Results 36,061-36,080 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: This is an important issue and I appreciate that Deputy Doherty and his colleagues have raised it previously. I do not have an up-to-date report on that but I will make sure that I get one from the Department of Health and that the Deputy gets an update either today or tomorrow.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: While the Coombe Women and Infant's University Hospital is not currently processing cervical screening samples for the CervicalCheck programme, current services are not affected as an alternative laboratory is able to provide testing for 100% of samples. CervicalCheck is currently up to date with invitations for screening and by the end of 2021, it had screened the same amount of people as...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: In case Deputy Murphy had not noticed, a large number of banks are leaving the country. At the moment, tens of thousands of individual customers and business customers of Ulster Bank and KBC are trying to find a new bank. Among the reasons those banks are leaving the country is that while they can make profits here, they actually would make more profits for their capital in other countries....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate this is an important issue in Waterford and the south east. The Deputy will be aware of the work being done to construct and fit out the second cath lab in University Hospital Waterford. Obviously, when the laboratory is ready staffing it will be a challenge. Finding staff to staff two cath labs 24-7 will be a real difficulty. It is in large cities and it will certainly be a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It is increasingly understood that with heart attacks, or myocardial infarctions, the time period that is most relevant is the point from which the person starts to experience symptoms, rather than the 90 minutes from the time the call is made. There is a better understanding of that in recent years. I appreciate the comments the Deputy made but perhaps the best place to raise this matter...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I understand it is intended to publish the new strategy on 21 June. I take Deputy Connolly's point entirely that a strategy on its own is not enough, the strategy must be implemented and implementation in the past was fragmented. The Minister is very keen to establish a new dedicated agency to deal with the matter of the epidemic of gender-based and sexual violence. She believes the best...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Hepatitis C is a very serious illness that has affected a lot of people in Ireland, including women and, in particular, people who suffer from haemophilia. Thankfully, hepatitis C can now be cured. There is a tablet for it that eliminates it from your system. It is an extraordinary miracle of modern science that this is now possible and available. It appears, however, that there is a new...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Medical scientists are an essential and crucial part of our health service. The Government appreciates the work they do in our laboratories and other facilities around the country. They may not be seen by patients very often but without them, there would be no patient care. It is essential that we support them in their work and recognise their role. The issue raised by the Deputy is an...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is very concerned about incidents of knife crime in Ireland. I am aware of the sad case of Jennie Poole and extend my condolences to her family and friends. As a member of the Government, I have not seen that legislation yet. I am not sure what its status is or whether it has been published. I do not think it has been published...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy very much. I know this is a very important issue in Clondalkin. Deputy Higgins also raised it with me and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has been to visit the project in the past. I am sure we will find a mechanism to fund the project so that it keeps going. I am not sure whether that will be done through the local authority. I know that in my part of Dublin, Fingal...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: -----because nobody wants to see the project close.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: We have had a huge increase in the number of applications for work permits and work visas and, in response, we have trebled the number of staff working on issuing work permits and work visas and are automating some processes. We are starting to see improvements in waiting times. For critical skills permits, the waiting time is now back to six or seven weeks, which is pretty good. For the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The short answer is "Yes". I think there is a role for Enterprise Ireland in that regard, and for IDA Ireland because sometimes, when new companies invest in Ireland for the first time, they want to set up in an available premises with a small number of staff before they develop their headquarters. There is definitely a role for both agencies in that regard and that will form part of my...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Information and Communications Technology (17 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department contracts an accredited electronic waste disposal service provider to securely collect all old computer hardware. The service provider is committed to continuously working to reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste. Where possible, old computer hardware is refurbished and offered for resale. When this is not possible, all components are recycled in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (17 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 employers are obliged to provide reasonable accommodations to both employment candidates and employees with disabilities, unless these measures would impose a disproportionate burden on them. The factors to be taken into account in assessing whether a reasonable accommodation request would impose a disproportionate burden on the employer include,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Living Wage (17 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: In 2021, I asked the Low Pay Commission to examine the Programme for Government commitment to progress a living wage over the lifetime of the Government and to make recommendations to me on how best we can achieve this commitment. Following this request, the Low Pay Commission commissioned a team of researchers in the National University of Ireland, NUI Maynooth to conduct research on the...

Sick Leave Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (18 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies for their contributions. I have been very clear on the medium-term plan, which is to make sure that employers know what their obligations will be and that employees know what their rights are. The statutory entitlement to sick pay will be phased in as part of a four-year plan. The initial entitlement would be to three paid sick leave days per year once the Bill is enacted...

Sick Leave Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (18 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The argument I am making, which I often make, is one in favour of incremental progress. I appreciate that for many people progress is too slow, but I have a responsibility as Minister to listen to all sides of the argument and to look at it from the point of view of employers as well as that of employees. In my view, the most important workers' right is the right to work, and I want to...

Sick Leave Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (18 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: On Committee Stage, the Minister of State, Deputy English, signalled our intention to move an amendment on Report Stage to address the issues raised by the Deputies. The purpose of the amendment is to eliminate uncertainty as to the entitlement of certain workers to sick leave. Section 5 is linked to the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973. This means that an employee will not...

Sick Leave Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (18 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: "Yes" is the short answer, provided there is no break longer than 26 weeks, but I will double-check. If I am wrong about it, we can come back to it.