Results 27,201-27,220 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The international, European Union and Northern Ireland division of my Department covers work on all international, EU and British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs within the Department, including Brexit matters. The division assists me in my international role, including as a member of the European Council, and in my other...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: For the record, I did not say Deputy McDonald was too radical; I said she was too extreme and indeed she is. I noted that she accused me of constantly lashing out. In fairness, that is her signature performance piece, whether it is at me, the British Government, the DUP one minute ago, Mrs. May one minute ago or Fianna Fáil on occasion; she is constantly lashing out. What she does not...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is what a responsible Opposition party would do. Sinn Féin comes up with demands. There is a big difference between demands and coming up with alternatives and solutions. I read the letter to which Deputy McDonald referred and agree with the sentiments expressed. I will reply to it and do what they have asked me to do to the best of my ability both in terms of a Brexit deal and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----and to ensure people living in Northern Ireland will have the same rights and freedoms as those living in Britain and Ireland. I note that some of the signatories, although not all, are Sinn Féin supporters. I hope they have also written to Deputy McDonald to ask her to do her job-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----which is to establish a Northern Ireland Assembly and a Northern Ireland Executive and build relationships with people like Mrs. Foster to try to get an agreement done.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Sinn Féin holds the world record in negotiations failure, something on which I hope it will work. Deputy Howlin asked about the review mechanism. I am aligned more with what Deputy Eamon Ryan had to say on it. Review mechanisms are not bad in themselves. Many international treaties have review mechanisms and much of the legislation we pass in the Oireachtas has them. It is not...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together. 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...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On the digital tax issue, the Government certainly is concerned about it in the context of our sovereignty. Our view is that tax is a national competence and we would not like a digital tax to lead to other proposals such as a common consolidated corporate tax base, CCCTB, which we do not support. That said, ours is not an absolutist position. EU tax harmonisation is in place already, for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: At the moment we are facing a crisis and an emergency and there needs to be as many houses built as possible as quickly as possible, by any mechanism. Those ideological ideas and constraints, if implemented, would restrict housing supply and reverse the progress that has been made in the past couple of years.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: What was the question about broadband?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I would have to look up my diary. It was a couple of weeks ago.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Contractors have to submit a price before one knows what it is.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy knows well that if I were to divulge a price in a contract negotiation that I would be accused of something else.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. The role of the social policy and public service reform division is to assist me as Taoiseach, and the Government, in delivering on the programme for Government objective of public policies and services which drive a socially inclusive and fair society and to assist in renewing and transforming the public service. The division...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There were many questions asked and I will do my best to answer as many as I can. With regard to the Magdalen redress scheme, the Government accepted the Ombudsman's report last May. The Minister for Justice and Equality and I met the Ombudsman after he gave evidence at the joint committee. I was struck by his evidence. He is a mild mannered man, not given to condemnation, and when...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Howlin asked which reforms were being overseen by the division. Different divisions oversee different reforms. I cannot remember exactly where they all fall. This one comes under the assistant Secretary General Elizabeth Canavan. She is overseeing reforms at the Department of Justice and Equality, as well as the Garda and Sláintecare reforms. They are mainly led by the line...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I attended a series of European Council meetings in Brussels on Wednesday 17 October and Thursday 18 October. Ahead of our meeting on the evening of 17 October, Prime Minister May had the opportunity to outline the UK perspective on the Brexit negotiations. We then met in Article 50 format, where Michel Barnier provided an update on negotiations since the Informal Summit in Salzburg. I...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seanad Reform (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Seanad Reform Implementation Group is finalising it's deliberations and is expected to report in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In communicating the work of Government, it is important to provide information to citizens in a manner in which they wish to receive it, which includes the medium of video. Below is the breakdown of costs which have been processed by my Department relating to video production from June 2017 to September 2018. Note that amounts below represent payments fully processed through the finance...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (6 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the Asia Europe Summit in Brussels on 19 October. On the margins of the meeting, I had the opportunity to meet with a number of Asian leaders, including the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. I recalled the Prime Minister's visit to Ireland in 2013 and spoke of the continuing close relationship between Ireland and Japan. I also outlined the reasons Ireland has sought election to...