Results 23,061-23,080 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On the question relating to publishing documents, it is a matter for the respective Ministers. I would certainly welcome a debate in the House on the capital plan priorities and the planning framework before they are published. It would be appropriate for the House to, at the very least, have statements on such an important issue before decisions are made. As somebody who also represents a...

Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate the Deputy's commitment and that of his party to getting this legislation through. We also want to get it through. I am very keen to see universities of technology - or technological universities - becoming a reality. Amendments are being worked on at present. They follow on from a number of issues, including an agreement with the Teachers Union of Ireland. I assure the...

Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We anticipate pre-legislative scrutiny within this session.

Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am very aware of the shortage of respite care in the country. It is something that comes up in my constituency all the time. I imagine it comes up in the Deputy's as well. I am also very aware of the lifeline that respite offers to many families. The fact they get a break from caring for relatives or loved ones is essential to their own mental health and well-being. It is something in...

Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I answered this question earlier in response to Deputy Michéal Martin. Parliamentary questions should be tabled to the Minister for Health in order to obtain more specific answers.

Order of Business (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It was a real pleasure to visit the Deputy's county on Friday and to spend some time in both Dundalk and Drogheda. None of us can doubt the benefits that could accrue from much faster line speeds on the rail line between Dublin and Belfast which of course would also benefit Dundalk, Drogheda and Newry. The question asked by the Deputy represents exactly the kind of work we now need to do to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. On 31 August, I held a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process with representatives of the Catholic Church, led by Archbishop Eamon Martin. I was accompanied at the meeting by the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Fitzgerald; the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On a point of order, I do not make the rules of the House.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will start from the top. The rights of transgender citizens did not come up as a specific issue. While it did not arise, it may of course be possible to discuss it at a future meeting or bilaterally at meetings that will occur between the Minister for Education and Skills and the Catholic Church. The issue of patronage and divestment was discussed. The Government expressed the view...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Communications (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. I spoke with Prime Minister Modi by telephone on 16 June. It was a short congratulatory call, similar to a number of calls I received from Heads of State and Government when I took office. During our brief conversation, we discussed a number of matters including our support for the resumption of talks on an EU-India free trade agreement...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Communications (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As was mentioned, Prime Minister Modi made a visit to Ireland last year and I had the opportunity to meet him on that occasion. I certainly did invite him to visit Ireland again and would very much like him to do so. However, I appreciate that having only visited last year, it might be some time before an Indian Prime Minister is able to visit again. He did invite me to India and asked...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The independent report on the north east inner city undertaken by Kieran Mulvey recommended a wide range of actions to advance the social and economic regeneration of that area. While acknowledging the profound challenges facing the area and its people, the report highlighted a number of significant assets in the area such as its strong community spirit, its proud history, dedicated local...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is important to point out some of the key actions that are included in the report, including the refurbishment and reopening of Fitzgibbon Street Garda station, which will become a centre for community policing and local drug enforcement. There will be an increase in the level of local gardaí in the community. A new policing plan will be drawn up. A single platform will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It will transform these areas for the better. The Luas cross city, the order for which I signed six years ago today, will be carrying passengers back and forth through the north inner city from December helping to regenerate large parts of the north inner city from O'Connell Street all the way up to Broadstone and linking with Broombridge station. The Dublin Institute of Technology, DIT,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is fairly near it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Also, the Summerhill primary care centre-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----is a very significant addition. Somebody is doing a great job for the north inner city and many good things are happening. While there are many problems, we should acknowledge that people are actually delivering and things are happening. Even in regard to litter, and I know it is still a litter black spot, the recent Irish Business Against Litter, IBAL, survey showed an improvement in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On 31 August last, I held a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process with representatives of the Catholic Church, led by Archbishop Eamon Martin. I was accompanied at the meeting by the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and by the Ministers for Education and Skills, Health, Transport, Tourism and Sport and Employment Affairs and Social Protection....

Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Everyone in the House understands the need to improve our mental health services, particularly for young people. Everyone in this House understands how important mental health is. One of the positive things that has happened in the past number of years and decade is a much greater willingness by people to talk about mental health, to treat it seriously as an issue and to improve services....

Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy asked me a straight factual question and I gave him a straight factual answer. Statutory responsibility lies with the Health Service Executive. That is what the Health Act stipulates. The Health Act was passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas and it was brought into the Houses by the Deputy when he was Minister for Health and Children.