Leo Varadkar is a Dublin West TD and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. He was first elected to the Dail in 2007 and was the Fine Gael Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment and then Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Varadkar is a doctor and studied medicine at Trinity College.
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said that Bus Éireann would have to implement the LRC measures on 12 May unless “alternative approaches” could be found.
Enda Kenny’s attempt to reassure women over the insolvency controversy does not go far enough, writes Irene Gunning, who says without any form of subsidy, supports or tax relief, childcare costs are borne fully by parents, limiting job options.
The Minister for Transport said that people struggling to pay their bills do not automatically become exempt from income tax and the same principle should apply to the forthcoming property tax.
The Transport Minister says that talk that the government has €1 billion more to play with in the next Budget “gave me bad memories of Charlie McCreevy”.
New measures will allow insurers to access information on the reasons for drivers incurring penalty points, a move expected to push up premiums. What do you think?
Leo Varadkar and Pat Rabbitte have both insisted that the discussions on reducing the burden of Ireland’s bank debt will continue despite a report that the ECB had rejected a key Irish government proposal.
Ireland is not in a position to invest financially in transport like it was in the past – so it needs to be wiser about how it does invest, says the Minster for Transport.
More than one million Americans are expected to visit Ireland this year, spending more than $1 billion – and Tourism Ireland wants to see this increase even more.
The government is trying to do a deal on Anglo debt to avoid having to pay the €3 billion in March -but the ECB is warning that it may not be possible.
A NEW STUDY has claimed that the number of deaths caused by smoking in the home could be comparable to the number of road deaths recorded in Ireland.
According to the NUI Galway-led research, the concentration of particulate pollution in the homes of smokers (who smoke indoors) is six-times higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommendation for general outdoor air quality, 10 times the allowable level for healthy breathing in homes and up to 17 times greater than levels actually found outdoors.
Smoking at home causes greater levels of air pollutants than using solid fuels such as coal, wood, peat and gas, says Dr Marie Coggins.
Since the introduction of the smoking ban in Ireland, many people have found it easier to stop people smoking in their own homes. So, in today’s poll we ask: Do you allow smoking in your home?
A morning shower; otherwise, cloudy
Max: 13 °C
Min: 4 °C
Mostly cloudy, showers around; cooler
Max: 11 °C
Min: 4 °C
Mostly cloudy with a shower
Max: 12 °C
Min: 4 °C
