Results 30,381-30,400 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am very sorry to hear about what happened to that lady and, of course, my thoughts are with her family. As is often the way when an individual case is raised in the Dáil, I am loath to speak about it because I do not have all or any of the facts of some of individual cases. However, I have been informed that there is an investigation under way into this case. There is a Garda...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I absolutely acknowledge that the Deputy is putting us on notice about this issue, issues in the hospital in Galway and the health care system in general. There has been considerable investment in University Hospital Galway in recent years. The budget has been increased year on year for the last three, four or, perhaps, five years and there are more staff. The new 75-bed block, all...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Subject to the agreement of the Business Committee, we have no difficulty in having a debate on this on Thursday, but perhaps the Ministers for Health and Public Expenditure and Reform might be allowed to get briefed up on this before the debate on Thursday.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: If Deputies are interested in genuine accountability, rather than the political circus that happens too often in this House, an Oireachtas joint committee hearing that the head of the procurement board - the people who are actually delivering the project - could also attend might be an alternative. To restate what I said earlier, the resignation from the board happened three months ago....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, will answer the question in a moment. I am conscious that we were to have the State's apology at 3 p.m. and there are people in the Visitors Gallery and elsewhere. Rather than raising 30 or 40 miscellaneous items, perhaps we might go straight to it and then take questions on promised legislation, if that is agreeable to the House.

Acknowledgement and Apology to Women and Families affected by CervicalCheck Debacle: Statements (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As Taoiseach, on behalf of the State, I apologise to the women and their loved ones who suffered from a litany of failures in how cervical screening in the country operated for many years. I do so having listened to many of those affected and do so guided by the Scally inquiry report. Today we say "Sorry" to those whose lives were shattered. We say "Sorry" to those whose lives were...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We discussed Sinn Féin's motion at the Cabinet meeting this morning when we decided as a Government not to oppose it because broadly our policy position is travelling in the same direction as that of Sinn Féin. The Minister has set aside funds in her budget for next year for research into the best models in place in other countries. It may well be a statutory model, but we first...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Following discussions with party leaders, it was agreed that we would hold the by-elections by the end of November. Our intention is to hold them on 29 November which will be the last Friday of that month. That will require us to move the writs the week after the House resumes, that is, the week after next.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising the issue. It a private sector project, not a Government one. The advice is that it could be useful for Ireland when it comes to future energy security. Recognising that we will continue to use natural gas for decades ahead, we are reliant on imported gas through the pipeline with the United Kingdom and gas from the Corrib field. Gas from the Corrib field...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: A terminal on the other side of the country provides an alternative way of bringing gas in. It does not only have to be fracked gas. It could be gas from the North Sea also.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has raised a very valid question. It is intended, by the middle of the decade, to close the Moneypoint plan and remove coal from the grid when it comes to electricity generation. The sum of €6 million announced in the budget is for the midlands, more specifically, the peatlands, including places such as counties Kildare and Longford. It is part of our response to the fact...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The legislation is being handled by the Tánaiste and listed for publication this session. It has been brought to the Cabinet.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is not our intention as a Government to review the ten-year national development plan until we are about five years into it. There is provision for a review five years into it. Obviously, we will make amendments along the way and did provide additional funds in the summer economic statement. It turns out that some of it was not actually necessary. We will make modifications along the...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Deputy Ring, is in charge of the fund, as the Deputy knows. I am sure any application from Cork will be treated fairly and considered favourably in the next round.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. In the United States people can get their learner permit at 16 years of age. I do not know if that is possible in any European country. I will advise the Minister, Deputy Ross, that the Deputy has raised the matter and I will him them to consider it and reply to him in some more detail.

Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Referral to Select Committee (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice and Equality pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 141.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3 together. I have had several recent engagements with the Northern Ireland political parties. Most recently, on 8 October, I spoke by telephone to Ms Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party. I also met with Ms Arlene Foster, MLA, leader of the DUP, in Government Buildings on Wednesday, 18 September. Previously, I met Ms Long, Mr. Doug Beattie of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Over the past two years, there have been several intense attempts to re-establish the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement - the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Northern Ireland Executive and, of course, the North-South Ministerial Council. The North-South bodies continue to operate, as with the British-Irish Council meeting regularly. It will...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are ESRI ones as well.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, they are consistent, but they are only projections. What I would say is that, if this current agreement gets through, we will have certainty about North-South trade, in that there will not be any tariff on trade North-South and that there will be no checks on trade North-South. However, it does not give us certainty on east-west trade. That is really important for our economy,...