Results 24,041-24,060 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Obviously the Deputy is free to criticise my handling of the events of recent days, as is anyone, but the basic approach I will always follow is that people should be given a fair hearing and that we should know all the facts before we rush to judgment. I appreciate fully that has never been the approach of Deputy Adams or his party. In the Sinn Féin view of the world people do not...

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Which file?

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I read all the letters the Deputy sends me. I make a point of it.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is a process under way. When people have complaints to make against An Garda Síochána, there is a body called the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. That body is responsible and empowered to carry out these investigations. We should allow it to carry out its investigation, allow for due process and allow GSOC to make its report. When it has made its...

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is not for us to adjudicate on allegations, meet different sides and then, without evidence, make judgments. We must ensure allegations, whether by whistleblowers or others, will be taken seriously and investigated appropriately. We should not allow the Oireachtas to become a court.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Brexit stakeholder group is due to meet tomorrow and all parties are invited and welcome to participate in it. I have set up a system under which a very senior official in my Department is available to brief party leaders on the current state of the negotiations. Some party leaders have availed of it, although I am not sure if each of them has. I have committed to meeting party leaders...

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There will be statements in the House prior to the European Council meeting. They are to be made next week or the week after and there will be------

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That is the system we have in place in the House for party leaders and Members to contribute to the European Council before it takes place.

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have committed to having a meeting of party leaders when we get to decision point and will honour that commitment, but we are not yet at such a point. The situation changes on a daily basis and it is not practical to have a meeting every day or two on the issue. That would be a major distraction from the job we are doing on behalf of Ireland on Brexit and in dealing with other...

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I want to say how deeply saddened I am, as I think everyone is, to hear of the deaths in recent days of two people who were homeless. On my behalf and on behalf of the entire House, I express my condolences to the families and friends of those affected. We understand that one homeless man in his late 30s who had been sleeping rough at the Four Courts has passed away; The Irish Timesreports...

Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not believe it is a case of either-or and HAP works for many people. It allows them to live in private rented accommodation, often - almost always, in fact - in a private housing estate or private apartment block. I know from my experience in my own constituency that many people living with a HAP tenancy or with rent supplement in a private housing estate or a private housing...

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I call on the Minister, Deputy Coveney.

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The running of the Oireachtas is and ought to be a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. The Government has legislative plans to ban zero-hour contracts and ensure people have more security in respect of the hours they work. Sometimes, however, if-and-when contracts may be necessary and can work for the employee, particularly where there is an on-call or agency arrangement....

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is not really appropriate for me to arrange meetings on the floor of the House.

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That is news to me and I will certainly check it out. The Deputy will be aware from the budget announcements that the overall transport budget has been increased for next year and for every year up to 2021. I cannot understand why there would be a cut of that nature in roads maintenance. I will have the matter checked out.

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is no specific legislation on this matter. It is an objective of Government to protect farm incomes and that will be a major feature as we enter into negotiations for the new phase of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2020. Perhaps the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine will be able to answer this query better by means of a parliamentary question or Topical Issue Matters.

Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Next year is only five weeks away and it is our objective to have the contract signed as soon as possible and homes connected next year. As the Deputy knows, there are only two bidders left. Inevitably, these things take time. There has to be a tender process and a contract and a further short period during which the unsuccessful bidder can challenge the process. At that point, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Policy Functions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The role of the social policy and public service reform division is to support me, as Taoiseach, and the Government in delivering on the programme for Government objective of public policies and services which support a socially inclusive and fair society. The division supports the work of Cabinet committee B and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Policy Functions (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The range of questions was diverse but I will do my best to answer as many as I can. Deputy Adams is of course correct in saying that approximately seven homeless people have died in recent weeks. Roughly speaking, between 40 and 50 homeless people die every year. Each one is a tragedy and very sad. People who are homeless die for all sorts of different reasons, whether physical health,...