Results 28,261-28,280 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: The review will deal with the accountability of relevant key parties, functions and roles and the prohibition on making any findings against individuals will be removed. It will establish the sequence of events in the cost increases experienced by the project, establish what was known, when and by whom, and cover the bodies, including the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board,...

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

Leo Varadkar: This is the question and the answer. In March 2018, remedial work facilitated the opening of one theatre in MPUH, which advised that it is working towards restoring the full elective orthopaedic service as quickly as possible. A tender process was recently undertaken regarding the provision of two modular theatres for orthopaedics on the MPUH site. A successful vendor was selected for the...

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

Leo Varadkar: There are a number of things to mention. An awful lot of people are waiting a very long time for orthopaedic operations and procedures, and, often, to see a specialist in the first place. It is important to acknowledge that the number of people waiting more than 12 weeks for operations and procedures, which is the Sláintecare target, is now at a four or five-year low. This includes...

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

Leo Varadkar: -----but there is a long way to go yet in that regard. On the MPUH issue, the Deputy will be aware that, very sadly and unfortunately, the Galway hospice planning application for Merlin Park was refused. As such, Merlin Park as a solution for new hospital developments must be considered in the light of planning problems at the site where planning permission for the hospice has just been...

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

Leo Varadkar: It is with the HSE's national estates division in respect of legals. A planning application was submitted on 20 December 2018. Subject to it being successful, work will proceed as planned.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have answered several questions about the nurses strike already today and I am sure I will answer more in the coming days. The Minister for Health will be here to answer questions in the afternoon. He will also go before the health committee tomorrow. There will be ample opportunities to make speeches and statements on the strike, but it will not be resolved here. It can only be...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----or the Labour Court.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will be aware that her party's legislation proposes that lenders be allowed to charge interest at a rate of 36% a year. That is a very high interest rate, but it seems to be Sinn Féin's proposal. The difficulty we have in setting any maximum interest rate, whether it be 36% or another figure, lies in the risk that doing so would drive people towards moneylenders. We need to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Department of the Taoiseach's statement of strategy for the period from 2017 to 2020, inclusive, reflects the priorities in 2019 and the period ahead. The main role of the Department is to assist the Taoiseach and the Government in developing a sustainable economy and successful society, pursue Ireland’s interests...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I inform the House that today the Cabinet dealt with Brexit as a line item, as it almost always does. The reason we do not have regular meetings of the sub-committee on Brexit any more is that the issue impacts on pretty much every Department.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Every Cabinet meeting now dedicates time to Brexit and EU affairs. The infrastructure subcommittee met last week, for example. The way preparation is done is that memos are prepared in the normal way, advisers meet at an advisory meeting and senior officials meet at the senior officials group, SOG, to prepare it. There is a senior officials group dealing specifically with Brexit but when...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are currently 21 politically appointed staff employed by the Department of the Taoiseach. This includes those working directly for me in my office, those working in the Government information service, staff working for the Independent Alliance and Independent Ministers, staff in the office of the Government Chief Whip and staff in the office of the Leader of the Seanad. The ten staff...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I note that Deputy Micheál Martin has described me as one of the most instinctive politicians. I am not sure he meant it as a compliment, but as instinct is very valuable in politics, I choose to take it as a compliment.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The 21 political staff mentioned include drivers. I am not included as I have garda drivers, but the Chief Whip and the Leader of the Seanad have drivers. The figure of 21 is inclusive of drivers. It also includes staff in my office in the Department of the Taoiseach and my constituency stafs. Also included are staff assigned to the Independent Alliance, independent Ministers and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: They work for the Chief Whip and the Independents. Of course, those who work for the Independents may well vote for Independents. In terms of the cost, I have fewer political staff than all three of my predecessors-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and the total payroll cost is also lower. My forebear had 23 staff and iar Taoiseach Cowen had more again.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have the exact figure, but it is the lowest of-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I know it for a fact because I make sure it is lower.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are also financial and factual reasons. It is good that I have fewer advisers-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and that their salaries cost less than for any of the last three Taoisigh going back to the 1990s.