Results 23,601-23,620 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Order of Business (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: An tAire Gnóthaí Fostaíochta agus Coimirce Sóisialaí.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, and 116 together. Cabinet committee B covers the areas of social policy and public service reform, including education, children, equality, social inclusion, Irish and arts and culture and continued improvements in and reform of public services. Issues relevant to reform of the justice system are also included in its remit. Cabinet...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There was quite a range of questions on almost every topic, very few of which were dealt with by the Cabinet sub-committee. I am not in a position to answer them all in four minutes. I will try to answer what I can, starting with white collar crime. On 2 November, the Government launched a suite of 28 measures aimed at enhancing corporate governance, increasing transparency and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That may be the case but as the Deputy knows, Irish Rail receives over half of all the subvention that goes to public transport but carries only 20% of passengers. If we were to be fair and put passengers first, we would subsidise the buses much more as they carry much more passengers than rail services.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has suggested rail subsidies should be raised to the European average, arguing that if we did so, it would meet the pay demands of the unions. I would have thought we should put the passenger and consumer first, and if we raised our subsidies to the European average, we should be looking for a European rail service. That is the priority I would attach to this and it demonstrates...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is about making work pay and the contributory principle. It is also about ensuring people get value for their PRSI. It is only the first step in a new system of social insurance that will be developed over a number of years. I acknowledge that we have had very serious delays and waiting times for orthodontic work. I do not agree it does not get acknowledged. If one turns on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: This can be seen through two simple examples. When unemployment rates increased, it was the main item on the news but now they are decreasing, it is item No. 20 if it is even on the news at all. When the amount of mortgage arrears were increasing, it was the main item on the news but now they are decreasing and it is barely news at all.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The SCU does not go any way towards redressing-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It does.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That is a very unfair remark. I would be happy to continue to answer all the questions asked by Deputies-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----but I am in the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's hands as to whether that complies with Standing Orders.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I would be very happy to forget about all the other questions and just answer these.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It would take more than a minute as there are number of other questions to answer.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to reply but this system does not work.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The matter of the hospices is being examined and I have received Deputy Burton's correspondence on it in recent days. I understand the Labour Court will not deal with it because there is no dispute between the employer and the employees. I have asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Health to examine the matter and I am confident we will be able to resolve...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Documents (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. The report referred to is a draft internal working paper and preliminary analysis prepared by the Revenue Commissioners in September 2016 of potential administrative implications on customs processes following the UK vote in June 2016 to leave the European Union. As I stated in the House on 11 October, I read the Revenue...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Documents (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I absolutely agree with Deputy Martin that there is no need for secrecy around impact analyses. I have no difficulty with them being published. There may be good reasons they should be published but I do not believe those reasons involve secrecy. I accept the basic point that the Deputy makes, that it helps to inform the debate, not just here but also in the United Kingdom. There has to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Documents (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We have secured the Kenny text, that is, the text in the minutes of the guidelines setting out clearly that should there ever be a united Ireland the Six Counties can come into the European Union seamlessly. We have also reaffirmed the right of everybody born in Northern Ireland to Irish and European citizenship. Crucially, we have ensured we are not isolated. The worst position the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have not had the opportunity to meet or speak with President Putin since coming into office.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Priorities (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's primary role is to support me as Taoiseach, and the Government, in delivering on our programme of work. During the next three months, my Department will therefore support delivery of significant Government policy objectives including: - development of a Ten-Year Capital Investment Plan alongside the National Planning Framework; - ensuring that Ireland's key Brexit priorities...