Results 30,141-30,160 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. The Cabinet committee on infrastructure met on 10 September 2019 and its next meeting is scheduled for 10 October 2019. The Cabinet committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach in the areas of infrastructure investment and delivery, Project Ireland 2040 and Rebuilding Ireland. There is significant work under way across each of...

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

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Boyd Barrett asked about the strategic housing development scheme. I sometimes get the housing schemes mixed up because there are so many of them, but I think that is the scheme which allows a developer building 100 units or more to go straight to An Bord Pleanála rather than the two-step process involving going to a local authority first and then, if necessary, An Bord...

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

Leo Varadkar: The scheme was introduced in order to fast-track planning.

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

Leo Varadkar: Instead of a two-step process, there is a one-step process. The logic behind the scheme is that it allows houses to be built more quickly. It makes sense to look back three or four years after any policy change is made or new scheme brought in and consider whether it worked. Deputy Boyd Barrett is assuming that there would be a different result in respect 10,000 units that have not been...

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

Leo Varadkar: Approximately 10,000 social houses are now being added to the social housing stock every year. Between two thirds and three quarters of those are new builds by local authorities rather than purchases or leases from developers. On the national broadband plan, the contract has not been signed but we have appointed a preferred bidder. Imagine has challenged the maps and that has caused a...

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

Leo Varadkar: The challenge was initially made to the Department. The Department was then required to consult the European Commission for reasons relating to state aid rules. We anticipate that the contract will be signed by the end of year, which will allow the first homes across rural Ireland to be connected to high-speed broadband next year.

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

Leo Varadkar: The Government is absolutely committed to the A5 project. It is one I strongly support linking, not just Derry to Dublin and the rest of the country, but it is also really important for Donegal. The money will be there when the project starts but currently it is stuck in a Northern Ireland process. Once the money is there, the project will start.

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

Leo Varadkar: What about it?

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

Leo Varadkar: I do not have any new information on that. I have no doubt the developer-----

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

Leo Varadkar: I can.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I met the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, on Tuesday 3 September. The Vice President was on an official visit to Ireland, marking the latest in a series of high-level visits by representatives of the US Government this year, including President Trump and Speaker Pelosi. I was pleased to host the Vice President, the Second Lady and other family members for a lunch, which...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Undocumented Irish in the USA (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: During my recent visit to Los Angeles, I met with representatives of groups that support Irish immigrants on the West Coast of the US. The Government’s Emigrant Support Programme provides very significant levels of funding to support the work of such groups in the USA, including almost €4 million in 2017. While I did not meet on this occasion with representatives of the US...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure works to ensure a coordinated approach on issues relating to infrastructure, Project Ireland 2040 and Rebuilding Ireland. The Cabinet Committee last met on 10 September 2019 and its next meeting is scheduled for 10 October 2019. There is significant work underway across each of the areas covered by the Committee through Government Departments,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seanad Reform (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The all-party Seanad Reform Implementation Group [SRIG] published a Report and draft Bill in December 2018. The Report was noted by Government at its meeting on 30th April 2019. Government also noted that the Report includes four statements from various groups outlining where their position was not in line with recommendations of the Report. The Government will reflect on the views of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Regeneration Projects (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Mulvey Report - Dublin North East Inner City - Creating a Brighter Future- which was commissioned by Government was published in February 2017 and contained recommendations for the social and economic regeneration of Dublin's North East Inner City (NEIC). In June 2017, Michael Stone was appointed by Government as independent Chair of the NEIC Programme Implementation Board. Members of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the UN Climate Action Summit in New York last Monday, 23 September. I was accompanied by Minister Bruton and Ireland’s Youth Delegate, Alicia O’Sullivan. The Summit was organised by UN Secretary-General Guterres to encourage Member States to rapidly boost ambition in order to meet the targets set under the Paris Agreement. In my statement to the Summit I...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 114 together. In July I chaired a meeting of Cabinet Committee B, dealing with Social Policy and Public Services. On 25 July, the Government decided to reorganise the Cabinet Committee structures and established the following Committees: - Economy - Social Policy and Public Services - Infrastructure - Brexit, Foreign and European Affairs - Environment...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the UN Climate Action Summit in New York last Monday, 23 September. I was accompanied by Minister Bruton and Ireland’s Youth Delegate, Alicia O’Sullivan. The Summit was organised by UN Secretary-General Guterres to encourage Member States to rapidly boost ambition in order to meet the targets set under the Paris Agreement. In my statement to the Summit I...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I visited Los Angeles from 25-27 September to formally open the new Consulate General of Ireland and to attend a number of engagements focussed on developing economic ties with the West Coast of the US, especially in the tourism, creative and tech sectors. I attended a Tourism Ireland roundtable discussion focused on attracting US tourists to the Irish market and also a dinner event...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens Assembly (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: At its meeting of 11thJune 2019, the Government agreed to the establishment of a Citizens’ Assembly to advance gender equality. The establishment of the Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality was approved by Dáil Éireann on 9 July and Seanad Éireann on 11 July. The Citizens’ Assemblies Act 2019 providing for the use of the register of electors to select...