Results 24,941-24,960 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is according to the Central Statistics Office, which collects these data. In terms of our commitment to deal with the issue, the most effective way to lift people out of poverty is through employment. The Deputy will be aware of the work the Government is doing to boost employment in this country and through measures such as investment in education and housing. The Deputy will be...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----very significant investment in housing as well. There will be €4.2 billion to build 112,000 new social homes in that period. I can assure the Deputy, therefore, that we are going in the right direction and with this Government remaining in office, we will continue to go in the right direction.

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Yesterday, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Michael Ring, announced funding of €815,000 for 12 new social enterprises under strand 3 of the community services programme, or CSP. The CSP supports local community-based organisations and activities to deliver a diverse range of services in communities while providing employment opportunities for people from...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There has been a significant increase in the social inclusion element of the HSE's budget which covers the task forces and there are also additional funds which are routed directly through the Department of Health. It is very much within the domain of the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, to determine how that money is best spent and whether it is through local drugs task forces or...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The legislation is very much a priority. I met the Minister for Finance last night and we discussed it. The Department of Finance is working on drafting that as we speak. I should point out that through ISIF and other financial vehicles, the Government already provides finance to developers and builders who are looking to build new homes. However, the additional body will allow us to do...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The international, EU and Northern Ireland division of my Department covers work on all international, EU and British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs within the Department, including issues relating to Brexit. This division is headed by a Second Secretary General, who also acts as the Irish sherpa for EU business, including...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has published several action plans, all of which take Brexit into consideration. I referred to the 2018 Action Plan for Jobs in my initial response, which specifically includes actions to prepare businesses and enterprise for Brexit. It was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday and will be published by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, in the coming weeks. Ireland 2040, which was...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Companies that are dependent on the UK market will face difficulties.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is no point in denying that they will face difficulties. No matter who sits in this office or from which side of the House one looks at it, if there is a significant change in the trading relationship between Britain and Ireland, companies that depend on the UK market for exports will face difficulties. We need to help them to prepare, which involves diversifying markets, increasing...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Of course, the report says none of those things. If one reads it, it says that even in a worst-case scenario, the Irish economy will continue to grow but at a slower rate than it would otherwise.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is not how it is being reported in the reports that I have seen in the media.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not control any media. Any reasonable person who looked at the headlines about the Copenhagen Economics report would be forgiven for thinking that the report projected that Ireland would go into recession, that people's pay would be cut and jobs lost.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry Ceann Comhairle, it is getting a bit silly because they all know what I am saying.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to continue but the Ceann Comhairle is correct that the constant interruptions do make it difficult to answer.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Okay.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. I chaired meetings of Cabinet committees A and G in January, and to date in February I have chaired meetings of committees D, F and C. It is a short answer.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to the assessment of capital needs in the health sector, that was very much covered by the capacity review that was commissioned by the Minister for Health. The capacity review was in the programme for Government. It is referenced specifically in the Sláintecare report. The capacity review was published in January. It outlines the kind of increase in capacity that we need...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think it requires a protracted debate-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----but it is a good system. We used it the last time and we should use it again.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I would certainly welcome Deputy Martin's views and the views of other parties on the matter. I believe the results of the European Parliament elections should be reflected in the selection of the Commission President.