Results 1,041-1,060 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I have not had a chance to see those amendments yet but I met the Tánaiste this morning and I know he is working on it. If we can agree an all-party motion on this matter, that would be beneficial and would send a very strong statement beyond this House to the people and to the world more widely, but it needs to be balanced. It needs, as the Deputy has done, to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. We had a video-conference of the European Council - the 27 Heads of State and Government - yesterday. It was a good meeting. It built on the statement that was released by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, on behalf of the European Council on Saturday, puts us in a better place as a European Union and is a more consistent approach. The European...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue which I think is on the minds of everyone in this House and everyone in the country. On behalf of the Government, I condemn unequivocally the bombing of the Anglican Al-Ahli hospital yesterday in Gaza. It was an atrocity. It violated the rules of war and violated basic humanity. It might yet prove to be a war crime but whatever...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (18 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 to 36, inclusive, together. The Cabinet Committee on Children and Education oversees the implementation of commitments in the Programme for Government in the area of children and education, including further and higher education, with a specific focus on child poverty and well-being. The Cabinet Committee on Children and Education met on Thursday,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (18 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on EU and International Affairs oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments and considers policy matters in relation to the European Union and international issues. It most recently met on 2 October, when it reflected on attendance and meetings at the United Nations High-Level week in September, and looked ahead to meetings of the European Political...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Functions (18 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Economic Policy Unit is part of the Economic Division of the Department. The Unit assists me, as Taoiseach, in achieving sustainable and balanced economic growth and in advancing the Government’s economic priorities. The Unit also advises me on a broad range of economic policy issues, and provides me with briefing and speech material on economic and related policy matters. It seeks...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Legal Cases (18 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department has identified three legal cases which have been taken against the Department during the period in question. All three were individual claims taken against the Department and have all been concluded involving a small settlement and associated legal and ancillary costs. The costs for the three cases spread over four years are set out in the following table: Year ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Strategies (18 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland’s Well-being Framework was launched in July 2021. It consists of 11 dimensions which are made up of different aspects of well-being and is supported by a dashboard of 35 indicators (available on the CSO website). Analysis of these indicators is published annually since 2022, and the 2023 analysis was published on 9 June this year. The Government has committed to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Budget 2024 (18 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to the Governments website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/a93a4-your-guide-to-budget-2024/) for detailed analysis of Budget 2024 and its benefits for all. The €14 billion package is designed to help people, families, businesses and farmers equally across all counties in Ireland with the cost of living. The focus on Child Poverty and Well-being in this year’s...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Like Deputy Cannon, I am a big fan of greenways. They have been a huge success in the past couple of years, starting in County Mayo and then moving on to County Waterford and other places too. Most of them follow the route of old railway lines. I will certainly take that up with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The Minister is very keen to see the western rail corridor extended northwards...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly take that on board. I know there are different views in the region as to what should be done. We will have to work out how long it will take to do these projects as well. Obviously, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is going to take the lead on this. I will certainly convey the remarks of both Deputies to him.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to the first question on Castletown House and grounds, I am aware of the situation and I have spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy Donovan, about it. Conversations are ongoing with the landowner. We are keen to resolve that if we can, but it is a negotiation. I will say once again that I think President von der Leyen's remarks in more recent days have been more balanced...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----on top of the ones we already have.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I am afraid I do not have details of those schemes to hand. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to come back directly to the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The health budget is always difficult and no matter how much is allocated, there are almost always overruns. That is the reality of the health budget. We will have to work on it across government in the coming months, in co-operation with the HSE. Let us be clear that the budget allocated to health next year is the biggest ever at €22.5 billion, which is over...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of Shannondoc. I will make inquiries with the Minister for Health and the HSE and come back to the Deputy with a more detailed reply.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. It is important to say that the road safety budget comes largely from the Road Safety Authority, which is self-funding, so that money is not seen in the budget line. The fees charged by the Road Safety Authority covers its costs and funds the education campaigns and so on. The budget line to which the Deputy referred is principally for road maintenance and new roads and...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate the Deputy's ongoing interest in this important matter. In most years, we allocate approximately €20 million or €30 million as part of a dedicated fund for new medicines. I am confident that we will be able to provide dedicated funding for new medicines in the service plan for 2024. The budget for medicines is €3.2 billion per year. Even savings of 1%...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I honestly do not know. Different people will have different stories about how the financial problems arose in the Peter McVerry Trust and it will have to be properly and fully investigated. Only when that is known will we know exactly what did or did not happen in that body. It is important that services continue and are not disrupted while investigations take place and while a new...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot do that but I will ask the line Minister to do so. We have provision for family reunification and it happens all of the time. However, it depends on the visa status, the time somebody has been in the State and his or her capacity to support any dependants he or she would bring over.