Results 30,121-30,140 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: However, we support regional airports like in Knock, Waterford and Kerry. Cork and Shannon airports operate as semi-State companies on a commercial basis. In terms of getting to a solution, which is what we both want, to try to secure a mainland European hub route for Shannon, what can be done? The Government and the airport acting together can eliminate airport charges. Airports can do...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That matter was examined by an independent expert group a number of years ago. I was Minister for Health at the time and Ms Kathleen Lynch was a Minister of State in the Department. The expert group concluded that to do what Deputy McDonald proposes would not be the right way forward because, of course, we would then be saying to people with multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease, for...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are many ways to support airports. The State can aid them through capital expenditure grant, CAPEX, and operational expenditure subvention, OPEX, schemes or it can provide them with route development and marketing supports. That has been done in the past for Shannon and is open for consideration again.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No one in this House would condone cruelty or mistreatment of animals. I know we are all agreed on that and that is not what this is about. I understand that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, asked Fáilte Ireland to consider this matter but it made the decision for itself. For my own part, I go to Shelbourne Park every Christmas and have a very enjoyable...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and would recommend-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----that anyone who wishes to form an opinion on this should go along to their local meeting and make a decision for themselves as to whether they want to promote it or not.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Ryan for raising this matter which we have discussed in the past. My sentiments are the same as his on this matter. I believe in free speech and I believe in a free press. I do not believe anyone should be banned from the airwaves - journalists or citizens - except for very good reasons. Those reasons should be something like incitement to hatred but I do not think that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this matter. Today the Cabinet approved the appointment of Ms Catherine Day as chairperson of the new Citizens' Assembly on gender equality. The secretariat is already established so the next step now is to select the citizens. It is intended that the assembly will meet for the first time before the end of the year. I extend the thanks of the House to Ms...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy and share her sentiments. Direct provision is far from ideal but we will never be in a position, nor will any other country, to provide a house or an apartment to everyone who comes into the country as an asylum seeker. That is just not possible and no country does that. The sad reality is that the alternative to direct provision is what happens in France, Germany,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I know that both Deputy Murphy O'Mahony and the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, take real interest in these road projects. I will obtain an update from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and pass it on to the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid that I am not familiar with the issue but I will mention it to the Ministers of State, Deputies Finian McGrath and Brendan Griffin, that Deputy Buckley raised it in the Chamber. I will ask them to reply to the correspondence to which the Deputy refers.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, together. I have met with Prime Minister Johnson twice in recent weeks. We had a meeting in New York on Tuesday, 24 September, when we were both at the United Nations General Assembly. We previously met in Government Buildings in Dublin on 9 September. Brexit was, of course, the main topic of conversation on both occasions. While...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Once again, I welcome the fact that Prime Minister Johnson has distanced himself from the proposals for customs posts on either side of the Border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. The withdrawal agreement, in the view of the Government, remains the best way forward but we are, of course, willing to listen to proposals that achieve the same...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----for which there is not a majority at present. The second option is that we join the United Kingdom.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think anyone in this House would entertain that option. The third option is for the UK to remain in the EU, which it does not want to do at present. The fourth option is for the UK to stay in the Single Market and the customs union. This is known as the Norway-plus option and has been rejected by the current UK Government. The fifth option is the backstop or something like it....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No, because we do not have an agreement on regulatory alignment either.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is worse than that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It has not come down to customs as the only issue remaining.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 18, inclusive, together. The role of the social policy and public service reform division is to assist me, as Taoiseach, and the Government in delivering on the objective in the programme for Government to provide public policies and services which drive a socially inclusive and fair society, and to assist in renewing and transforming the public...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I again thank Deputies for their questions. I am aware that there are structural flaws in quite a number of our schools and public buildings. These flaws are all of a different scale. In any case, where there are structural flaws in a school or public building, the number one priority, in particular in respect of schools, has to be the safety of children and staff. Any defects will be...