Results 23,481-23,500 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Summits (18 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: If Commissioner Hogan made new comments today, I am not aware of them. I would prefer to see his comments in full and in context before commenting on them specifically. The informal dinner was very much about the future of Europe, including future co-operation and integration. It touched on what is already in train as a result of the Bratislava process, as well as the Juncker and Macron...

Pre-European Council: Statements (18 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: A Cheann Comhairle, tá áthas orm labhairt libh inniu roimh Chomhairle na hEorpa an Deireadh Fómhair, a thionólfar sa Bhruiséil ar an Déardaoin agus ar an Aoine seo chugainn. Is ea an dara uair a fhreastalóidh mé ar chruinniú foirmiúil de Chomhairle na hÉorpa ó cheapadh i mo Thaoiseach. Áirítear an Eoraip Digiteach;...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Economic and Social Council (18 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I appoint members to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) in accordance with the provisions of the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006. The legislation provides for nominations from five sectors - business and employer, ICTU, farming and agricultural, community and voluntary, and environmental. I also appoint up to 6 public servants and 8 independent...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: First, on behalf of the Government, I want to once again express our very strong support for our Defence Forces - the Army, the Naval Service and the Air Corps. The Government is very proud of the role our Defence Forces play, whether it is around the world on missions such as in Mali, which I discussed with President Macron yesterday, or in Lebanon, whether it is in the context of what they...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: To answer the Deputy's question, a crisis, no, but real substantive issues that need to be dealt with, absolutely. We completely accept that there are issues in the context of recruitment and retention in particular parts of the public service, including the Air Corps. In terms of health and safety, the Minister of State with responsibility for defence has received an assurance from the...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I really have little or no knowledge of the internal politics of Sinn Féin-----

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----or any internal disagreements or rivalries that may exist and I have no particular interest in them, either. That is all I can say about that. What is required now is that since the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin - the major parties in Northern Ireland - have been given a mandate on several occasions by the citizens of Northern Ireland, they should come together, reach an...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----and get the Executive up and running. They should have the assembly meeting, which would thereby allow us to meet Ministers from Northern Ireland, as we did in the past, at the North-South Ministerial Council. They should allow Northern Ireland to have a voice and a say when it comes to Brexit through the Joint Ministerial Council and they should allow a First Minister and Deputy First...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is what Deputy Adams has done in this House in the past few minutes. He cannot blame people for carrying out shadowy briefings; he did it himself in this Chamber in the past few minutes. He spoke about stubborn elements in political unionism. That is not a good way to talk about people with whom he is trying to reach an agreement. He refers to stubborn elements in political unionism...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: This does not sound like the language of somebody who is trying to lead his party into an agreement with the unionists or into co-operation with the British and Irish Governments.

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: This sounds like somebody who has already given up and is trying to spread the blame to others.

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have no difficulty speaking for myself. I think anyone in this House will know that I speak my mind and do not mince my words. I do not need to operate through Government briefings and I am not going to account for Government briefings any more than I would expect Deputy Adams to account for Sinn Féin briefings or unattributed sources in newspapers. What I have said, I have said...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I apologise but I do not have any specific information on Bandon Community Hospital or Bantry General Hospital but I will ask the Minister for Health to respond to the Deputy as soon as is possible. In regard to the individual case he raised, I am sorry to hear that the gentleman had to wait so long for his cataract operation.

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure that for a long time before that, he would have been affected by loss of vision and all that comes with that, including isolation which I know can be much worse in a rural area. I am pleased to note that he was able to avail of the cross-Border health care directive, which means his treatment was funded by the HSE and by the Irish taxpayer even though he had to travel to another...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to our health service, I acknowledge that we can do better. We do very well in lots of areas. It is important to recognise that and to recognise the work of our health service staff in that regard. Life expectancy in Ireland has improved considerably in recent years. This did not happen by accident. It is the result of better public health and a better health service. The...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Central Bank has engaged the Garda on the matter and because that has been done, it is probably inappropriate for me to comment upon it except to say that this is a democracy and neither the Taoiseach nor the former Taoiseach nor the Minister for Justice and Equality can send in the Garda or the fraud squad. A complaint is made to the Garda and considered and the Garda then decides...

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Central Bank has engaged the Garda Síochána on the matter.

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is not within the------

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Government does not have the authority to order in the fraud squad and that is not how it works.

Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know whether a formal complaint has been made. It is open to any citizen in the State------