Results 31,461-31,480 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to examine the examples the Deputy gave. What I said, however, was that nobody would be worse off than they were before the pandemic as a consequence of the decision being made. I did not say that no one would be worse off than they were before the pandemic. Many people are worse off than they were before the pandemic. Most people who have lost their jobs, for example, are,...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have the full transcript in front of me, but I think, if I remember correctly, the Deputy was referring specifically to students and young people working part time, and not the kind of examples he gave. We have the same welfare system as we had before the pandemic. It is internationally and independently adjudicated to be one of the more generous welfare systems in the world and...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I earlier answered questions on the 2 m rule so I might answer the Deputy's other questions now. The plan as of now for the summer programme is that the Minister for Heath, Deputy Harris, and the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, will bring their proposals to Cabinet tomorrow. All things going to plan, we will sign off on that tomorrow, they will make the announcement and...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I may not have picked up exactly right on people consuming alcohol outdoors or on the street. My understanding is that it is not against the law. There may be by-laws in certain counties or city areas but in terms of national law, drinking alcohol in a public place in Ireland is not illegal. Being drunk and disorderly is; that is an entirely different thing. Just...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Or in the Phoenix Park for that matter. On the 2 m rule, as I mentioned earlier, while there are different advices from different bodies, everyone agrees that a distance of 2 m is safer than one of 1 m and a distance of 3 m would be safer again. A distance of 1 m provides about 70% or 80% protection from somebody who is carrying the virus. A distance of 2 m provides closer to 95%...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I can assure the Deputy I will still be Taoiseach next week. Deputy Mattie McGrath does not need to say any sayonaras just yet. The contract for the private hospitals ends at the end of June, so it is really only a couple of weeks now. The HSE is now trying to negotiate a new arrangement with the private hospitals to allow them to step in if, for some reason, we need the beds at a later...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy very much. I am going to tell her because I think it is important. Back in 2012 only about €700 million a year was spent on mental health. This year, for the first time it will be more than €1 billion. Since my party came to office, there has been a 44% increase in funding for mental health. Unfortunately, I doubt that future Governments will be able to...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The fiscal rules, as the Deputy will be aware from her time as an MEP, always had provision to be relaxed in circumstances like this. They were never what the opponents made them out to be-----

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (11 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Indeed, they were relaxed and we will borrow something like €30 billion this year - maybe 10% of GDP - the largest deficit in a very long time. We are certainly not being shy when it comes to spending and borrowing money on behalf of future generations to get us through this crisis. There is in place a rates waiver for three months, tax liabilities are being warehoused, and there is...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My heartfelt sympathies are with all those who have lost family members or friends during the Covid-19 pandemic. The restrictions which have been necessary in order to protect public health have impacted greatly on how we as societies, as communities and as families mark the death of a loved one. In particular we miss the opportunity to come together to remember those we have lost. It...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Thanks to the progress made by the Irish people in suppressing the virus, on Friday 5 June, the Government agreed to accelerate the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. This means certain sectors and public amenities will be able to reopen earlier than previously planned. The reconfigured Roadmap will consist of four phases, instead of five, with Phase 3 beginning on 29 June and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Northern Ireland (16 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I spoke with First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill on Friday, 5 June, when I briefed them on the Government plans for the second phase of easing the Covid related restrictions from 8 June as set out in the roadmap. I advised them of our plans to condense the five-phase roadmap into a four-phase plan, allowing us to move out of lockdown at a faster pace...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out a framework and processes for assessing how we can keep the level of transmission of the virus as low as possible while balancing continuing restrictions proportionately with the positive social and economic benefits which can accrue from the lifting of some restrictions. The framework approach contains a range of indicative measures...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (16 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on Brexit, Foreign and European Affairs last met on 9 December 2019. In the period since, the full Cabinet has frequently considered and received updates on EU issues, including on management of the Covid-19 crisis at EU level and the MFF negotiations, Brexit, and international matters as appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has no spend on social media monitoring in 2018 and 2019.

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Before I make my statement I want to endorse what was said earlier about the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. The remarkable outpouring of grief we saw over the weekend says a lot about our values as a country and the respect we have for the men and women who uphold our laws. Whenever we lose a member of An Garda Síochána in the line of duty, it wounds us all and we grieve as...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (27 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Fine Gael will not make a nomination on this occasion but will support the nomination of Deputy Micheál Martin as Taoiseach. I will speak at greater length when the Dáil reconvenes later but I want to briefly make three points. The first is that this is an historic occasion. I believe Civil War politics ended a long time ago in our country but, today, Civil War politics ends in...

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais: Tairiscint - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (27 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Today, we broke with tradition by electing a new Taoiseach and Government in this centre rather than Leinster House. We found a new way of doing things, without sacrificing any of the things that really matter. Let this symbolise the mission of this new Government, putting aside the divisions of the past to find new ways of doing things, a new approach that is in the best interests of our...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 - Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (30 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I move: That a sum not exceeding €1,401,200,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2020, for the salaries and expenses of the Office of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, including certain services administered by that Office, for the payment of certain subsidies and grants and...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 - Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (30 Jun 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I will respond to as many of the Deputy's questions as I can now and perhaps revert to her other queries by correspondence. I am two days in the job and I am not across everything just yet but I promise I will get there very soon. With regard to the supports that are in place for businesses, there is a very long list of them but they really fall into four major categories, one being the...