Results 37,481-37,500 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure what is meant by "money for kids" outside of child benefit but I definitely agree that there should be more playgrounds and sports facilities. That is happening and it is something that Government and local authorities are very much investing in. I am interested in the debate about homework. I am not sure what is the right decision. My sense is that some homework is a good...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I want to acknowledge at the outset that a lot of people and a lot of families are struggling with the cost of living and are struggling to make ends meet. Nobody on the Government side would deny that for a second. I do not know if it is correct to say that one in ten Irish families have gone to a food bank. That would be 200,000 families. I am not sure if that figure is correct but it...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I should say that this is ultimately going to be a matter for An Bord Pleanála to decide on. It has been remitted to An Bord Pleanála for a decision, taking into account the climate action plan. I will be very straight with the Deputy. While there are different views within Government on this matter, which happens sometimes and sometimes is a healthy thing, I am a supporter of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I honestly do not know the answer to the Deputy's question. While I appreciate she may have raised it before, this is the first time it has been raised with me. I will have to check with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and come back to the Deputy with an answer.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I want to extend once again my condolences to the people of Creeslough who, I know, are still mourning and for whom this tragedy is still very raw. What I would ask TG4 to do is perhaps to sit down with the families concerned, maybe consult with them and, having done that, make a decision as to whether or not it is going to postpone the airing of the documentary. I am reluctant, as head of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have the data to hand, but I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, to come back to the Deputy with an answer on that within a week. I strongly believe that it is important that our planning departments are properly staffed. This is so that they can grant planning permission to people who need to build homes and to build businesses and infrastructure. Our planning...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Farrell. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to answer on MARA.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As part of our response, the Government has announced €2 million in aid for Türkiye and Syria. Most of it will go to Syria and it will be done through the UN, the Red Cross and Red Crescent. We are going to talk to the authorities and see what else we can do. I expect this will be a matter we will discuss at the European Council tomorrow and I agree with the fundamental case...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the other matter, Deputy Verona Murphy will appreciate the deployment of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner rather than the Government but it is the Government's job to make sure there are more gardaí, and we are doing that. We have provided funding for an additional 1,000 to be recruited this year. That does not mean an extra 1,000 gardaí because there will...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Bill 2023: First Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2023: First Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No. Nílimid ina aghaidh.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gender Equality (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The Department of the Taoiseach, in line with the rest of the Civil Service, actively encourages equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The Department is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all staff and recognises that a diverse workforce helped by an inclusive culture can improve organisational...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gender Equality (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As I mentioned, Ireland's pay gap is 11.3%, which is a narrower pay gap than the EU average. I am happy to say this is less bad and not better than, if Deputies prefer. It would be in line with some of the Nordic countries, which are often held up as examples for us to follow in terms of gender pay. My view is there should be no gender pay gap at all. The objective, therefore, must be 0%,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 15, inclusive, together. Government has been working to implement the commitments in the programme for Government, which are advanced through the co-ordinating mechanisms of the Cabinet committee structure. The ten Cabinet committees recently established by Government reflect the core policy areas set out in the programme for Government on which it...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the final matter raised, we completely accept we will need to increase staffing and resources given the large increase in the number of people who have applied for asylum and international protection here. We will need to ensure we are properly staffed to make decisions quickly and to enforce them. On the question raised by Deputy Jim O’Callaghan, I put on record my strong...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the home ownership issue, I acknowledge what Deputy Cian O'Callaghan is saying, that homeownership rates have fallen in recent years, and we want to reverse that. We made significant progress in the past year, where more than 16,000 people, couples and families bought their first home. That is the highest figure we have had in 15 years, and we have to go back to the Celtic tiger era to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: If we are going to extend the ban,we have to bear that in mind.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 23, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland. The NESC work programme currently includes six main areas, which are as follows. The first is housing, land and sustainable development. In 2022, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the last matter, we are scoping out the Covid inquiry at present. We hope to have it established by the Oireachtas mid-year. It will not just be about the State's response; it will be about the wider response from all society, including the private sector. It is impossible to put a timeframe on it but given the scope and scale, it could take a long time. That is the truth of it. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There is also the energy credit, with another €200 being knocked off people's bills in March. Research by the ESRI and others has shown that for a lot of people, these measures largely or fully insulate them from the cost-of-living crisis but I absolutely acknowledge that is not the case for everyone. Certainly when it comes to deciding what we do in the March, April and May period,...