Results 28,201-28,220 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet briefings are done by me, or the Tánaiste, or in some cases depending on the issue by other Ministers or the Secretary General to the Government. However, there are other briefings. Ministers will regularly receive briefings from officials in the EU section in my Department. Sometimes we will do that in the Sycamore Room, but it is exactly that - a briefing. It is not a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: However, we can prepare for different scenarios and eventualities, which is exactly what we are doing. I was asked if I had spoken to other the EU Heads of State and Government. In Davos last week I spoke to about seven in person, anticipating the events. We are all ad idemthat the withdrawal agreement is not up for renegotiation and cannot be reopened. I obviously spoke by phone to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That is a kind of hypothetical question, is it not?

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together. The international, EU 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 issues. The division assists me in my international role, including as a member of the European Council, and in my other EU and international...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, briefed me on the meeting in Belfast last weekend. I know that it was very well attended and it seems to have been a very successful event. I hope if there is a follow-up event at some point in the future that I will be able to attend in person and continue to engage with that important body of Northern Ireland society. Regarding...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----have on a country. Venezuela is experiencing increases in maternal mortality and neonatal deaths, a refugee crisis, abject poverty and the removal of people's democratic freedoms. A number of European countries are taking a stronger stand on this and are calling for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela and for free and fair elections. We want people in that country to have...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps he should travel.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have no plans at present but a lot could happen between now and September.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Obviously, with regard to the DUP, we listen to and respect its views but generally we have an exchange of views with that party. We do not see eye to eye on these matters. On the future of Europe, I would very much welcome a Dáil debate. I do not know the current position with regard to the statement and will have to check with the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee. She did a...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not directly engage in procurement of any major state infrastructure projects.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On my own behalf and on behalf of the Government, we profoundly regret the disruption that has been caused to patients, users of our disability services and people with mental health problems who have been adversely affected by the strike action today and last week. We will do all that we can once this dispute is resolved to catch up on the lost work that was done, as we did last year when a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: In terms of the resolution of this dispute, I believe it can be resolved. I spent a little bit of time reading about the last major nurses' dispute which happened in 1999. Deputy Micheál Martin was in government himself at the time and he may remember better than I can.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It went on for nine days and was ultimately resolved in the Labour Court at huge inconvenience to patients. I do not want that to happen again. I certainly would not like to see a repeat of 1999 when a strike went on for nine days. I believe it can be resolved. That requires engagement and the Government is open for engagement through the WRC. However, it can only be resolved in a way...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The offer to engage in talks at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, was sincere. Whether it was made through a public statement or directly or indirectly should not matter.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It was a sincere offer to engage in talks, and that offer stands. The only way this dispute will be resolved is through engagement and through talks.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The offer to engage in talks at the WRC stands, and the Government is willing-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----to do that, with the HSE and others. The Government is also open to the possibility of a Labour Court intervention. Of course we have had consultations with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, and others about the possibility of an intervention. However, everyone feels that an intervention can only happen at the right time, when there is adequate space and adequate agreement so...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We have had a system for resolving industrial relations disputes for 20 or 30 years now, including the time of the last nursing strike that went on for nine days in 1999. That is something I do not want to see repeated. Under that system, we deal with these disputes through the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court as the final arbiter in such disputes. That is the best way...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Listening to the Deputy's contributions in this Chamber and her advice on making agreements or managing industrial relations, one would be mistaken for thinking that somehow she was successful in this area. She and her party hold the world record for failing to come to an agreement and form a coalition in Northern Ireland. There is no advice that she can give us on negotiations,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and she has no credibility given her own record of being a commentator and a bystander in Northern Ireland when she should be involved in forming a coalition government there. To repeat what I said earlier, and I mean it sincerely, this dispute can be resolved. The Government wants it to be resolved. We understand the grievances that nurses and midwives feel about their pay and...