Results 30,341-30,360 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is not People Before Profit but Solidarity. We have unionists in this House, which is interesting.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is not the people we may think. I am pretty sure Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann or both get some of their buses from Wrightbus already. When any public bus company wants to get buses, it must go to tender. Not only is that the law under the rules of the European Single Market but it is also the right course of action. It is how we ensure we get the best product at the best price, which...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----but it would be very wrong and it would probably constitute corruption.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: In socialist systems around the world, that form of corruption is normal but it is not normal in this State.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: A politician directing a company to give a particular contract to another private company would constitute corruption. That is under law and it is not just my opinion.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy McDonald raised the events in Catalonia, and this is an internal matter for Spain. We can have opinions and take stands on internal matters in other countries. The Government totally respects the constitutional integrity of Spain, but we firmly believe these matters should be dealt with through dialogue. We have seen independence movements in other parts of the European Union,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That is the east-west trade issue.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Martin's analysis is correct and there has been a change in the position of the United Kingdom Government. The former British Prime Minister, Ms Theresa May, always advocated a relationship with the European Union that would be as close as possible, if we use her terms. British Prime Minister Johnson has taken a different view and it is more about dealignment. He envisages a harder...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet committee F on national security last met in April 2019. A new Cabinet committee on security has since been established that deals with matters relating to justice, defence, Garda reform and national security. This Cabinet committee was scheduled to meet on Thursday, 10 October, but the meeting was postponed as I travelled to England on that day to meet the British Prime Minister....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Micheál Martin acknowledged the good groundwork done by Deputy O'Dea in his time as the Minister for Defence in putting together some of the emergency planning structures. I wish to acknowledge that too. The Defence Forces, the Garda and other support services have responded to severe weather and other emergencies very well in recent years. Much of that had to do with the work...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Honestly, I will check up on it. It is not a document I am familiar with. Obviously, it should have happened by now, but I will come back to the Deputy on that. The Deputy asked a question about security assessments. The current assessment of the risk of violence from dissident republicans in Northern Ireland is high. Indeed, we have seen violence in Derry and other places in recent...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Legislative Programme (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The sole Bill being prepared by my Department is the national economic and social development office (amendment) Bill. This Bill will provide for the dissolution of the national economic and social development office corporate framework, which is no longer necessary. It also deals with related matters, including the transfer of functions to the National Economic and Social Council, NESC....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Legislative Programme (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Burton is absolutely correct that the broad policy consensus in Ireland regarding social, economic and foreign policy has been beneficial. It has been one of our strengths in recent years that the political parties are so similar in their outlook in those areas. This has given people, such as those who invest here, and governments in other countries a great deal of confidence in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Legislative Programme (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We did not. What is being done in the north-east inner city goes way beyond what was done in terms of community development under RAPID and other schemes. I have asked my Department, along with the Department for Rural and Community Development, to examine what we could do to learn from the north east inner city task force and apply it to areas of significant disadvantage around the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Legislative Programme (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: To which Bill is the Deputy referring?

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Legislative Programme (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I know it is a problem but I am not familiar with the Bill. I will check up on it.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Legislative Programme (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will. I am familiar with the issue but not with Deputy Curran's Bill. I will check up on it. If it is a good idea and the Bill is in good order, I am sure we can work with the Opposition to progress it. On the question asked by Deputy Boyd Barrett, people often suggest that X, Y or Z be brought into the Department of the Taoiseach because they believe that would afford it more...

Pre-European Council: Statements (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will attend a meeting of the European Council this Thursday and Friday, 17 and 18 October. Following my meeting with Prime Minister Johnson last week, I am convinced that all parties want an agreement and that such is in the interest of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the European Union as a whole. We have a pathway to a possible deal, but there are issues still to be fully resolved....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens Assembly (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: At its meeting on 11 June 2019, the Government agreed to the establishment of a Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality and noted that a further Citizens Assembly would subsequently be established to consider the best model of local government for Dublin and, in particular but not exclusively, the issue of a directly elected mayor and his or her powers. The establishment of the first...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I travelled to the US on 22 September for events centred around the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly. On Monday 23 September, I participated in the UN Climate Action Summit with Minister Bruton. I made a national statement outlining Ireland’s approach to climate action, including the Government’s commitments under the Climate Action Plan, our intention to ring-fence...