Results 24,521-24,540 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Urban Renewal Schemes (30 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme Implementation Board chaired by Michael Stone is overseeing implementation of actions recommended in the Mulvey Report for the social and economic regeneration of the North East Inner City. The Board, which contains representatives from the community and business sectors and the key Government agencies, has met every month since it was established last June and will shortly...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Retirements (30 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of my Department - are both located in Dublin.

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is important to put on the record that there are more than 2,000 section 39 organisations throughout the State. They provide important disability services. They include many, but not all, of our hospices and provide vital services for our elderly people. A differential in pay has now opened up between staff working for HSE bodies and staff working for these section 39 bodies. That is...

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is certainly not fair to the workers in these organisations who have been caught in the middle between their employers, the section 39 organisations-----

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----the HSE and the Government. I can only give the facts. The Deputy is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As I said earlier, the Government has proposed a process by which we can resolve this issue. I am pleased to confirm that just last night, one of the two unions concerned, Fórsa, has accepted the Government's offer and proposal. I welcome that Fórsa, as a trade union, has accepted our proposal and process to resolve this. I hope SIPTU will follow suit.

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is important not to forget that we lost a decade in this country because of the economic and financial crisis. During that period, unemployment and poverty worsened and inequality widened. The people on this side of the House are not to blame for that financial and economic crisis but we worked very hard for a decade to put things right and get the country moving in the right direction...

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The number of people with disabilities accessing higher education is increasing each year and the target in regard to the number of people with disabilities working for government has been increased from 3% to 6%. In response to the Deputy's question, that is a flavour of what Government is doing. I wish I had more time.

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have not read the report but I will do so. When I can get around to it, I will take a look at all the Sinn Féin policy papers. What passes as a policy paper for Sinn Féin is called a press release in my party. All Sinn Féin does is take a press release, put a glossy cover on it and call it a policy paper but there is very little detailed costings or information in it but...

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I very much agree that home care resources and provision for home care need to be increased. We need to ensure patients in hospital can get home quicker, thus freeing up beds in hospitals. We also need to ensure that those in receipt of home care are less likely to deteriorate and become unwell. It makes sense on so many different levels to provide more home care. The budget and the...

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised by the Minister for Health that it is very much under way. We expect to have it in place in the next couple of months, certainly before next winter. We really hope it works. If the modular build does work and the additional beds do make a difference in terms of overcrowding, efficiency and capacity in the hospital, it is a model we may be able to apply to other places. Just...

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is the case that we have seen a return to a level of congestion and traffic gridlock in cities that we have not seen for quite some time. A lot of that is related to the fact that the economy has improved and people are working again. Passenger numbers on Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are increasing. On the Maynooth line, with which Deputy Catherine Murphy and I are...

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The ten-year national infrastructure investment plan will be published as soon as it is agreed by the Government. I hope that will be in the next few weeks. The Deputy will then see what can be funded and what cannot be funded in the greater Dublin area and in the rest of the country in the decade ahead. All the projects she mentioned are in the mix. Deputy Catherine Murphy is correct...

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I know this is an issue that parents in particular are worried about. As a society, we need to protect our children. It is disturbing how disgusting predators can use technology to get in touch with children and communicate with them in a nefarious way. I know that is something everyone in the House is concerned about. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment,...

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That legislation is on the priority list for publication in this session. The heads have already been provided. The question on the Defence Forces is under examination, but what we really want to achieve with the Defence Forces is to have a system of conciliation and arbitration that works for all sides.

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No legislation is promised on this matter, but I will make the Deputy's concerns known to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed.

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No legislation is promised on that matter either but, as the Deputy will be aware, resources are being increased for the health service all the time. There has been a considerable increase in recent years, but the connection between resources and services is, at best, indirect.

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, is in Turkey selling beef at the moment, but I will certainly pass on the suggestion to him on his return.

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot guarantee that I am afraid, but I am sure the relevant authorities will be able to give the Deputy a more assuring answer.

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have an answer in respect of Letterkenny University Hospital. However, I can say that the following hospitals are included in respect of the 170 additional beds that have been opened this winter. Twenty-two beds have been opened in St. Vincent's University Hospital; 25 have been opened in Drogheda; 17 have been opened in Limerick; 28 have been opened in Galway; 20 have been opened...