Results 29,621-29,640 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I do not have the information to hand. I think it is a matter for the Minister for Finance. I will ask him to reply to the Deputy directly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The heads of the Bill were cleared by the Cabinet last week. The Bill proposes to amend the fair deal scheme to make it fairer for farmers and business owners. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, is now working on the detail of the Bill. I do not have a date yet for it but the Bill is very much a priority.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There is no legislation promised on this and I do not think there is a programme for Government commitment on it. I acknowledge, however, that it is an important issue. The Minister for Education and Skills is not here to answer the question but I will ask him to provide the Deputy with a reply.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. I met First Minister Sturgeon over a working lunch in Farmleigh on Monday, 27 May when we considered how best to maintain and further develop the strong bilateral relations between Ireland and Scotland. We also discussed the latest political developments in the wake of the recent European Parliament and local elections, as...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland's position is that there is no basis for excluding Irish fishing vessels from the Rockall waters. They are EU waters and therefore, Irish fishermen are legitimately pursuing EU fishing opportunities and have done so unhindered for decades. Any concern should be handled through dialogue rather than universal enforcement action. The House will be aware that the Tánaiste...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 12, inclusive, together. On Wednesday, 5 June, I was pleased to welcome to Ireland the US President, Mr. Donald Trump, and the US First Lady. The US President and I had a substantive bilateral meeting. It was an important opportunity to enhance further the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the United States - a relationship that is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Some of the questions are really questions for President Trump rather than me. I will do my best to answer the questions that I can answer and perhaps a mechanism can be found to pass on the other questions to President Trump through the Office of the Ceann Comhairle.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: He is arriving next month. I am glad that position has now been ratified by the US Senate and that the new ambassador will arrive in advance of 4 July. To answer the questions from Deputy Micheál Martin, I am not aware of any Government spending at properties owned by Donald Trump or the Trump organisation, either in Ireland or the US. I have met President Trump three times now,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have explained on a number of occasions why EU membership is good for Ireland and why Brexit is bad for the UK, bad for Ireland and bad for the EU. I have also explained the peace process and a hard border, what that would mean and why we are doing all we can to avoid it. The issue of climate change was raised but his focus was more on air quality. He was keen to point out that, at least...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 18, inclusive, together. The Government recently agreed that a Citizens’ Assembly be convened to bring forward proposals to advance gender equality that challenge the remaining barriers, social norms and attitudes that facilitate gender discrimination towards girls and boys, women and men; in particular, to seek to ensure women's full and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions, which I will do my best to answer. In terms of an indicative timeline, we all appreciate that these things can change but the indicative timeline at the moment would be for the preliminary work on the Citizens' Assembly on gender equality to start immediately. We will want to put a resolution to both Houses before that, which we propose to do in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Another matter is the electrification of the railways. I know that the contribution that will make to improving air quality is small but there are other advantages to it too. Those are just a few examples of what is in train.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens Assembly (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government recently agreed that a Citizens’ Assembly be convened to bring forward proposals to advance gender equality that: - challenge the remaining barriers, social norms and attitudes that facilitate gender discrimination towards girls and boys, women and men; - in particular, seek to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Rockall Island Ownership (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together. I met with First Minister Sturgeon over a working lunch in Farmleigh on Monday 27 May when we considered how best to maintain and further develop the strong bilateral relations between Ireland and Scotland. We also discussed recent latest political developments in the wake of the recent European Parliament and local elections as well as...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Properties (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No land is owned, rented or leased by my Department or bodies under the aegis of my Department now or at any time in the past five years.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Properties (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No property is owned, rented or leased by my Department or bodies under the aegis of my Department. The properties occupied by my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office are provided and managed by the Office of Public Works.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have no difficulty with the Deputy raising questions. This is a parliament, a democracy and the place where the Leader of the Opposition asks questions and it is where I answer them. I am very happy to answer his questions but I think he needs to be a bit less querulous, less sensitive and much less precious. It is entirely reasonable for me to point out the hypocrisy of the position of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to concern about low-paid workers I would like to once again point out the hypocrisy and two-faced nature of Fianna Fáil's position. It is the party that cut the minimum wage.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We have increased it four times. Fianna Fáil is the party that brought in the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, and slashed the pay of low-paid workers.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is entirely reasonable for me to point out the hypocrisy and two-facedness of the kind of positions that the Deputy and his party take. Getting back to the substantive issue of the threatened strike tomorrow, which it is important to talk about, as I said yesterday, the Government does not want this strike to happen. We are willing to work with the unions through the industrial...