Results 27,121-27,140 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On Western Building Systems, there is legal action under way in respect of four schools where works related to fire safety have been or are being carried out by the Department. That number includes Ardgillan community college. We will have to see how this issue develops with regard to structural problems in the schools but if the company has not built these schools up to standard it is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I certainly do. The Deputy referred to people who are not accessing education, healthcare, or employment and social protection services. I am trying to think through exactly to whom the Deputy is referring.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I meet and speak regularly with my EU counterparts, bilaterally, and at formal and informal meetings of the European Council. I had a bilateral meeting with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, in Brussels on 4 October. We discussed progress in the Brexit negotiations and other issues on the EU agenda in advance of the October European Council. President Tusk re-iterated his...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Legislative Reviews (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: A significant amount of work is done on Government Bills before publication of the scheme of a Bill is approved by Government. This would include such measures as consultation with stakeholders, investigation of unintended consequences, examining financial implications for proposals, checking compatibility with the Constitution, EU law and international obligations. Where necessary and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Community Development Initiatives (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: At the outset of the North East Inner City (NEIC) Initiative, care was taken to ensure that area would be the right size to allow the work to be focused, while encompassing areas identified as disadvantaged. Sheriff Street, Seán McDermott Street, Ballybough and Summerhill - all areas identified as very disadvantaged - have been included under the Initiative. That said, a...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As I stated in the House on the 11th October 2018, I was invited by Science Foundation Ireland to present Mr. David McCourt with the Science Foundation Ireland St. Patrick's Day Medal at a public event held in Washington DC in March 2018 at which the media were present and which was reported at the time. I had no other meeting or discussion with Mr McCourt. We did not discuss the national...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Programme for Government Implementation (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for a Partnership Government was agreed in May 2016 during the formation of the Government. This is a five year programme of work being undertaken for the duration of the present Dáil. The relevant commitment in the Programme which focuses on the Oireachtas Committee Structure, Resources and Responsibilities, sets out a number of commitments in this area, including...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Local Authority Funding (23 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In 2016 the Department of the Taoiseach supported the Minister for the Diaspora in overseeing implementation of a national diaspora strategy. Funding was provided to Local Authorities for the development of strong diaspora links at local and community level in order to benefit local and regional development. The Local Diaspora Strategy Development Fundwas open to all Local Authorities to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this very important issue, which I know is of great concern to parents in various parts of Dublin at the moment. Unfortunately, up to 40 schools around the country, and not just in Dublin, could be affected. The safety of students and staff has to be our paramount consideration and I know that everyone in this House will agree. We are also deeply...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The number of schools that need to be checked is 40. All of the principals in those schools have been informed. The principals will inform the parents in the normal way that schools inform parents. About 40 schools will be affected and they are all schools that were constructed by Western Building Systems.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of this particular structural issue, as opposed to-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----the fire issue, I am advised that 40 schools are involved in total. A separate issue has been going on for quite some time in respect of fire safety. This relates to structural issues. Obviously everything will be done to find alternative accommodation for schools but it is going to be difficult. It is not easy to find 25 classrooms. I know people have talked about sports clubs and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I join with the Deputy is recognising the work of Catherine Corless, the local historian whose painstaking research over a number of years helped to bring many of the issues at Tuam to the attention of the Government and the public. I also recognise the various campaigners involved. I thank the Deputy for commending the Minister, Deputy Zappone, and the Government on the decision we made...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Many terrible things may have happened in those institutions. I know that some people may take the view that we should treat this as something in the past and not dredge up old issues. Some people have told me to let sleeping dogs lie. We have decided that is not the right approach. We need to understand our past, to know what happened, to come to terms with it, and to try to put things...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Government, through the work of the Minister, Deputy Zappone, sought a higher contribution and a percentage contribution but this is what is forthcoming. The Deputy will know the Bon Secours Sisters are not under any obligation to make a contribution but they are making a contribution of €2.5 million. We are treating it as a contribution. I want to make it very clear to everyone...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The blasphemy referendum will happen on Friday at the same time as the presidential election. The Government is asking people to vote "Yes" in that referendum. We see it as part of an ongoing drive to modernise our Constitution to make it a 21st century Constitution for a 21st century republic following on from the decision to remove the constitutional ban on divorce,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly give consideration to what the Deputy has to say on our incitement to hatred laws but we always need to be careful to get the balance right. I know the Deputy would want that too. In bringing in laws that restrict what people can say, we must ensure they do not go so far as to trammel free speech and that is a balance we always need to get right. I am at a slight...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: First, I offer my condolences once again to the family and friends of Ms Emma Mhic Mhathúna at what is a difficult time for them, and also to the families of other women who lost their lives to cervical cancer. I assure everyone in this House that Government is deeply committed to ensuring cervical screening continues and provides Irish women with a high-quality service in which they...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I may be a little out of date and out of practice, but the last time I checked the best scientific evidence was that extending cervical screening to women under the age of 25 would not be beneficial. In regard to screening, one must always bear in mind the whole problem of false negatives, with which people are now familiar and which can cause false reassurance. False positives can also be...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am mindful of the concerns and worries of the families affected, one of whom I had the opportunity to meet with a week or two ago on a visit to another part of the country. It is important to reiterate that the Oireachtas decided that decisions on which drugs are reimbursed should not be made by politicians. The European Medicines Agency and the Health Products Regulatory Authority decide...