Results 27,161-27,180 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Howlin makes a very valid point in respect of tendering and the possibility of barring companies from tendering for past bad behaviour or bad practice, be it poor or shoddy building-----

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will answer if the Deputy will let me. The point was made regarding barring companies from tendering for such things as shoddy building in the past or failing to pay subcontractors. It is under examination but I understand that under EU public procurement directives, the bar for excluding somebody from tendering is actually very high and requires a burden of proof rather than a degree of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is happening as a consequence of legislation I introduced as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport providing for the transfer of smaller ports and harbours to local authorities and the new ports policy, which I launched as Minister. Yes, there are financial implications regardless of whichever port or harbour is transferred to a local authority. These implications mainly relate to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is now a matter for the courts. The EPA issues a report on urban wastewater every year. The latest report is based on an assessment of effluent monitoring results from over 1,000 wastewater treatment plants reported to the EPA by Irish Water and on enforcement carried out during 2017. Of these, the number of priority urban areas where wastewater treatment needs to improve is down...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 15, inclusive, together. My most recent bilateral meetings with Prime Minister May were on the margins of the European Council in Brussels on Wednesday last and at the informal summit in Salzburg on 20 September. We were in contact by phone in the interim. At our meeting in Salzburg, I reiterated my hope that the future relationship between the EU...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: If it is the case that Prime Minister May has refused to meet the four parties, I am disappointed to hear it. Sinn Féin, the SDLP, Alliance Party and Green Party combined represent the majority of people in the Northern Ireland Assembly, or close to it. That meeting should happen. I will have that meeting, having also met the leader of the DUP recently. I did not hear Secretary of...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I attended a series of European Council meetings in Brussels on Wednesday, 17 October and Thursday, 18 October. On Wednesday evening, we met in Article 50 format to discuss the Brexit negotiations. The meeting of the European Council proper on Thursday morning focused on migration, internal security and external relations. This was followed by a European summit, where we exchanged views on...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Operations (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The International, EU and Northern Ireland Division of my Department works on all international, EU and British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs within the Department, including Brexit. The Division assistsme in my international role including as a member of the European Council, and in my other EU and international engagements. The Division also provides advice and assistance to me...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Operations (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Economic Division in my Department assists me and the Government in developing and implementing policy: - to deliver sustainable and regionally balanced economic growth and quality jobs, and - to promote effective planning and delivery of infrastructural developments, including housing. The Cabinet Committees and associated Senior Officials Groups backed by the Division help to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 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: National Reform Programme (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The National Reform Programme is an important element of the European Semester - the annual post-crisis cycle of enhanced economic and fiscal policy coordination at EU level. Each Semester is set in train by the publication in November by the Commission of the Annual Growth Survey which identifies economic priorities for Member States for the period ahead. In April, Ireland, along with other...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Government Communications (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: A unified Government identity has been developed and adopted by Government Departments as part of the reform programme for Government communications, following a number of Government decisions. A unified identity for Government replaces a fragmented system that saw Government Departments and agencies use, and communicate through, a multiplicity of identities, logos and brands –...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge that we have a long-standing problem with overcrowding in our emergency departments which we have faced for probably two decades at this stage. As a doctor and a grandson, I certainly do not want to see any citizens or patients spending prolonged amounts of time on trolleys waiting for hospital beds. There were 391 patients on trolleys this morning at 8 waiting for admission...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are different reasons and different issues why beds cannot be opened. Much of it has to do with planning, for example, but if the Deputy will let me answer his question I will do so. I have itemised the 240 beds that were opened. Another 79 beds will be opened. They have been delayed but they are planned for this quarter and the first quarter of 2019. That includes an additional...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The facts are that when Fianna Fáil was in government with the Green Party, it took a decision to reduce the number of hospital beds in the health care system. It did not do so because of austerity. It did it during the boom because it decided that there would be a shift towards day care and primary care services. As a result, it started to decrease the number of beds in acute...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to winter planning, we have had a winter plan every winter for ten or 15 years and it has not worked.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: If the lesson in winter planning is that the standard winter plan that we have had for ten or 15 years, including additional home help, additional home care and transitional care, has not worked, the last thing we need to do this year is have yet another winter plan that will not work.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is what is going to happen. Between 22 December-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: May I speak?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Between 22 December this year and 3 January next year there are 12 days, seven of which will be Sundays, Saturdays or bank holidays. What has been happening in the health service for ten or 15 years is that hospitals effectively closed for seven days out of 12.