Results 35,821-35,840 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I do not know. I will make inquiries with the Minister for Health and ask him to respond directly to the Deputy regarding this issue. When it comes to any surgical procedure, there will be adverse events, no matter what the procedure, and they do not all necessarily translate as negligence or harm.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: That is definitely the case.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I completely understand what the Deputy is saying, as does the Government. The prices of diesel and petrol have soared in recent weeks. We saw increases as a consequence of the pandemic but we are now seeing further increases on top of that, as a result of the war in Ukraine, that had not been anticipated or predicted by anyone. We will have to respond to this. When it comes to business...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Commemorative Events (8 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The correspondence referred to has been received and a response has issued to the person concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (8 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: There are currently a total of 982 staff in my Department with a full time equivalency of which 945.47. As of the 3March 2022 the highest and second highest annual salary associated with staff of my Department are €205,199 and €181,439 respectively.  Remuneration of all the staff of my Department and its Offices is as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Protected Disclosures (8 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The table attached sets out the number of protected disclosures made to my Department in each of the 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022.I am informed by my officials that external contractors were not engaged regarding a protected disclosure over that time period, and that none of the protected disclosures remain under review. Year Number 2019 2 ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Funding (9 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) and Border Enterprise Development Fund (BEDF) are supporting major new initiatives that can significantly assist regional enterprise development. This is being achieved by co-financing the development and implementation of projects that can sustain and add to employment at a national, regional and county level. Applicants must be not-for-profit...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Measures (9 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is committed to introducing a statutory sick pay scheme and as such the Sick Leave Bill is being prioritised. Ireland is an outlier among wealthy OECD countries in not providing for any statutory paid sick leave. It is simply not right that people who are sick are often afraid to take time off for fear of a major reduction in their income and it's not good when it comes to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Consultations (10 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Details of external consultancy reports commissioned by my Department in the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022 are set out in the attached tables. 2019 Title of Report Commissioned Consultancy Company Publication Date Cost Internal Audit Reports on (i) the Workplace Relations Commission; (ii) the Labour Court; (iii) the Employment...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Ukrainian War (10 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The unanimous cross-party Dáil motion adopted last week could not have made clearer Ireland’s strong condemnation of Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked and immoral war. It is a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter. The targeting of civilians and of civilian infrastructure; the use of prohibited weapons; and indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks; are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: At the outset, I acknowledge the fact that energy prices are rising in Ireland. We are seeing an unprecedented increase in the cost of energy, not just in Ireland but also around the world. We see that in the increase in the cost of petrol, diesel, natural gas, electricity and home heating oil. That is really squeezing people. It is making bills very hard to pay and squeezing many...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: That is €1 billion that has already been dedicated to helping people with the cost of fuel and energy. That is significant. Contrast that with Northern Ireland, where Michelle O'Neill has praised Sinn Féin for giving a €200 deduction to low-income households only, and nothing to those on middle incomes. Our response here has been much greater than the response in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: We all agree that households, families and businesses are suffering from the increase in energy costs. The Deputy mentioned the measures the Government has already approved and we all agree that this is greater than anything Sinn Féin has done in Northern Ireland. That is being seen in the reduction in excise on petrol and diesel; in the €200 being taken off people's electricity...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: As of this morning, more than 10,000 Ukrainians had arrived in Ireland and registered for international protection. We expect that number will rise to 20,000 by the end of the month. It is reasonable to assume that figure will probably hit approximately 40,000 by the end of next month, although nobody can know for sure. What we are seeing is effectively a 1% increase in our population in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I have been informed by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, that the community call initiative will be reactivated, as suggested by the Deputy, to mobilise the generosity and capacity of the nation to help with this enormous international crisis. Consideration is being given to using section 181(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which confers emergency powers....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: We have set aside funding for the Covid-19 contingency. The pandemic is not over yet, so we may need that money for Covid-19. We are not yet in a position to dedicate that to this response. We need also to bear in mind that was to be a one-off spend for this year. I expect whatever we will have to do to help Ukrainians will be a recurring spend for a number of years because tens of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge Deputy Lowry for raising this important issue and for his ongoing advocacy for people who have cancer and those who have survived it. Friday is Daffodil Day, and I commend the Irish Cancer Society on its decades of advocacy and service provision to people with cancer and cancer survivors. Successive national cancer strategies have delivered continuing improvements in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: As I indicated earlier, the Government is examining this matter to see what is being done in other European jurisdictions and how we might do something similar here in the Irish context. Officials from the Department of Finance have met with Insurance Ireland on this. They will also be willing to meet with the Irish Cancer Society to pursue it further. Insurance Ireland advises that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I believe the record will reflect I gave a substantive reply to Deputy McDonald, to Deputy Shortall and to Deputy Lowry-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The fact the Deputy did not like or understand the reply is more of a reflection on him than it is on me, quite frankly. In respect of the programme for Government, it is there in black and white. Anyone can read it. It is clear what the programme for Government states on LNG, and that programme for Government was approved after a democratic vote by the Oireachtas Members of my party,...