Results 25,861-25,880 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We need to be wise to the threats to our economic recovery and stability. It is very easy and tempting to assume that the economy is now fixed and that we do not need to be concerned with it any longer and that we should move on to other problems. I do not know how many times in our history we have made that mistake only for the economy to become unstuck again and fall back into the cycle...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: To answer Deputy Brophy, we might discuss this again offline but I expect the Department of Finance to engage with the committee and give members any access to information or assistance it can. It is early days with this committee but it could have a role to play in the future. It will never be at the level of the budgetary committee that exists in US Congress, for example. That is a...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Starting with the issue of investment in education, I agree with Deputy O'Loughlin. I have a portrait of Seán Lemass in my office. It has returned to the Taoiseach's office. I think John Bruton had it, and certainly former Fianna Fáil taoisigh had the portrait there as well. I have it there to remind me of two things. The first is that it reminds me every day that I am part of...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy would be very welcome.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I think overall a trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur would be good. Trade agreements the European Union has made have been hugely beneficial, including the CETA with Canada and others made with South Korea and Japan more recently. One of the ironic things about Brexit is that in leaving the European Union the United Kingdom will walk out of all of these really good...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On the cost of doing business, I know Deputy Butler has raised this issue. The rising cost of business crops up frequently when I meet business people. Obviously costs are passed on to customers and insurance is a significant cost. The approach we took with car insurance and health insurance has largely worked. The cost of health insurance stabilised following a significant increase and...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As a means for preparing for Brexit, there is a range of information and support available. Enterprise Ireland is running a very good campaign to encourage small and medium-sized businesses, SMEs, to participate in the Brexit readiness check. There are a lot of supports available, including access to low-cost finance for small businesses. When I met businesses representatives some weeks...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----there is a risk that some pension funds or employers might decide to get in ahead of it. While we are aware of this, we do not want to bring forward legislation that might do more harm than good.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have not yet given any consideration to establishing a special committee to consider the report of the Citizens' Assembly on climate change. I am open to the idea, but I imagine that Deputy Hildegarde Naughton's committee would be able to do that work. I am, however, open to the suggestion of establising a special committee if Members believe there should be a discrete committee. As the...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I had thought participation in sport was increasing. I know a sports monitor is produced every year and at least for a while it had been increasing by approximately 1% a year, but perhaps young people drop off from it as they hit teenage years, which is definitely a big problem particularly among girls who have relatively high participation rates when they are young but in their teenage...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Connolly who was very kind to compliment me on my Irish. I am doing my best although I have a long way to go. It is fine when one is prepared, knows what the questions will be and what one will say. I find it very hard to speak on the hoof however and as yet lack the confidence to do a dynamic interview in Irish without knowing the questions in advance. Certainly, I will...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will revert to Deputy Connolly on the issue of the action plan. I have not yet seen a draft, which leads me to believe that the plan may not be as advanced as it should be. I usually see drafts a couple of weeks or months before a document is published or goes to Cabinet. I will raise the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, when I see him tomorrow. I am encouraged by...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I was trying to work that out earlier.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The same applies to Cabinet meetings, but nobody seems to mind.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On the last point, I would be happy to consider that. I believe it should continue for the duration of this Oireachtas. It is an issue of huge importance and interest to the public. One of the things that is positive when it comes to mental health is that the stigma about talking about it has largely gone away. People are willing to talk about mental health in a way that was not the case...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is to be a joined-up policy, is there not?

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is to be published, is it not?

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I hear what the Senator is saying. I know from my constituency clinic and service that it is difficult to enable children in my constituency to get access to CAMHS quickly. I cannot commit here and now to the establishment of a task force. Obviously, I would have to discuss it with the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. If I knew that it would work, of...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Matters of Public Policy: Discussion with Taoiseach (10 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It does, and on what authority they have. I know we will be meeting in the next few weeks. We might be able to flesh it out a bit more then.

Leaders' Questions (15 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has asked questions of a number of people, among others, the Minister for Health, the chief medical officer and the Secretary General of the Department of Health. I cannot speak for all those people and it would be wrong for me to answer questions on behalf of others.