Results 29,721-29,740 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Our receipts projections indicate the amount of corporation profit tax that we will take in this year will be less than what we took in last year. Again, it was prudent not to assume the graph would always go up and we are basing our projections on the graph turning and receipts going down this year. We have also increased capital spending, and there has been a 25% increase in capital...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Boyd Barrett is aware of our policy on the social mix in housing. Inasmuch as it is possible, it is desirable to have communities with a social mix and people with all sorts of backgrounds and different incomes in different types of housing. Most people in the House would agree on that approach. We do not want to build the massive sprawling estates that we saw so much of in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----down the road.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am doing my best. I am condemned for not answering questions but when I do, I am interrupted. This is not really a forum where much opportunity is given-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Thank you.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On occasions we must be practical. There may well be developments in Deputy Boyd Barrett's constituency where ten apartments cost €1 million each and the question is whether the local authority should spend €1 million to buy one apartment and assign it to one family or whether it would make more sense to use that €1 million to provide housing for three families. That is...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Freedom of Information Data (25 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The details requested by the Deputy regarding the freedom of information requests received in my Department in 2018 are as follows: Requests received - 490 Granted - 111 Part-granted - 243 Refused - 46 No records exist - 70 Transferred - 3 Withdrawn - 13 Handled outside FOI - 4

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet Committee C, which covers EU and international issues, including Brexit, last met on 21 June 2018. Given the significance of Brexit for the country, it is important that all Cabinet Ministers are fully across what is happening. Therefore, over the past 12 months, it has been discussed on at least 25 occasions at full Cabinet level. Recently Memos were brought to Cabinet for...

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

Leo Varadkar: We should always recall that the objective is to provide high-speed broadband to more than half a million homes, farms and businesses in rural Ireland at the same speed and cost as for people in urban Ireland. That is an objective that all of us in this House share. We should not forget that Eir took part in the process and made an initial bid for €2.7 billion, which was higher...

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

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the Deputy's welcome to my earlier response. I think, as is often the case, he accuses me of things that he does himself. It was interesting to hear the Deputy say that the cost of resolving the health sector dispute today would be only €3 million or €4 million but, of course, that is not true.

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

Leo Varadkar: That would be the cost in year one, rising to €15 million or €16 million in year two. That is only phases one, two and three. There would then be phases four and five-----

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

Leo Varadkar: -----and then there would be knock-on claims. We can all see-----

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

Leo Varadkar: There is a constant pattern of the truth hurting.

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

Leo Varadkar: The truth really hurts. One of the accusations made by the Leader of the Opposition was that the Government is too willing to allow costs to escalate. I am demonstrating exactly how he would behave in the same way or worse. It is €3 million in year one, €15 million in year two, then phases three and four and all the knock-ons. One needs to take into account the full cost...

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

Leo Varadkar: I fully understand, appreciate and know the important role that support staff in our health service play in allowing it function. I do not know that because I visited the pickets for a photo opportunity; I know that because I worked in our public health service for four or five years and witnessed that every single day.

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

Leo Varadkar: Those who are hurting the most are the patients, service users and their families, not anyone here. The Government wants the strike resolved and it can be resolved. All strikes ultimately are resolved. It is our view that this strike did not have to happen. The option of going to the Labour Court still stands.

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

Leo Varadkar: The Government is willing to accept a binding determination by the Labour Court. The nursing dispute was resolved there, as was the Garda dispute and any number of transport disputes. I again respectfully ask the union to accept a binding determination from the Labour Court and not to refuse to go there.

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

Leo Varadkar: Sometimes I wonder if those on my benches are too respectful and polite. I am usually shouted down within 20 seconds of getting on my feet.

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

Leo Varadkar: It is the norm for the leaders of Opposition parties to go minutes over time and nobody interrupts them or even asks them to respect Standing Orders or to respect other Members of this House.

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

Leo Varadkar: It is disappointing. Regarding the Deputy's question, to the extent that there was one, I have no doubt that those on strike appreciate the Deputy's support and solidarity. She supports every cause, every week, and then moves onto the next one.