Results 35,281-35,300 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. As far as I understand, this decision is for the Garda Commissioner rather than being a political or Government decision. In response to the request, I will certainly say to the Taoiseach that the Deputy raised the issue here. I will also mention it to the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I read about that development in the news the other day. It is really encouraging to see regeneration and redevelopment of the Cork docklands coming to life. I do not know enough about the development or who the developer is so I do not particularly want to get into discussions on whether the Government should engage with the developer in question. We are very keen to see elective...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Just under 700,000 people have received their third dose and we expect that number to be over 1 million by early December. Under the current guidance from NIAC, 2.5 million people are now eligible for a third dose. We should bear in mind that even when the vaccine programme was at full tilt, the maximum number of people we could vaccinate in any week was approximately 250,000, so it will...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the extraordinary impact that rising fuel prices have had on hauliers. Of course, it has a wider impact in increasing transport costs for everybody in society and it is something the Government is very concerned about. It is largely out of our control because prices are driven by international factors. A diesel rebate scheme was introduced in 2013 and further improved in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: That legislation falls under my remit as the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Work is being done on it. Unfortunately, we do not have a publication date yet for it. I agree with the Deputy's remarks on community energy. We will get much greater acceptance for an onshore wind or solar plant being provided in local communities if people have ownership of it or receive a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I agree wholeheartedly. We have said for some time that the era of self-regulation is over, but we need to back that up with actions and legislation. A package of legislation is anticipated at European level. The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, is taking the lead for the Government on that. At a domestic level, the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, is taking the lead on online safety and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: We have scaled up our testing capacity considerably. We can provide tests for about 30,000 people a day now. Unfortunately, with so many people experiencing respiratory symptoms, there is no system in any country that could deal with that number of people with symptoms looking for a test. As has been the case at other points of the pandemic, we now have to prioritise those with a GP...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As I said earlier, we scaled up testing to the capacity of about 30,00 a day. We brought the Defence Forces, the private sector and the public sector on board. However, there are limitations to capacity when it comes to testing, as is the case in any country of the world, and that is why we have to prioritise. We are prioritising those with GP referrals, those who are symptomatic close...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: In line with the lifting of restrictions on public transport, and with effect from the return of schools following the October mid-term break, implementation commenced for post primary school transport services to resume operating at 100% capacity. With regard to post-primary special needs transport services, the Department will work with schools on a case-by-case basis where such services...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: My Department operates within the Civil Service policy framework for Human Resources, and in this regard it carries out its functions in accordance with the circulars and policies set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The specific reason for the sanction / action is sensitive and personal information relevant to the individual concerned and it is the Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate this is a difficult period for businesses operating in the play and leisure sector. The Government has worked to support businesses through these challenging times with a wide range of measures for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, grants, COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, the Brexit Loan Scheme, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Future...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate this is a difficult period for businesses operating in the play and leisure sector. The Government has worked to support businesses through these challenging times with a wide range of measures for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, grants, COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme, the Brexit Loan Scheme, the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Future Growth...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I am afraid I have not had a chance to see the report yet. I have seen some media coverage of it but I have not read it myself. It is not my practice to comment on a report until I have had a chance to read it or at least read the executive summary, which I have not at this stage. It seems the premise of the Deputy's question is the report must be correct and therefore...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Government investment in housing happens in many different ways. There is investment in forms of public housing like, for example, cost rental, which the Deputy did not mention in his remarks. That is now a reality and a scheme people can avail of. We need much more of that. The Deputy will see affordable housing schemes led by Government being rolled out across the country over the next...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for her questions. As she knows, NPHET will meet today. It will formulate its advice after that meeting and a letter will be written to the Minister for Health. Once the Government has received advice from NPHET, it will consider it and make a decision on its implementation. As part of those considerations, we will have to make decisions regarding the pandemic...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to give that commitment to the Deputy today. How we realise that commitment and what form it takes will depend on the advice we receive today from NPHET. It did not make sense to the Government to announce a set of financial supports for businesses on Tuesday, only to receive advice from NPHET on Thursday and then change supports again on Friday. It made sense to wait to see...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Canney for raising the important issue of LEADER programmes. All of us in this House are fully aware of the value and impact of the LEADER programme in towns, villages and parishes across Ireland and especially rural Ireland. Having had the opportunity to travel to most parts of the country, from Caherlistrane to Cahersiveen, I have seen first-hand the positive impact LEADER...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Some €70 million has been allocated to the transitional programme for LEADER for 2021-22. This transitional funding is in place due to delays at EU level in agreeing the new regulations for the CAP period running to 2027 and it has been ensured there is no gap in LEADER funding or provision due to the delay in agreeing the new CAP. An additional indicative indication of €180...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The local improvement scheme is an important transport scheme. It provides for the improvement of roads all over the country which are not formally taken in charge by the local authority but which, were they in urban areas, probably would be because they access multiple households and, in some cases, multiple farms and businesses. A total of €10.5 million was...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: There was a prolonged period during the recession when the LIS was suspended. Things have changed and the budget last year was €10 million, with an additional €10 million. It was probably the highest budget for the LIS in many years. I am not sure why Kerry did not get more roads done. I do not know the intricacies and details of that.