Results 28,741-28,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: In addition, we have reduced prescription charges and will do so again in the next couple of weeks. Sláintecare, which the Deputy advocates for and supports, recommends that we extend free GP care to an extra 500,000 people a year, that is, 500,000 this year, 1 million next year and 1.5 million the year after. I think that the Deputy's recommendation is a mistake because it is too...

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

Leo Varadkar: I followed with interest in recent days the debate about how moving towards multi-annual budgets would help us to improve our health services. I am broadly a supporter of multi-annual budgets, not just in the health service but across the board. Before there can be multi-annual budgets, however, one must demonstrate that one is able to keep within annual budgets. We already have a...

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

Leo Varadkar: I was not aware of that. I imagine it is in the interests of this House to provide content from this Chamber and the Seanad to the media. I imagine this is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission.

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

Leo Varadkar: On the face but I agree with the Deputy. Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle might-----

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

Leo Varadkar: In the first instance it is important to point out that it is the gardaí and the Garda Commissioner who make decisions on the frequency and location of checkpoints. There are no Ministers ordering checkpoints anywhere: I can guarantee that. There is a degree of misunderstanding on the new law. This new law has not changed the drink-driving or alcohol limits: it has changed penalty....

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

Leo Varadkar: I thanks the Deputy for raising this issue. I know it was raised in the Dáil a week or two ago. I agree with the Deputy's sentiments. The most important thing now is to make sure that those children and adults affected get the health interventions they need and should have got in the past, and the education and welfare supports they need. I am informed that some have, but it has been...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. My Department works closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which has overall responsibility for Brexit. A comprehensive set of Government structures has been put in place to ensure that all Departments and their agencies are engaged in detailed preparedness and contingency activities. Since well before the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for her questions. I cannot predict with absolute certainty or absolute clarity what will happen in the event of a no-deal Brexit. I do not believe that anybody can. All we can do is plan for different scenarios. I will say - and I am happy to say again - that we as a Government have made no plans for physical infrastructure, checks or controls on the land Border...

Ceisteanna - Questions: All-Island Civic Dialogue (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 12, inclusive, together. More than 400 political, business and civic society leaders from across the island attended the fifth plenary session of the all-island civic dialogue on Brexit in Dublin Castle on 15 February. This was a valuable opportunity to update participants on the Government’s position on the latest Brexit developments and on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: All-Island Civic Dialogue (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: To clarify matters for Deputy Boyd Barrett, the position is that we are improving and increasing Garda resources all over the country. There are more gardaí, more armed support units, more vehicles and more investments and, as such, it should surprise no one that the Border region, or the northern division as the Garda calls it, should see increased deployment of gardaí and armed...

Ceisteanna - Questions: All-Island Civic Dialogue (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have the answers if I can have more time to continue.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, together. I attach great importance to ongoing political engagement with our EU and international partners. I meet and speak regularly to my counterparts, bilaterally, at formal and informal meetings of the European Council and on the margins of international meetings such as the World Economic Forum which I attended earlier this...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The informal meeting in Lisbon with Prime Minister, António Costa, was exactly that. We got to know each other a little over the years and I was there on a personal visit. I told him I was there and he invited me over to his residence for a glass of wine and a chat. I brought the ambassador with me and he brought one of his officials with him. That...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: They may be exchanging legal texts among themselves and getting advice from each other's lawyers but that does not mean that they have any status in terms of the real negotiations that are going on in Brussels. In terms of drugs policy, we did not talk about it but I am aware of the decriminalisation model that was pursued in Portugal. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seanad Reform (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Seanad Reform Implementation Group chaired by Senator McDowell submitted its report to me on 20 December 2018. The Report was also published online and copies of the report were distributed to all members of the Oireachtas. The Report will be considered by Government shortly.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Mayoral Election (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have proposed that a Dublin Citizens’ Assembly be specifically convened to consider the issue of directly elected mayors for Dublin and the form that this should take. This would be part of a comprehensive local Government Reform report brought to Government by the Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government, Deputy John Paul Phelan. Work is currently underway in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Economic Policy (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The annual European Semester cycle is the framework to enhance economic and fiscal policy coordination at EU Level. As part of the Semester programme, Member States submit a National Reform Programme (NRP) to the European Commission by mid-April each year. This report covers progress in response to the country-specific recommendations received in the previous year’s semester, as well...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Negotiations (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I last met with Prime Minister May on the margins of the EU-Arab League summit in Egypt on Monday 25 February, where we discussed the recent developments on Brexit. We did not specifically discuss the possibility of a second referendum on Brexit in the UK. I also used the opportunity in Sharm el Sheikh to speak informally to Presidents Tusk and Juncker, as well as to a number of my EU...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Transport (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The helipad on Government Buildings has not been used since the 1990s. There are no plans to use the helipad in the near future. There have been no maintenance costs incurred in relation to the helipad while not in use. There has been no assessment undertaken on the suitability of the helipad for use by modern aircraft.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: International Summits (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the first ever Summit-level meeting between the EU and the League of Arab States, which took place in Sharm El Sheik on 24 and 25 February. At the meeting, leaders agreed to deepen Arab-European ties to enhance the stability, prosperity, and well-being of the two regions. We also agreed that stronger regional cooperation is important if we are to find solutions to common...