Results 28,561-28,580 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. On 25 August 2018 I met Pope Francis during his visit to Dublin Castle. The meeting provided an opportunity for us to discuss several issues. On 22 January, I met representatives of the Church of Ireland and the Presbyterian and Methodist churches in a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process between church and State....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I agree with Deputy Micheál Martin's comments about the vital role that the clergy, the Catholic Church and other churches played in helping to bring about the peace process in Northern Ireland. I believe they still have a role to play in that regard in the future. If we end up with a no-deal scenario in a few weeks' time - that is, no-deal without an extension, which I assume is...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, together. Cabinet committee D works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the delivery and ongoing development of policy on infrastructure investment and delivery, housing and climate action. The committee last met on 31 January and the date for the next meeting is to be scheduled. Significant work is under way across each of the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am glad that Deputy Micheál Martin took the time to study the website and spreadsheets. I have not done it myself for some time. It is clear that they are out of date and need to be updated and I will see to it that is done.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Obviously I was wrong. I should have checked them. We will get them updated; they should be updated. In respect of the impact Project Ireland 2040 and the national development plan, NDP, will have on climate change we estimate that implementing the NDP will get us approximately one third of the way to meeting our climate change targets. The rest will have to be met through measures...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Yes of course there are people who will argue that some aspects of the national development plan will contribute to climate change such as, for example, the expansion under way at our regional airports and at Dublin Airport, and the roads programme such as the construction of the motorway between Cork and Limerick. I would argue that we need to balance economic development and social need...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Without a doubt, being the Minister for Health is one of the toughest jobs in government.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is also one of the most important jobs in the country because it affects so many lives. It is also good experience for higher office. It helps one to understand what a crisis is and what it is not and how to deal with many at the same time.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is noteworthy that three of the four main party leaders in the Dáil are former Ministers for Health. The other Member who is proposing this motion has never held ministerial office and has no real understanding of the day-to-day dilemmas faced by Ministers-----

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----whether it is being pressurised to act before one has full and accurate information, or being expected to make decisions before one has the time to consider all the options, and having to choose between two or three imperfect choices, knowing full well that no choice will satisfy the critics. 5 o’clock If the Deputies in Sinn Féin had any real experience of running a...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have confidence in the Minister for Health for many reasons. He is getting things done, including a successful referendum on the eighth amendment, the Public Health (Alcohol) Act and, after years of little investment, three national hospital projects under construction with a fourth due to go to tender in the foreseeable future. Free GP care has been extended to all carers and medical...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On Friday, I will be in Sligo for the sod-turning to mark the construction of the N4 Collooney to Castlebaldwin road, another project which was promised for decades and is now under construction. The same story can be told in every county. Taxpayers' money is being well spent on investments in the future. Only last week, €64 million was allocated to towns and rural areas.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Schools, community nursing units, third level institutions, primary care centres, tourism projects and sporting facilities are being funded. We hear a great deal about accountability in the House. At its simplest, accountability is about taking responsibility and answering for one's actions. Accountability does not mean giving in to the baying mob, the thirst for bloodletting and a head...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We saw that in November 2017 when Sinn Féin put down a motion of no confidence in the then Tánaiste, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, accusing her of being at the centre of a scandal. Sinn Féin made false claims that were subsequently discredited, yet we have had no apology from its members for that.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It was also true when Sinn Féin tried to weaponise homelessness and personalise the debates around housing against the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. It was true when Sinn Féin Deputies made false claims in the House about former Members having offshore bank accounts. Again, there has yet to be any retraction or apology for those false...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue, which I know a lot of people across the country are talking about today. I am afraid I did not have a chance to watch the programme myself as I was travelling back from a meeting last night and did not get into the country until quite late. However, a lot of people have spoken to me about it through the course of the morning, and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Micheál Martin asked a specific question about the book of evidence. I understand from An Garda Síochána that when someone gives evidence as part of an investigation, that evidence is privileged. There is concern that if this was removed, it would be harder to convince people to give evidence to the Garda in other cases if they knew that evidence given under privilege...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As I indicated earlier in my response to Deputy Martin, the Minister would be very happy to receive a submission from the family with their suggestions on how to better deal with family annihilation and family homicide. We can take it from there and make decisions on foot of full consideration of that submission. I answered the question on the Coroners Act and the Succession Act earlier....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. We would not be doing justice to the family or right by the country to make decisions or commitments on the hoof in this Chamber. As the Minister for Justice and Equality has indicated, he would be very happy to receive a submission from the family based on what they said on television last night. There may be other things they also want to say, which they were not able...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. As he knows, I represent the commuter constituency of Dublin West and, more so than most in this House, I am very aware of the daily impact congestion has on our constituents. Huge numbers of people from my constituency are spending perhaps two hours on the bus every day, which is ten hours a week and is time that could be spent with their families, engaged in recreation...