Results 38,401-38,420 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On Deputy Murnane O'Connor's question, the case for park-and-ride in Carlow is very strong and sounds like a very good idea. We want to encourage people to use the bus and the train. If you live in a rural area, it is not practical for you to walk or cycle to the bus stop or the train station, so park-and-ride facilities make a lot of sense. I will let both the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----but if she has not, I will make sure they know. On section 39 and section 38 facilities, we are moving some section 39 facilities into section 38 status. These are hospices. However, it is not straightforward. Section 39 organisations tend to own their own property, have their own pension funds and often have salaries that are out of kilter with public sector salaries. They are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together. The role of the social policy and public service reform division is to assist me, as Taoiseach, and the Government, in fulfilling programme for Government objectives to help create a socially inclusive and fair society. Specifically, the division assists the work of the newly established Cabinet committees, as follows. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of the Focus Ireland legislation, as I said earlier, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is going to consider it. He is considering some amendments to the Housing Act and it will be considered in that context. I know local authorities would argue they already do take into account the best interests of the child but perhaps that is not what happens on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That should be read across the board. We should also have fair rules on that; they are not always there. I do not think it is right that only Ministers should be required to attend to the Dáil, particularly when it does not relate to their ministerial functions which is what is being argued here. In the case of the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, this relates to events of 16...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together. The IBRC Commission of Investigation was established in June 2015 following consultation with Oireachtas parties to investigate certain transactions, activities and management decisions at the IBRC, beginning with the Siteserv transaction in its first module. The commission’s original deadline for reporting was 31 December 2015...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Some of the Deputies asked about costs. From the time of its establishment until the end of March, the commission has cost €13.1 million, but this excludes third-party legal costs that have been incurred but not yet paid. These are a matter for the commission to determine. I do not have an estimate on that, unfortunately. Since it was established, the commission spent €6.2...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I apologise to the Deputy. I do not believe I have the answer to that question but I will come back to the Deputy by correspondence on that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There were a number of questions here, the responses for which did not relate to the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation commission of investigation, so I might come back to Deputies by correspondence if that is okay.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 23, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs was established by the Government on 18 January 2023. Its role is to oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments relating to the European Union and international issues. The committee generally meets in advance of meetings of the European Council...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Once again, I thank Deputies for their questions. Deputy Haughey raised the issue of Russian vessels operating off our coast. These vessels are in international waters rather than our territorial waters. They are permitted to be there but they are operating in our exclusive economic zone, which is of particular importance to us. The Naval Service and Air Corps are monitoring them. We...

Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Tá tábhacht bhreise ag baint le Lá na hEorpa i mbliana do mhuintir na hÉireann. Táimid ag comóradh 50 bliain mar bhall den Aontas Eorpach. Bhí ról tábhachtach ag ár mballraíocht i bhforbairt na tíre seo ó 1973 i leith. This year's Europe Day has additional significance for the Irish people. We are marking 50 years as a member...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I beg your indulgence, a Cheann Comhairle, while I welcome the students from Coláiste Muire and St. Flannan's College in Ennis, who are here in Leinster House today. They are going to do a presentation later on sustainable communities. They are accompanied by Councillor Mary Howard. Deputies Cathal Crowe and Carey also wish to welcome them. They are all very welcome to the Chamber. ...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to do so. As I acknowledged earlier, we are experiencing food inflation. We now expect to see prices moderate or come down in the coming weeks and months, as they have in respect of petrol and diesel. We are doing three things. The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, is meeting representatives of the Retail Forum today and will say to the retailers very clearly that if their...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As I acknowledged in my reply to Deputy McDonald – I want to acknowledge it again – the Government understands and knows the price of energy has gone up a lot in the past year, as has the price of groceries. We appreciate that many individuals, families and households are struggling to make ends meet, and that is why we have taken action to increase people's pay, reduce the tax...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Many of the measures I mentioned are not one-off measures. The reduction in the price of childcare is a permanent measure and we anticipate doing more in the forthcoming budget. The same applies to the reduction in the cost of public transport. I could go on. We have taken 20 or 30 measures and many of them are permanent rather than one-off. It is a tired narrative to say we are not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: When the Deputy misquotes and misrepresents somebody and puts words into their mouth, it just demonstrates the weakness of his argument. That is all it does. I will come back to that in a moment. Everyone accepts that inflation is a reality and that many people and families are struggling to make ends meet as a result of it. There are many factors behind the international inflation and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It depends on the good or service. What can the Government do about it? First, we tax profits. I have nothing against companies making profits but they should not be making margins that are out of line with those in other jurisdictions. I have said that previously. We tax the profits of companies and will continue to do so. We have a powerful competition and consumer protection...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We will only take an action like that if we are confident and convinced that it actually will benefit consumers. We have to bear in mind that there is ideology and there is reality. From an ideological point of view, and I appreciate that the Deputy comes from a radical socialist left-wing ideology-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----price controls are always a good thing. We know from real experience that price controls can have negative consequences as well. This is most evident in socialist, state-run, planned economies like the Soviet Union and eastern Europe where they led to shortages, scarcity, rationing and, ultimately, a black market. We have to bear in mind experience from other jurisdictions and also...