Results 38,441-38,460 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We all have places to be but I will be happy to answer if we can take the additional time off the next group of questions.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I met Uisce Éireann a few months ago and it has a work programme. Understandably, it prioritises wastewater investments that will result in the greatest return in new homes, new housing estates and developments and new industry. I am aware, and I hear this from my Deputies and councillors all over the country, that a number of small towns and villages around the country are constrained...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 to 23, inclusive, together. I attended the North Sea Summit in Ostend, Belgium, on Monday, 24 April. There I joined the Prime Ministers of Belgium and Denmark, the President of France, the Chancellor of Germany, the Prime Ministers of Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway and the President of the European Commission. The summit was a valuable...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies for their questions. When it comes to renewable energy, I do not accept that we are laggards at all. We now produce about 40% of our electricity from renewable energy. That is a lot higher than many other countries. I think what happens sometimes - and it is understandable - is that people who are in a particular subsector or niche see things from their perspective and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Government Coordination Committee is scheduled to meet again on Monday, 15 May 2023.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy and public services. The Committee covers a range of topics, including immigration and integration, in the areas of social policy with a particular focus on equality and public service reform. Other topics covered by the Committee include...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Legislative Reviews (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach has not identified any legislation which falls to be reviewed by the Department in the period specified and therefore no reviews of Acts have taken place.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Economic Policy (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Economic Division in my Department supports me and the Government in developing and implementing policy across relevant areas to support sustainable economic development including job creation, infrastructure, housing and climate action, and social dialogue. This work is particularly focused on ensuring a coordinated approach to the delivery of the Programme for Government and issues that...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Consultations (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Effective public consultation allows Government to make informed decisions on matters of policy, to improve the delivery of public services, and to improve the accountability of public bodies. As is set out in the guidelines on public consultations produced by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, there are three general principles that should underpin such work: ...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. At the outset I acknowledge that electricity prices have gone up a lot in the past year or so. What generally happens is wholesale prices go up first on the international markets. After that companies put up their retail prices for businesses and customers. After the prices on the wholesale markets come down, the reductions at retail level, to customers, businesses and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I think I set that out in my answer-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----but allow me to set it out again. As regards individual cases, it is difficult and I do not wish to speak to individual cases in the Chamber because I do not know all the facts. I know from my constituency service that on many occasions I have been able to help people to get exceptional needs payments for funeral expenses and that is available. Maybe it is not happening in all cases...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----is paid out to a lot of people, and rightly so. How is the Government acting? We brought in energy credits, with €600 already taken off the bills of every household in the country. There is the business scheme. We decided today that we are extending it to July and introducing a special scheme for businesses that use kerosene, particularly in rural Ireland. We have reduced the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As regards the retail price of electricity and gas, as the Deputy knows and has described, it is done through hedging. Companies buy electricity and gas ahead of time. They do not buy it today and sell it on to customers today; they buy it in advance.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is why retail prices will fall but there will be a time lag in when they fall.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this very important question. I join with her in condemning the violent protests, the intimidation and the racism we have seen occur by some people at some protests in the past few weeks and months, and also the blocking of a public road. Restricting people's freedom is never acceptable. I also condemn the alleged assault of a man in his 70s in County...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is working on a range of new equality strategies. The Deputy will be aware that the national action plan on racism has already been published. Work is also being done on a migrant integration strategy, a Traveller and Roma strategy, a new national strategy for women and girls, and the process of developing a new migrant...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----international protection applicants would arrive every year. The world has changed since then, but it remains our policy that we want to move away from direct provision. The Minister is developing proposals for a dedicated migration agency and more State-run facilities; we have some already. The number of staff has increased by 250. There are 250 additional staff in the Department...