Results 30,001-30,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There have been 3,500 job losses already. There is a risk that meat plants and meat factories may close permanently. This could do long-term, irrevocable damage to the industry. I do not think anyone in this House wants that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I pointed out earlier that the price Irish farmers receive for beef at the factory gate is roughly the same as that received by European farmers at factory gates all across Europe. The average price is roughly the same across Europe and it is lower elsewhere. Commodity prices often work that way because they are set by the market as a function of supply and demand. However, that price is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: If Sinn Féin wants beef and sheep farmers to be able to get their animals to the factories in order to get any payment at all, the agreement should be supported by all of us in this House. I ask Sinn Féin to support it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We have had two rounds of talks. Those talks concluded this weekend with an agreement endorsed by the Minister, the meat industry and the six farm organisations representing the vast majority of farmers in this country. That is where we are today. The base price, as I explained earlier, is roughly the same across Europe. It is a market price, largely a function of supply and demand....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----in the same way any producer negotiates a price with a potential buyer. That is the way it is done but that cannot be done at the moment when the factories are not operating. The factories need to be allowed to reopen. The producer organisations need to be allowed to negotiate contracts and prices. The figure I have is 3,500 - it may well be higher by now - but as many as 8,000...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that for the next three weeks I will be asked questions about what is in the budget. I hope everyone in this House will appreciate that the answer will be that we will find out on budget day because the budget has yet to be agreed. It needs to be discussed among Ministers, with Fianna Fáil, as the confidence and supply partners to the Government, and at Cabinet. The only...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will know the answers to those questions on the same day that I know of for sure because the budget will not be signed off on until the Cabinet meeting on the morning of 8 October, when we will present that budget to the House on that day. We are on the same page here. I would rather be in a position that the country is borrowing money to save people's jobs than borrowing...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising the very important issue of funding for community-led organisations in Donegal, including Lifeline and iCARE. I am afraid I am at a disadvantage in that I did not know this issue was to be raised on Leaders’ Questions. As such, I do not have an up-to-date note on funding for either of the organisations but I will seek one and ensure it is passed on to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Pringle makes an articulate case in favour of increasing public spending year on year. As he will be aware, the budget that we are planning will increase public spending by approximately €2.8 billion next year. Some of that will be for health services, disability services and services for the victims of domestic violence. I would almost be tempted to send Deputy Pringle to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for his kind words of congratulation to the Dublin men and Dublin ladies on making history at the weekend. I would like to add my congratulations to Galway for winning the camogie and Tipperary for winning the hurling as well. It was extraordinary to see 56,000 people attend the ladies' final. I know the Deputy was there too. It was a record-breaking attendance and one...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It should make us all very proud. In response to the Deputy's question, it is intended today to publish the report of the Commissioner for Data Protection and also the Department's response to it. Obviously I have no objection to there being a debate on the matter. That would be for the Business Committee to decide. The Government absolutely respects the Commissioner for Data Protection...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, it is. However, no document of legal standing has yet been served on the Government so we have to wait until there is an enforcement order issued by the Commissioner for Data Protection before we can challenge any findings. No findings of legal standing have yet been made, but that may happen in the coming weeks. The public services card is a good thing. It is a success. The vast...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----but not for services provided by other Departments. Our view that the finding is in error is supported by the Attorney General and outside legal counsel and the procedures allow for an appeal. An appeal is part of any democratic system of due process. Let us not forget what the public services card is all about; it is about making it easier for people to access public services....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----several times in one's life, one only needs to do that once. That is why people like it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That is why it has been a success.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It has made it easier for people to access public services. It has replaced duplication and cost. One does not need a free travel pass, a pension book, a children's allowance book or a social services card any more.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is a success. I compliment in particular the former Fianna Fáil Ministers opposite who legislated in 1998 and in 2005 for bringing in the card-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and Deputy Burton of the Labour Party, who was the Minister who brought in the card.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I compliment former Fianna Fáil and Labour Party Ministers who managed this project for ten years-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----for doing such a good job in producing legislation that we believe is robust.