Results 30,721-30,740 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----pretending that it can ignore EU law by changing VAT law and then calling for a scheme that already exists. What a lack of substance. It is just unbelievable.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The national childcare scheme comes into effect on Wednesday. I encourage people to apply. People who already receive childcare subsidies will see their subsidies increased and some parents will qualify for childcare for the first time. We will have to see how things pan out in the next couple of weeks. As the Deputy's queries are very specific, I suggest she raise them directly with the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is referring to a document which I do not have before me. My understanding is that we are not proposing to buy these homes at market price from the developer. However, as this is a detailed question about a particular scheme, I will ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to come back to the Deputy on the matter. I think he may have mixed up the Dublin...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy asked about when and where this would be rolled out. The Enniskerry road project is under construction and the Deputy can take a look at it now.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is a cost-rental scheme under construction. If the Deputy wants to see a large one, the Emmet Road project at Inchicore is an example.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Those are two projects the Deputy can visit, either now or whenever he wants, in order to see cost-rental being delivered. The scheme at O'Devaney Gardens will be 50% private, 30% social and 20% affordable purchase. My understanding is the Green Party councillors on Dublin City Council voted for that. If the Deputy has a problem with it, he should speak with his party's councillors.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. I acknowledge there are some rural areas, and also some urban areas, where we are struggling to recruit GPs. Often, individual circumstances are the reason that is the case. Much of this has to do with the fact that the world has changed and GPs are much less willing to be single-handed in the way they were in the past. They want to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and more GPs have contracts with the HSE than ever before. What are we doing about it? We have increased the rural practice allowance and made it easier to qualify for that. A sum of €2 million has been set aside for a particular effort to recruit and retain GPs in urban areas. We have an agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, to reverse the reductions in fees,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is entitled to his opinion but there is only one set of facts.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Chambers's question jars with the remarks her own party leader made not too long ago. She is critical of Mayo County Council for underdelivering on its housing targets. Central government is putting the money in place. The budget for housing was €2.6 billion this year.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Between 10,000 and 11,000 homes will be added to the social housing stock this year, more than in any other year this century. If Mayo is not delivering, the Deputy needs to take this up with her councillors and party leader.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Some 11,000 homes are to be added. Why are there none in Mayo?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is not too much to ask but there is little point in asking me about it. If the Deputy wants to organise a meeting with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, I suggest she contact him directly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The budget for 2020 includes €40 million for measures relating to pyrite and mica. The full terms and conditions of the scheme are being finalised. The process has to take account of GDPR requirements with regard to data processing arrangements and the Department's current engagement with Donegal and Mayo county councils, which will operate and administer the scheme. The aim is to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is correct. A lot of what she referred to is being done. She will be aware, on foot of the winter plan published last week, that additional resources are provided for home care, for the fair deal scheme and for aids and appliances. This will enable more people to get home from hospital and more people to be discharged sooner, thus freeing up hospital beds for patients who are...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I can confirm that the legislation, which relates to the fifth EU money laundering directive, is due to be introduced during this session.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As Deputy Michael Moynihan stated, I do not have the details of the case in question, but I am sure the family would like to have their loved one home before Christmas. That is what the HSE and the Government would like too. Under the law, the Minister is precluded from making directions in individual cases. If, however, the Deputy passes on the details to him, he will certainly make inquiries.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Dr. Scally was correct in his remarks. The programme for Government contains a commitment in respect of the introduction of a no-fault vaccination compensation scheme. Mr. Justice Charles Meenan is looking at those issues and we expect his report in the coming weeks. It would make a lot of sense to have a no-fault scheme, as many other countries do, for errors where very often there is no...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. As the House is aware, I attended a meeting of the European Council on 17 and 18 October at which I engaged with the leaders of other member states and of the EU institutions. We were briefed by the new President of the European Parliament, Mr. David Sassoli, and the incoming President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Regarding the EU budget, which was the first item I was asked about, our contributions are going to increase over the next couple of years. They are linked to GNI, the size of our economy.