Results 30,661-30,680 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We reshaped them. We have been having Cabinet committee meetings every month or every other month for seven or eight years, with the senior officials group meeting before them.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's recollection is wrong.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The one that deals with security, for example, allows us to bring in the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and the Garda Commissioner, whom we cannot bring to a Cabinet meeting. There are many ways to do business: at the Cabinet, Cabinet committees, meetings with Ministers and meetings with people not under the umbrella of a Cabinet committee. Sometimes officials, in particular, favour...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: To respond to the questions about Sláintecare, what I was referring to specifically was eligibility. Sláintecare sets out an all-party vision for universal healthcare, in which healthcare is provided on the basis of need, not on the ability to access it. However, Sláintecare does not state it would be totally free for everyone. It leaves open the possibility of co-payments,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The point I am making is that it may be free for a lot of people but not for everyone and that it may be subsidised for others. The de Buitléir report on how we can remove private practice from public hospitals was brought to the Cabinet. It is Government policy and what is recommended in Sláintecare. The de Buitléir report makes for a very good read. I have read it...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It also suggests that we would have to negotiate with and compensate consultants for changes to their contract and lost income. All of these are difficult issues. We will make a start on it. We had a good meeting involving the Ministers, Deputies Harris and Donohoe, and I on how we can make a start on it and we should be in a position to make a start on it soon.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We are not reprofiling the NDP.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The summer economic statement providing a reprofiling. The Deputy is correct about that. That provided an extra €200 million, mainly for health and communications. There was a further reprofiling in the budget where some money was moved back and forward because we did not need as much in health as we thought, broadband was delayed and there were movements related to transport. If...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That is entirely incorrect. No schools are being cancelled or delayed.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are not.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: If the Deputies want to give me an example of a school that has been cancelled, give it to me now.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: If anybody in the Chamber wants to give me an example of a school that has been cancelled, they can do so now.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 12, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the economy most recently met on Wednesday, 4 September. It had been scheduled to have its first meeting of 2019 on Monday, 1 July, which was postponed due to the extended European Council meetings. The next meeting of the committee will be on 16 December. The Cabinet committee on the economy is...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. In regard to the school programmes, the budget for school building increased by 25% this year and will be roughly the same next year. The schools programme has involved the overall construction activity during 2018 and 2019 of 139 projects ranging in value from €1 million to in excess of €20 million. There are also 327 projects with a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Between two thirds and three quarters of social housing being provided this year will be new builds, with the companies contracted by the council or by affordable housing bodies.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is not just local authorities; it is also affordable housing bodies like the Iveagh Trust and the Peter McVerry Trust, which are funded directly by Government.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Climate Action Plan 2019: To Tackle Climate Breakdownwas published on 17 June 2019. The Plan contains 183 actions, broken down into 619 individual steps, which Ireland needs to implement to meet our EU 2030 targets and achieve our longer-term low carbon transition objective. Delivering such an integrated set of actions requires a deep level of collaboration across Government. The Plan...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commissions of Investigation (13 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: From the time of its establishment in June 2015 to the end of October this year the IBRC Commission of Investigation spent €6,682,000 approx. This does not include third party legal costs which have been incurred but not yet paid. The Commission’s Sixth Interim Report, dated 27 March 2019, provided an estimated final cost of the completion of the first module of its...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: First of all, I am not aware of any proposal to strip local authorities of their powers when it comes to housing or planning, and no such proposals have been brought to the Cabinet table. Councils have responsibilities when it comes to housing and planning. Central government also has responsibilities when it comes to housing and planning. Those of us who have served-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----in the Dáil, in government and on local authorities will be very aware as to the different responsibilities that local authorities have versus central government. The good news, never mind the Deputy's spin, cynicism and all the rest of it-----