Results 29,421-29,440 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We are. I was asked about multi-annual budgeting. I believe that as a principle multi-annual budgeting makes a good deal of sense. It is something I would like to move to across Government and not only for health. Again, a practical difficulty arises. We actually set out the budget for each Department, and not only for next year. We publish a table regularly - we will probably publish...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Absolutely.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Casey asked a question about political scientists. I will have to check that out. I will have a chat with the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Phelan, about that. I do not see why we could not have a dedicated fund for that kind of research. One always runs the risk of being accused that one is carrying out the research for the...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The voters were switching-----

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Just on the homeless numbers, which are the number of people in emergency accommodation, they are up again. I agree with Deputy Casey that they are disappointing. I am also loath to use that word because it is much more than "disappointing". It is devastating that they continue to rise. The number of families and children has gone down slightly and the number of singles has gone up, but...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Let me pick up on Deputy Butler's point on the number of female apprentices. I was not aware that the number was so low but I was aware that it was low. The Deputy is correct that we need to make a serious effort to interest more girls and women in taking up apprenticeships. We are facing major skills shortages in construction and so many other areas. We definitely need more women to...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: What is definitely required, however, is some sort of clear guidance for committees on what can and cannot happen. I am aware that Deputy O'Dowd very ably chaired the hearings on the FAI. There was considerable public interest in that. The hearings made change happen. It shows the power of Oireachtas committees, that people can actually be held to account and that change can be made to...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to check the position regarding CERN. I am aware that the question has come up and I have often seen online campaigns encouraging us to join CERN. A guy who was in my class in primary school works for CERN, although I have not seen him for a long time. I encounter his mother regularly at election time but I have not seen him. I will have to check the position. I have a...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Okay, we never did it. I will have to check with the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan. I have a recollection that we did decide to join, but I do not know why we did not do it. I agree with Deputy Curran that it is as much about joining up what we are doing already as it is about resources. In the new contract with GPs we have set aside a €2 million fund, and it is only to get...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will start with Deputy Crowe's question about implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. The Government's position on the issue is crystal clear. There cannot be a Statute of Limitations and an amnesty when it comes to crimes that might have been committed by British soldiers in Northern Ireland or any other combatant involved in the conflict. The Government of the United Kingdom may...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: If my recollection is correct in relation to the St. Andrews Agreement, part of the difficulty on the commitment on the Irish language Act was that it was not in the St. Andrews Agreement. It was in a sort of side agreement between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister at the time. That is one of the reasons why it has not been implemented. It is a shame that it has been caught up...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Thuig mé.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Tá brón orm go bhfuil an freagra as Béarla.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: To address Deputy Connolly's questions, arís tá brón orm go bhfreagróidh mé as Béarla. The Deputy will get a much more coherent answer from me in English. I will have to check publication dates for the official languages (amendment) Bill and the implementation action plan. They have both been pending for quite a while and I know the Deputy raises them very...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Discussion (30 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: In response to Deputy Connolly, tá náire orm. I know that almost every week, she stands up in the Dáil and asks when this legislation will be published. Each time she does, I get a little bit more embarrassed that we have not yet published it and that we keep telling her it is imminent when it does not arrive. I do not know if it is achievable or not but I will set that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy and I join him in congratulating Deputies Clare Daly, Fitzgerald, Wallace and Kelleher on their election to the European Parliament. I understand that they will continue to be Members of this House until 2 July, but all of us would like to be associated in extending our congratulations to them as they move to a bigger House and new roles. It is very much Government...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry if the Deputy is angry and upset once again, but the answer I am giving him is the honest one, and that is that we have to give due and full consideration to this matter. Before the Deputy brought in the smoking ban in the workplace, I am sure that he gave full consideration to the legal consequences and legal risks before proceeding.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I doubt he just went ahead without knowing the risks and preparing a defence.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The same applied for me when I published the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015. We studied the law and we made sure that we would be on robust grounds if it was challenged in the courts. We examined what happened in other jurisdictions-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----where it was challenged in the courts. I think-----