Results 29,241-29,260 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have requested a report on that through the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe. I received it the other day and I would be happy to share it with the Deputy if it has been cleared. I recognise the efforts of the local community in Donegal, the local authority and the fire services, as they did phenomenal work to ensure the fires did not spread and more damage was not done....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that an additional 20 or 23 gardaí are being assigned to Drogheda and County Louth as a result of the crimes that have been committed there recently. I very much welcome this, and I know that Deputy Adams will too. Deputy O'Dowd has been very active on this issue as well. The way in which gardaí are deployed is very much a matter for the Garda Commissioner, as should...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. Additional funding was provided in the budget this year for home help and home care packages. I am afraid I do not have details on how it is being distributed around the country or on individual cases. I understand, however, that there will be a Topical Issue debate on this issue later today. I imagine the Minister for Health or a Minister of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: What was the question again?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry but the Government does not have any role in where post offices are located in a particular town.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to where post offices are located I am afraid it does not.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On Deputy Michael Moynihan's question, I am aware that the new air ambulance service for the south of the country is awaiting approval but I am not sure of the details as to why the Minister for Health is unable to approve it at this stage. I will certainly let him know that the Deputy has raised the matter and ask him to communicate with the Deputy directly. We are all keen to see that...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, together. I attended a special meeting of the European Council in Article 50 format in Brussels on 10 April. At the request of the UK Government and in light of the fact that the UK had not ratified the withdrawal agreement, we agreed to a further extension of Article 50, to last only as long as necessary and no longer than 31 October...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On the De Souza case, which I was asked about earlier, I always refer back to the Good Friday Agreement in respect of issues of this nature. The Good Friday Agreement is explicit that people in Northern Ireland are entitled to be British, or Irish, or both, and are accepted as such. I think the British Government has got it wrong in this case and the matter has been raised in our bilateral...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Given competing demands, it has been decided not to undertake the research survey at this time. If the position should change, I will, as previously committed to, brief Opposition parties in advance of the running of the survey.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Very simply, the contract for the research survey was awarded to Behaviour & Attitudes but we decided not to continue and not to do it because, quite frankly, there are many other priorities in the Department and it had become politicised. Initially, this was seen as a genuine effort to track public perceptions on public services, the information received from the Government and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The long promised new runway for Dublin Airport is under construction. The report listed all the new schools that have been built and completed.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy would have to ask the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It does not fall under my remit any more.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know. The Deputy would have to ask the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think it is about a contract.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 16, inclusive, together. Cabinet Committee G last met on 12 December 2018 and the next meeting will take place on Monday, 10 June 2019. Cabinet committee G provides political oversight of developments in justice and equality issues, including implementation of the Government's programme of reform for the justice sector. In relation to justice...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I read and heard about the very sad killing of Azzam, the young man in Dundrum. I join with everyone else in extending my sympathies to his family and friends. It is a shocking thing for a young man of that age to be stabbed in a public park and I call on anyone who has information about this terrible crime to pass it on to gardaí and the authorities. I heard his father say that he...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We want to achieve, on the people's behalf, a broadband service which has the same speeds as we get in the cities and for the same price. That is why the subsidy is being provided and, given the fact that the Labour Party started this process, I hope its Members will come in behind it when they have a chance to consider it.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I attended an informal meeting of the European Council in Sibiu, Romania on 9 May 2019, Europe Day. We had an open and constructive discussion about our priorities for the period ahead, in advance of the June European Council, where we will agree our next Strategic Agenda and we agreed the Sibiu Declaration, which outlines ten broad commitments that will guide our future work....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising Budgets (14 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The only advertising expenditure in any form incurred by my Department to date in 2019 relates to a call for submissions from the public on the preparation of a draft Irish language scheme, in an online Irish language newspaper. The total expenditure was €664.20 including VAT.