Results 23,181-23,200 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: We have introduced subsidised child care for families across Ireland and extended treatment benefits, invalidity pension and maternity and paternity benefits to the self-employed. We have laid out a very clear position on Brexit and next week we will bring forward a budget that will balance the books for the first time in ten years. That is a lot of substance.
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is absolutely right to point out that when he was in government with my party, we commissioned research on polls. I am not sure we are actually carrying out polls-----
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: -----but certainly the strategic communications unit is going to carry out some research. I have no difficulty at all with the findings being published. I note that the Deputy has pointed out that this is not new. It is something the last and previous Governments did.
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: Therefore, it is not a major change. In terms of staffing levels, there will be six staff in the new unit who will be seconded from other areas of the public service. I do not yet know what the net cost will be, but as soon as I do, I will let the Deputy know. I do not know about the staff being employed at departmental level. The Deputy will have to ask the individual Departments...
- Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: People often think Government agencies are non-governmental organisations, NGOs. This is an opportunity to end that fragmentation, save money and have clearer communications. That is what we intend to do.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for referring to a very important roads project. The House will know that between 2011 and 2014 I had the pleasure to be Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. Therefore, I know the road very well having travelled up and down to Killarney many times. I have also been stuck in Macroom having had to pass through Ballyvourney and other towns.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: If I remember correctly, when I was Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, the project got stuck in legal issues. There was a heritage case or a case involving property that held it up. The Government is keen to progress the N22 bypass project which would connect Killarney, Ballyvourney and Macroom, but I cannot make any commitment to the Deputy today. However, we are in the process of...
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: I offer my profound apologies and stand corrected. I am getting my Kerry road projects mixed up.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: There are so many of them, of course. I opened the three bypasses at Dingle, Castleisland and Tralee myself a few years ago. I would have to check with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport what is the exact status of the project. There will be further allocations for road spending as part of the ten-year capital plan. Under what we are planning already, there will be an...
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: We have solved the problem at Newland's Cross. We have upgraded the N11 at New Ross and Enniscorthy. It is under way.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: The Gort to Tuam motorway opened last week.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: The Tralee bypass opened in the past five years, as did the new section of the road to Dingle. There have been 50 primary care centres opened and hundreds of new schools have been built across the country or extended. A national sports campus has been built. A national children's hospital will soon be under construction.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: If that has been done in the past five years when we had almost no money at all, imagine what we will do in the next ten years.
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: The Government is very much committed to achieving a target of 9,500 personnel in our Permanent Defence Forces. In doing so, we are going to recruit 800 personnel this year, but as the Deputy points out very accurately, a large number of people leave the Defence Forces every year. Roughly 580 leave every year, and that has been the case for the past decade. Other militaries, such as that...
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to contact the Deputy.
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: I am not the only Member of the House getting a little mixed up today. This is a matter for the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, not the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine -----
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: -----but I will ask the relevant Minister to reply to the Deputy's question.
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: As I am on my feet, I want to extend the Deputy's constituents in Ballingarry my particular compliments on a really excellent National Famine Commemoration.
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for being there also. It was a very appropriate location for the commemoration and I pay tribute to the people of Tipperary for putting on a very fitting occasion.
- Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)
Leo Varadkar: It will come before the House this term.