Results 27,841-27,860 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As the Minister for Health will give Cabinet a verbal briefing on the matter this afternoon, I do not have the information to hand. I may be wrong but I understand that while this project has planning permission it has not yet gone to tender. It would have to go to tender before we could have an indication of its cost. We have to know that first.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The CSO figures published yesterday are interesting reading for anyone interested in this area. It had two statistically significant findings, namely, that consistent poverty had fallen and that the deprivation rate had fallen. The deprivation rate has fallen from 30% five years ago to 18.8%, so the percentage almost halved in five years. Consistent poverty has fallen from 9% in 2013 to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are 2.3 million people at work and according to CSO figures, 1.4% are suffering from consistent poverty. Some 24,000 children were lifted out of poverty last year. While there are too many people in poverty in Ireland, there is no doubt that for four years it has been going in the right direction. There are more people at work, incomes are rising, fewer people, including children,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I am unable to give an answer specific to Cavan-Monaghan. The matter would be best raised either as a parliamentary question to the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Finian McGrath, or by means of a Topical Issue matter, rather than-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----during questions on promised legislation. However, I know how important respite care is to families throughout the country. We have allocated funding for an additional respite house in every community care region this year and there will be additional funding next year.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid the Minister for Education and Skills is not here, but I will certainly advise him that the issue was raised and ask him to provide a written response to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid we are a bit stretched at the moment. The Tánaiste is representing me in Vienna so I have not had the chance to speak to him today. However, he intends to give the briefing on Thursday. We cannot do it any sooner because we need the European Commission briefings, which will be available to us tomorrow. The request Deputy Chambers makes is entirely reasonable and I am sure...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I am at a loss. I have not seen the letter from the CMO, but my understanding was that the period was three days, which could be less than 72 hours. It is not necessarily three full days.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will check it out. I thank the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: When the report is received, the Minister for Education and Skills will give it full consideration. I am very much in favour of ensuring that we have a modern, appropriate and secular sex education curriculum in schools. I am not convinced that the right approach is to legislate for a particular curriculum. There are many aspects of the curriculum that we do not legislate for. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I would have concerns about Parliament legislating for what children are taught in school.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are a number of actions under way to respond to this. First, there is the provision of speech and language therapy through the school system for the first time which we hope will make a big difference. We believe it may turn out to be a better system and a better way to provide speech and language therapy doing it through the education system as well as through the health service. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Protected Disclosures (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 provides a robust statutory framework which aims to provide protections to whistleblowers who raise concerns regarding potential wrongdoing in their workplace. These protections apply to workers in all sectors of the economy, both public and private. They protect whistleblowers from being penalised by their employer for reporting wrongdoing in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Protected Disclosures (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Protected Disclosures Act was and is very reforming and innovative legislation. I think former Deputy Pat Rabbitte, the new chairman of Tusla, originally brought forward the legislation, although it may have been another Deputy. I remember supporting it from the Opposition benches as Deputy Howlin, as Minister, and other members of the previous Government brought it through the Houses....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, together. It is important to communicate across a variety of platforms, including social media, to ensure transparency and clarity for all citizens. The Government Information Service is now required to provide a 24/7 service to media organisations, on all topics of public interest, and with short response times. It is also required to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My view is that video is a very good means by which to communicate. I notice Members of the House are using video and screenshots from the Chamber more and more on Facebook, YouTube and other social networks to get messages out to their constituents as to what they are actually doing to represent them in the House. It is a good thing they are doing this because it is a good means by which...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is good that the public should know a little bit about what the Government's foreign policy is and how their money is being spent-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----whether it is through our involvement in the United Nations, peacekeeping efforts or international development. I guarantee the House it is much more important to me that we concern ourselves with the substance of that. There is a €110 million increase in the budget for international development next year, which is more than many people called for. It is a significant increase....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: At least those who do agree with it as a policy are aware of it and they can form a view on it. It is not something that should be just buried away in a budget lying somewhere. We should tell the public how their money is being spent and what work the Government is doing on their behalf. If they choose to be supportive of it that is their choice. If they choose to be against what we are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. I was pleased to welcome the grand secretary of the Orange Order, Reverend Mervyn Gibson, and a delegation of Orange Order members from south of the Border to Government Buildings on 26 November. The Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, Deputy Helen McEntee, also attended the meeting. We discussed...