Results 25,021-25,040 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I remind the Deputy that she is still proposing to spend €12 million in holding a referendum on water that is now highly unnecessary; therefore, I will not be preached to by anyone on the left about wasting money.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I think I have answered the question about the fuel allowance.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am unaware of the matter to which the Deputy refers.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Nothing has yet been brought to the Government in that regard but the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Phelan, is preparing a memo which he intends to bring to Cabinet in the next couple of weeks. We would be happy to consult the Opposition on the matter at that point.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am glad the Deputy acknowledges the independence of the editors of our local newspapers, unlike other Members who have sought to cast aspersions on them of late.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot-----

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to provide the Deputy with an up-to-date note on those houses in Kells.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: However, I can say that the Government-----

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----has committed to 110,000 new social homes being built over the course of the ten-year plan.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My empire goes well beyond the cineplex, all the way to the outskirts of Clonee village, as Deputy Cassells is aware.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is a pleasure to be able to represent a constituency that borders on Meath. The Minister of State with responsibility for local government, Deputy John Paul Phelan, will bring a memo to Cabinet in the coming weeks but I have not seen it yet. Once it goes to Cabinet we will be happy to advise the Deputy as to what is in it.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: But I do not know what is in it, because I have not seen it yet. I point out that at a time when people love to talk about how much money is being spent on other things that we have estimated the cost of restoring town councils at €40 million a year.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, to reply to the Deputy directly.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: This is time for questions on promised legislation and the programme for Government.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We are due to have Questions to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, at 3.30 p.m. I understand the figures have only just been published so I have not seen them. I am told that they show an increase but the level of family homelessness, notwithstanding the increase, is still not higher than it was in November.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot answer that in eight minutes.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will send the Sinn Féin Members a copy of Rebuilding Ireland, which is our policy on the matter.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will give some consideration to Deputy John Brassil's helpful suggestion that we bring forward the extra week's payment already planned for April. I will have to discuss the matter with the Ministers for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and Public Expenditure and Reform. I suggest to Deputy Pearse Doherty that if we were to assume that leaving the heating on 24/7 would cost...

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think I could possibly agree to that.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked for a debate to take place today. As I hope Deputies are aware, I do not control the House or set the times for debates in it.