Results 37,641-37,660 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 10 go 22 le chéile. The priorities set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 reflect the role of the Department to assist me, as Taoiseach, and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland's interests abroad, to implement the Government's programme and to build a better future for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. In relation to domestic and gender-based violence, as I said in my initial reply, we are writing the strategy now for 2023 to 2025. I will certainly give consideration to referring to that specifically in the new strategy. Action on this is very much led by the Minister for Justice, particularly Deputy McEntee, who will be returning from leave...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We might talk about that again later with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath. I had thought those regional uplift maps were to apply for approximately three years and were coming to an end. I might be wrong. Perhaps we will talk about that matter again. We do not yet have a date to establish the citizens' assembly on the future of education. We want to establish the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 33, inclusive, together. The social dialogue unit, part of the economic division of the Department, co-ordinates and assists the Government's overall approach to social dialogue. Social dialogue takes place through a variety of mechanisms. This includes the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, which engages with representatives of employers and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I was heartened and encouraged to see the very good turnout at the rally at the weekend. People were saying no to racism and that refugees are welcome in Ireland. The numbers who turned out dwarfed the attendance at any anti-migrant protest we have seen to date. Everyone was encouraged by the number of people who were willing to be there. I will say two things in addition to that. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----for its part in that injustice providing a scheme that is-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Regarding the 382 deaths among those using homeless services in Dublin in 2018, we need to recall that the behind every number there is a person. We must always remember that with any death of a person experiencing homelessness, there is a family and loved ones who are grieving the loss of that person. Of course, just as is the case for people who are not homeless, people who are homeless...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The mother and baby institutions payments scheme is currently being debated by the Oireachtas. The scheme will include financial payments to an estimated 34,000 people and a form of enhanced medical card for almost 20,000 who were resident in mother and baby and county home institutions. This will come at a cost of approximately...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is not fair to characterise the decision of Government in respect of this matter as arbitrary. We had a commission of investigation. It made its findings and recommended a set of actions and a redress scheme. We decided to go well beyond what was recommended by the independent commission, which was chaired by an independent judge. The commission looked at the matter for many years...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----so it is not fair to say it is arbitrary in that regard.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is also unfair to characterise the response of the Government as being solely linked to financial compensation. There is much more to what we are doing than that. For example, one of the things we have done is put in place immediate counselling support. That was available on the publication of the commission's final report through the HSE's national counselling service. A State apology...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and access to information about their early lives.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That was done in the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Almost 7,000 requests have been received and 2,000 cases have been completed. We are puling out all the stops to ensure we get that information to people affected as soon as possible. There is the national central repository of records, a national centre of research and remembrance and research scholarships. We are trying to get public access-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----to State files. I could go on if I was not being interrupted.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Once again, yesterday's announcement was not a mini-budget. It did not involve any increases in weekly payments, income tax cuts or increases, as would happen in any budget, in spending for Departments. What was announced is a targeted package to help families struggling with the cost of living, pensioners and people on social welfare payments and small businesses in particular. It is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We also need to take into account the issue-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I agree with the Deputy on the matter of certainty. The Government is considering this matter. We will make a decision and announce it before the St. Patrick's Day recess. The Deputy has my assurance in that regard. Déanfaidh an Rialtas cinneadh roimh bhriseadh Lá Fhéile Phádraig.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not accept the Deputy's characterisation of what this Government and previous Governments have done. This Government and the one before it decided to deal with this issue, which has been a scar on our society for many decades and generations. Sadly, institutions such as these existed in other jurisdictions. I refer, for example, to the jurisdiction north of the Border and to those in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that the Deputy feels very strongly about this and that she feels passionately about this. I appreciate that this is an issue of genuine interest and concern to her but I do not think it is right for her to put words in my mouth. I did not quote the commission of investigation at all. I did not even mention the interdepartmental group and yet the Deputy has tied to put words...