Results 27,701-27,720 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As regards pay, we have a pay deal with the public service which involves full pay restoration for anyone earning up to €40,000 by the end of this year and up to €80,000 by the end of 2020.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid that I do not have any information on that. The SCA falls under the remit of the Minister for Finance who is in Washington. I will ask him to correspond with the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As I understand it, companies will pay tax where they are resident but I had the opportunity to watch Deputy Pearse Doherty's exchange at the finance committee with an official from Permanent TSB. I brought that to the attention of the Minister for Finance. If there is a loophole which somebody is exploiting, we will close it if we can. The Minister is examining the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I totally agree with the Deputy that it is important that people are able to get car insurance so that they can go about their daily lives and so that young people, in particular, can access employment. As everyone in the House will appreciate, insurance is a financial service regulated by the Central Bank. Prices are not set by Government nor are services provided by Government. Motor...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That reflects the work that the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, has done and the work done by the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, before him. The Minister of State is continuing to implement the actions in his plan to reduce motor insurance costs further.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Spending in all of these areas in increasing. The budget for education will be €11 billion next year, which is the largest budget ever for education. The Deputy's performance today once again demonstrates the dilemma the Government faces. We are being told, perhaps correctly, by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council that we need to rein in spending but every time I come in here all I...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: If one Department gets proportionately more than another, the Opposition wants to spend even more again.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is totally irresponsible.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is nothing in the programme for Government or in legislation on this matter but I appreciate that it is an issue of great concern to the Deputies from County Louth. No matter what the name of the hospital is officially, it will always be the Lourdes hospital for people in Drogheda. I agree that it would be appropriate for management to consult with local representatives and the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Murphy O'Mahony for raising the issue of the Wild Atlantic Way. I agree with her that her constituency, Cork South-West, is certainly one of the most beautiful in Ireland. It is always a pleasure to visit, especially during the summer. My understanding is that the review of the Wild Atlantic Way is not about taking any part out or leaving anywhere out but I will have that...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. On 25 August, I met with Pope Francis during his visit to Dublin Castle. The meeting provided an opportunity for us to discuss several issues, although, regrettably, not in any depth because it was of short duration. On 22 January 2018, I met with representatives of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are quite a few things happening with regard to patronage and ownership. Many new schools are being built around the country. Many are community national schools, Educate Together schools or are under education and training boards, ETBs. Some are under relatively new religious patronage bodies such as Le Chéile or Edmund Rice Schools Trust. These new builds on new sites are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: People who have had the experience of those hospices and so on will agree with that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In terms of Holles Street specifically, as I understand it, it is intended that the site and building will be sold and that the proceeds will be used as a contribution towards the new hospital. It will be gifted to the State.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On the national maternity hospital, it is important that we develop a practical solution in this instance. This is not a greenfield site or the establishment of a hospital de novo. Rather, it is the movement of a hospital that has been around for hundreds of years onto the site of another hospital that has been around for a long time, both of which are currently not in the ownership of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The reason for the delay in providing clarity around this issue is that it has not yet been finalised or formally agreed. Once it is, clarity will be provided.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I also have not finished my answers.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have a lot more supplementary answers.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I was asked about the interaction between the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the Pope during his visit. As members will be aware, they spoke briefly in Arás an Uachtaráin about Tuam and the Minister followed up that conversation with a letter. The Pope has provided a written response, although it is more of an acknowledgement than a substantive response. The Minister...