Results 37,341-37,360 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid that is probably a question that Galway County Council can answer better than me, but it is important that our council housing and planning departments are adequately staffed for the reasons the Deputy has outlined. I will certainly make the Minster of State, Deputy O'Donnell, aware that the issue was raised today.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is clear some, if not many, migrant fishermen are being exploited. That is not acceptable and not something we want to be a feature of our marine economy or the fishing industry in Ireland. I have heard and read about some appalling examples of abuse that are not far off modern day slavery. I know, before his resignation, the former Minister of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is important to put this into context. We are facing an unprecedented situation, a refugee crisis the likes of which Europe has not seen since the Second World War and the likes of which we have never seen in Ireland. In the past year we have taken in about 100,000 people, mostly from Ukraine but also from other parts of the world. We have provided them with shelter, heat, light,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is the legal position.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4 together. The newly established Cabinet committee on children and education will oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of children and education with a specific focus on child poverty and well-being. The first meeting of this Cabinet committee will take place shortly. This new Cabinet committee will have a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising these various matters. Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned the issue of ASD classes in County Louth. I agree we have a need for more investment across the country to allow space for more ASD classes come September, when they are particularly going to be needed. They are needed now but they will be needed even more come September. That will require...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ------how they can best be deployed. The issue of the CAMHS report was raised. The findings of the independent review are concerning and raise significant risks and deficits. Similar to the Mental Health Commission, I thank the young people and their families who spoke to those conducting the independent review and shared their experiences. That was not easy. It is incumbent on all of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 8, inclusive, together. I spoke with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, by telephone on 11 January 2023. This was my first opportunity to speak with the President since my reappointment as Taoiseach. She offered me her congratulations and we said we looked forward to operating closely on the important agenda of work...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I absolutely call for de-escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. The best way it can be de-escalated is for Russia to withdraw, either by withdrawing fully from Ukraine or at least by withdrawing to the boundaries as they were this time last year. That is the best way for us to de-escalate this war and-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----that is what I am calling for. To go back to the initial question by Deputy Alan Farrell, it is correct to say that there is an improved atmosphere between the European Commission and the UK Government. It is a much better atmosphere, a much better backdrop and a much better mood music than I have seen or heard at any period since Brexit was passed. There is increased trust. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 15, inclusive, together. As provided for in the programme for Government, we are continuing our shared island initiative to deliver benefits for the whole island and work with all communities for a shared future, as underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. This involves unprecedented co-operative all-island investment, through our €1 billion...

Ceisteanna - Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies. To respond to Deputy Durkan, I absolutely agree there are things we can do to move things forward absent an Assembly and Executive, and the shared island fund is part of that. It is one of the few positive things that is happening North-South at the moment. It is making a difference in Northern Ireland and has been a very successful initiative by the Government,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I travelled to Belfast on the 12thof January for a round of engagements with the leaders of the five main political parties, the focus of which were on the formation of the Executive and the EU-UK Protocol negotiations. Legacy and a number of other issues of concern, were also discussed. I emphasised that it is a priority for this government to support the parties in Northern Ireland to form...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Business Supports (24 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach did not provide grants, funding supports, tax breaks or any other monetary assistance to businesses in the years 2020 - 2022.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government commits to establishing four Citizens’ Assemblies, on the topics of Biodiversity Loss; the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin; Matters Relating to Drugs Use; and the Future of Education. The Dublin related Citizen’s Assembly has concluded its work, and submitted its report and recommendations to the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Bodies (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The role of the Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division is to assist me, as Taoiseach, and the Government in delivering programme for Government objectives and public policies and services which help create a socially inclusive and fair society. Specifically, the Division assists the work of the newly established Cabinet Committees, as follows: - the Cabinet Committee on Social...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: World Economic Forum (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: At last week’s Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, I had a wide range of engagements including: - A reception hosted by the IDA for enterprises with a presence of Ireland and those with a potential interest in investing in the country; - bilateral meetings with a number of international business and political leaders including representatives of Intel, Amazon Web...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: This is an historic issue that dates back to the 1970s. I do not know the full facts of it and I doubt that anyone else does. The Minister for Health has sought advice from the Attorney General and a detailed written briefing from his officials. The Attorney General is also preparing a report for Cabinet for next Tuesday, which we will publish thereafter. Until such a time as we receive...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot confirm who was or was not briefed over that period of time. I am sure individuals will do that as they can, based on their recollections. In relation to documents, we are assembling those documents now in the Attorney General's office and the Department of Health. I have not seen them. I have seen one or two but certainly not all of them. When we have assembled them all we...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As I mentioned, the Attorney General has been asked to prepare a report on the matter for Cabinet next week and that report will be published. There will also be statements in the Dáil next week. As I think the Deputy acknowledged on the radio this morning, it is reasonable that Ministers should have a bit of time to put all of the documents together because this goes back a long way....