Results 27,741-27,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----if we do not widen tax bands every year, whether it is indexed to inflation or wages, we end up having more people paying more tax. That is why it is the right thing to do to increase tax credits every year. That is why it is the right thing to do to widen the index bands.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: People are being quite contradictory in what they are saying-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----in that if we want to avoid a situation whereby people end up worse off on this index we must increase tax credits every year and we must widen the tax bands.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Parties that oppose that policy, which is my party's policy, are actually the ones that want to make people worse off.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have run out of time. I am happy to add more time.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am answering the questions one by one.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: If there had been fewer interruptions while I was answering I would have been able to answer more questions. I do not interrupt the questions.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not interrupt the questions ever but my answers are constantly interrupted. I do want to-----

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Travel (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As Taoiseach, I place high importance on engaging actively with fellow Heads of State and Government, both within the EU and more widely, to ensure that Ireland’s interests and concerns are fully appreciated and understood, including in the context of Brexit. Due to the volume of information required, it will not be possible to provide the Deputy with all the information at this...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Legislative Programme (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 76 together. No legislation has been passed by my Department since March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Schemes (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are no grant or funding schemes currently being operated by my Department. The last grant scheme which was operated by my Department was funding for local diaspora initiatives and projects in 2016. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade took over responsibility for local diaspora initiatives from 2017.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Sports Facilities Provision (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The facility at Ballybough was secured by Dublin City Council following the surrender of a lease assigned to a local pigeon club. Finance to refurbish the facility was provided directly from Dublin City Council’s own resources, and through the North East Inner City Initiative as part of a series of short term actions. Following the completion of works in Quarter 3 2018, it was...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The negotiations on both the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and political declaration on the framework for the EU-UK future relationship, both of which were endorsed by the European Council on 25 November, were conducted on behalf of the EU27 by the EU's Chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the Commission's Article 50 Taskforce, on the basis of guidance from the European Council. Brexit is...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 to 89, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department and NESDO, the only agency under the aegis of my Department, is set out in the following tables. Department of the Taoiseach* Grade Male Female Total No. Male Female Secretary General 1 0 1 100% - Second Secretary General 1 0 1 100% - Assistant Secretary 3...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Bodies (11 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is an advisory body whose function is to represent economic and social interests in the Union’s decision-making process. The EESC has 350 members, who are drawn from economic and social interest groups in Europe. Members are nominated by national governments and appointed by the Council of the European Union for a renewable five...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. He is correct to say Brexit, particularly a no-deal Brexit, will be damaging for our economy. However, it is worth noting the ESRI projections released this morning. The ESRI states:The Irish economy looks set to register another exceptional performance in 2018; employment is growing at 3 per cent with taxation receipts across most headings also experiencing better than...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Firms across the country are preparing for Brexit. Some 85% of Enterprise Ireland firms have a Brexit plan already. That is important because Enterprise Ireland firms are the firms that are doing the exporting.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Some 85% of them have a Brexit plan in place already. Generally speaking, IDA firms know what they are doing. They are the multinationals which invest here in Ireland. We need to improve preparedness, however, particularly among small and medium enterprises, SMEs, that export to the United Kingdom. Seminars are available. They are happening all over the country and assist businesses to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Rosslare will need infrastructural investment, as will Dublin Port and Dublin Airport.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We will publish what we can.