Results 21,581-21,600 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: While I do not have a date at the moment, there will be a further debate on Brexit in the Dáil next week.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: If the Bill is passed in the Dáil and subsequently in the Seanad, there would have to be a referendum on it. However, I am not in a position to set a date for a referendum today. As the Deputy will be aware, there are a number of issues on which referendums will be required in the period ahead. Dates for these referendums have not yet been scheduled. The Bill is progressive and...

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I discussed this matter with the Minister for Health this morning and I confirm the Government will not support any proposal to remove tax credits from people who pay private health insurance.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The legislation is being worked on. A great deal of work is under way between the Department of Justice and Equality and the Attorney General on that. We will progress it as soon as we can. The Government has put in place many supports and a great deal of advice for people facing mortgage arrears or facing repossession jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Justice and...

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The legislation is being handled by the Minister of State and it is on the priority list. The intention in the Bill is to introduce a new form of mobility allowance precisely for the people to whom the Deputy referred. We absolutely accept that this has gone on for too long and we will conclude this as soon as we can but it involves ongoing discussions between the Departments of Health and...

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is no legislation proposed or necessary on that matter so perhaps the Deputy will put it to the Minister for Health in the form of a parliamentary question.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An additional 500 places were allocated to the rural social scheme for this year. Dozens of new participants are already taking part in the schemes which is very encouraging. It is both. It is an income support scheme for farmers on marginal land whose incomes are not adequate to pay the bills. It, essentially, gives them some off-farm income. It is not designed to take them off the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Any such changes would require changes to primary legislation in the nursing home support scheme. I do not have a date for that legislation but I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, to contact the Deputy directly.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is not legislation but it is a programme for Government commitment. I hope to bring the draft to the Cabinet sub-committee next week and subject to it being happy with it, I will bring it to Cabinet next month and publish it before the summer recess.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: This is important and long-overdue, but also complicated, legislation. I understand that the heads are expected to be ready in June.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Tá brón orm. Níl mé cinnte ach iarrfaidh mé ar an Aire Stáit ar a bhfuil freagracht as an Gaeltacht an cheist sin a fhreagairt.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am not aware of any point in the programme for Government that is specific to those buildings, but I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, to revert to the Deputy.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to check up on that. Existing RSS participants can stay on it for life. I have made no policy decision to change that. There is a difference for the 500 new entrants, in that they can be on the scheme for up to six years in two three-year blocks. I am unsure as to what this is about, but I am happy to discuss it with the Deputy and find out what is the story. People who have...

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That legislation is currently being developed but it is not anticipated that the heads will be ready this session.

Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to respond directly to the Deputy on that matter.

Public Transport Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No.

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Colscaradh) 2016: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Divorce) Bill 2016: Second Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am delighted to contribute to the debate and to offer my support for the Bill. I acknowledge the significant work Deputy Madigan has put in, as she brings forward a timely reform, which in many ways is overdue. I doubt many of us in 1994 thought that this provision would not have been amended within a shorter period. The history of divorce in Ireland makes interesting reading. As...

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Colscaradh) 2016: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Divorce) Bill 2016: Second Stage (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There could be referendums on many issues. It was part of our manifesto in 2011 to have a big Constitution day on which we would have perhaps ten referenda on the same day. It would be exciting but could also be extremely confusing. I am not entirely sure where I fall on that matter. It demonstrates the extent to which our Constitution is in so many ways very much out of date. It was...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (6 Apr 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,460 schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of some €47.7 million in 2017. The funding for the scheme was increased this year, as part of Budget 2017, by an additional €5.7 million (almost 14% over the previous year’s allocation) which will benefit over...