and Aer Arann, as well as the chairpersons of three of those airlines. I have been in correspondence with the international airlines. Engagement with the latter is important because just as Irish people tend to fly with Irish airlines, even in these modern times, so too do people...

Harbours and Piers (1 Jun 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Dún Laoghaire Harbour is owned and operated by a commercial State company. The primary responsibility for the development of the harbour lies with the company, on behalf of the State. The company is unique among the ten State port companies in that, while its main income stream is still from commercial shipping, the harbour is also the State's largest marine leisure amenity. In addition,...

Harbours and Piers (1 Jun 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I assure the Deputy there will be real consultation and input from users, stakeholders, the local community and the staff in respect of the master plan. That is the point of the master plan. We will launch the master plan consultation in the coming weeks. Everyone will be invited to participate. In respect of ports, the McCarthy report recommends that they be consolidated into three port...

Departmental Funding (1 Jun 2011)

Leo Varadkar: All of the €75 million provided for transport projects under the jobs initiative was reallocated from existing funds within my Department's overall capital allocation as follows. Some €40 million savings on the national roads budget for 2011 had been provided for close-out payments on projects already completed and is not now required in 2011. Some €10 million savings came from Luas...

Departmental Funding (1 Jun 2011)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to the €40 million, this came from funding allocated to final close-out payments for motorways and the inter-urban motorway network in the main. These final payments go to arbitration as costs are estimated in advance. As it turned out, after arbitration less money was owed for those roads than was anticipated. The decision was then to be made as to whether the €40 million...

Tourism Promotion (1 Jun 2011)

Leo Varadkar: It is obvious that next year's centenary of the Titanic sailing presents significant opportunities for Irish tourism and work is already under way to ensure the benefits are maximised. Tourism Ireland commenced its Titanic promotion activities last September with a week-long showcase in the Grand Central terminal in New York. It has also set up a dedicated Titanic website and has brought...

Tourism Promotion (1 Jun 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure the Deputy has seen it already but there is a website, www.the-titanic.com, which has much information and has been translated into a number of languages. It is worth a visit. We have plans to develop amenities at the harbours and ports. There are regular grants for harbours to allow this development. By and large, most of the resources must come from the port companies in the...

Ports and Harbours (1 Jun 2011)

Leo Varadkar: This relates to the transfer of ownership of a building called Harbour Square on Crofton Road in Dún Laoghaire from Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for use as a new library headquarters. I am not aware of any such proposal. The company is currently doing a public consultation on a future master plan for the harbour. The master plan will help ensure...

Written Answers — Accidents at Sea: Accidents at Sea (31 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has been pursuing efforts to develop, enhance and improve Ireland's marine pollution prevention, preparedness and response capability from within existing and available resources and funds. On foot of the Programme for Government, there will be a review of the risk posed by international shipping of oil and hazardous substance pollution and an assessment of what steps can be...

Written Answers — Footpath Maintenance: Footpath Maintenance (31 May 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. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (31 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements. The testing function is carried out by Applus, since January...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (31 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As the issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (31 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The names of the Special Advisers, their role and date of appointment is set out in Table 1. The appointments are in keeping with Department of Finance Guidelines on the staffing of Ministerial Offices. Table 1- Name, Role and Date of Appointment Name of Special Adviser Role Date of appointment Nick Miller Responsible for the day to day management of the Department's Press...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (31 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The implementation of individual national road schemes is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2007, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In particular, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make...

Written Answers — Fáilte Ireland: Fáilte Ireland (31 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational one for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the agency for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (31 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Under the terms of the Sport Capital Programme, grants are allocated to sporting organisations towards the provision of new facilities, the renovation/extension of existing facilities or the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. Since 1998, almost €740 million has been allocated to over 7,400 projects nationwide. No decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the Sports...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (31 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national roads are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Safety: Fishing Vessel Safety (31 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has implemented, in consultation with the fishing industry, a comprehensive safety regime for all fishing vessels. The safety standards applied are in line with International good practice. Specifically, the regime requires all fishing vessels to carry an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon in compliance with International standards, in...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (31 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The €15 million allocated as part of the Government's jobs initiative is a separate programme from the capital budget being considered for the implementation of the Smarter Travel Areas programme. The €15 million will go into labour-intensive traffic management and smarter travel projects to create safer road junctions, better footpaths, improved bus networks and rail stations and...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (26 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The new Traffic Signs Manual was published in January of this year. The Traffic Signs Manual constitutes a direction given to road authorities under section 95(16) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 in relation to the provision of traffic signs, other than regulatory signs. Regulations will be required to give legal effect to some elements of the new Manual. These Regulations are being prepared by...