Results 30,801-30,820 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: At the outset, I acknowledge that our emergency departments are very busy at present. They are busy all year round but they have been particularly busy in the past number of weeks. As a Government, we deeply regret the fact that this is having a terrible impact on patients and their families and on staff. There are factors behind it, particularly when it comes to children's hospitals. It...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I did not say anything about this being a temporary issue. In fact, I specifically acknowledged that many of our emergency departments are very crowded all year round and that has, unfortunately, been the case for a very long time. However, the specific issue relating to the children's hospital is because of an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus, RSV, and the norovirus in the past...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The solutions are to add beds to the hospital system, which we are doing, and to increase funding for home help. There has been an increase of 40% in home help funding within the past two or three years, with another additional 1 million hours next year and perhaps more in the years beyond that. It must be borne in mind that this is not only about money because one also has to find the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy McDonald will be very aware that there is a health sector strike north of the Border today. Among the things that front-line healthcare workers, health support staff, doctors and nurses are demanding in Northern Ireland is that the parties that have responsibility for running Northern Ireland should re-enter an Executive. Sinn Féin walked out of office in Northern Ireland three...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----instead of allowing healthcare workers to go on strike in Northern Ireland and demanding that Sinn Féin lives up to its responsibilities.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. When it comes to this area, what we are all striving to do is to balance the need and desirability for free speech, free expression and free association on the one hand with making sure that we do not have fake news and misinformation, whether it is online or in print. Misinformation and fake news is wrong whether it is online, in print or on posters. Many fake posters...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I do agree. We made a Government decision on 5 November this year to do exactly as suggested, that is, to prepare legislation to require political advertising online to be transparent. However, our current estimate is that we will have the general scheme for quarter 2 of 2020. Whether that will be in advance of the election is undetermined. That is as quickly as the Department believes...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Pringle for raising this important issue. From our constituency work, all of us will know how valuable respite services are, not just for those with disabilities but also those who care for them. Just having the opportunity to give the carer a break can be so valuable and can really help people to keep going. Just this year alone, 164,000 respite overnights were provided...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: This year the Government provided an extra €10 million for respite services. That sum provides for the opening of 12 new respite houses around the country, one in each region. Most are open, including the one in Sligo, but I acknowledge that the one in Donegal is not open but it will be opened in January. Initially, it will be a five-day service but it can be expanded to a seven-day...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I strongly support the work of the RSA and I did for more than three years as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. The authority should enforce the law. In respect of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Deputy had best raise that with him as a Topical Issue matter or perhaps as a private notice question.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I read it but I do not have all the facts about it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That matter is still under consideration. As he will be aware, PDFORRA which represents the rank-and-file in the Defence Forces wants this while the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, which represents officers, is opposed to it. We have to listen to both sides of that debate from within the Defence Forces. There is also a European social committee ruling that we...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It really is nearly ready this time. I can totally understand why the Deputy is not going to believe it until she sees it because the Bill has been promised on so many occasions. The Minister of State and I just spoke on it today. It is with the Attorney General and we still anticipate having it published in this session, before Christmas.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: What was produced yesterday was the third national inpatient experience survey. I was involved in setting up the survey when I was Minister for Health. I am glad it is being done now because the best way to find out what people think of the health service is to ask patients. Tens of thousands of patients are surveyed every year. Yesterday's results showed that 84% of people say their...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy McLoughlin for raising an issue which I know is of enormous interest to him. It is my understanding that a temporary cath lab is located at Sligo University Hospital for a few days every month but not a full-time, permanent one. This falls under the national review. I am not sure when the report of that review is due but I will find out from the Minister for Health and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Approximately 405 schools receive funding under the summer works scheme. I cannot provide the Deputy with details about each individual school, but I will let the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, know that this issue has been raised.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. A capital budget of €19.5 million, €10 million of which was allocated this year, has been approved for a new 60-bed inpatient ward block at University Hospital Limerick. The HSE advises me that the enabling works are complete, the main contractor has commenced work and it is anticipated that construction will be completed in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Community Enhancement Programme (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Mulvey report, Creating a Brighter Future, was commissioned by the Government and published in February 2017. It contains recommendations for the social and economic regeneration of Dublin's north east inner city, NEIC, area. In June 2017, the Government appointed an independent chair of the NEIC programme implementation...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Community Enhancement Programme (26 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Micheál Martin asked about the breakdown between new money and reallocated money for the project in Dublin's north-east inner city. I do not know the details of that; I suspect it is a mix of both. I will endeavour to get the figures broken down properly for him. The Deputy also spoke about housing. Dublin City Council in partnership with various social housing bodies is...