Results 38,801-38,820 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: My understanding is that, at UHL itself, the new 96-bed block is under construction and another one has been approved. I do not know what the situation is regarding an additional bed block for St. John's but I will certainly make inquiries with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and ask that he come back to Deputy O'Dea directly. I can certainly see the advantages of additional beds in St....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is an interesting idea. Advertising does work. Otherwise, companies would not spend so much money on advertising, nor would we as politicians. However, I am not sure how I would feel about restricting advertising of holidays abroad, certain foods and so on. I am not sure we would want to get into that space-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----but it is certainly something worthy of debate.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We are looking at it and taking it very seriously all the time. We have full employment now in Ireland - probably beyond full employment at this stage. There are more vacancies available than there are people with the skills to fill them. We see that in the public sector and the private sector. We see it in all parts of the country. We see it in jobs that are well paid and jobs that are...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The DEIS programme has been hugely successful, and a number of schools in my constituency benefit from the additional resources that come with it, and they need it, given the disadvantage in the area. I am not an expert on it at all. I know there is a special arrangement in the north-east inner city. There is also DEIS band 1 and DEIS band 2. I will certainly let the Minister, Deputy...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think I can instruct the Minister for Transport, either legally or politically, but I know this issue has come up a number of times. My general view when it comes to these matters is that, if someone is fit and healthy enough to work for longer, he or she should be allowed to do so, but I think there may be insurance issues when it comes to bus drivers. I will certainly let the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It must be a very difficult decision to have to make if you are a dual player. Which set of team mates do you disappoint and which set of supporters do you disappoint when games clash like that? Needless to say, as a Government, we are not involved in scheduling any of these matches, but it is a reasonable issue to raise. I will certainly let the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, know it...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Not really. It is very clear. We are participating in PESCO. We are founder members of PESCO. We had a referendum on the Lisbon treaty. People voted for it. I was proud to lead us into PESCO during my first term as Taoiseach. PESCO is the European structured co-operation on defence and security. We are not going to join NATO, but NATO is made up of many countries that are allies, for...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, to reply to Deputy Stanton’s question on AI. Regarding Deputy O’Sullivan’s question on home tutors, I was not aware of that issue. I will certainly speak to the Minister, Deputy McGrath, about it. It sounds like a Revenue decision. I will make inquiries and get back to the Deputy as soon as I can. To Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. The overall responsibility for the public service modernisation, development and reform functions is vested in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. This has been the case since the transforming public services programme office was moved to that Department from the Department of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies. On the addiction sector and services raised by Deputy Gould, I am very familiar with these as well. I have often visited the Coolmine Therapeutic Community which is based in Blanchardstown but now has facilities in other parts of the country as well. I am very aware of the work it does. It is work that can really turn people's lives around. I have had interest in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Certainly, that should be the case. Deputy Murphy raised the issue of RTÉ and climate. RTÉ covers climate a lot. Maybe it does not cover it on “The Late Late Show” but it does so often on the website and on the news and in many programmes dealing with the issue. Coverage is generally by George Lee who covers it very well and passionately. The issue of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take question Nos. 6 to 12, inclusive, together. The Department of the Taoiseach is continuing to help advance the programme for Government commitments. The priorities set out in the Department's Strategy Statement 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, pursue...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Gould spoke first and raised the issue of domestic and gender-based violence. I once again put on the record of the House that this is a major priority for the Government, and especially for the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, who takes the lead on this and is very passionate about it. What we are doing is reflected in a range of policies and legislation, as well as...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, I can certainly ask for that. We will be doing the end of second quarter report on Housing For All in about two weeks' time. Perhaps we can include it on that. In Fingal, my own county, it is about 200. There is a good chance we will exceed the target of 1,500 for this year. Whether all those purchases are signed and sealed by the end of the year is a different question. It may...

Ceisteanna - Questions: British-Irish Co-operation (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take questions Nos. 13 to 19, inclusive, together. I attended the 38th British-Irish Council summit, hosted by the Government of Jersey on 15 and 16 June. The theme of the summit was Building for the Future: Green and Affordable. I detailed the Government’s work to promote sustainable and affordable housing under Housing For All, including in relation to skills,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: British-Irish Co-operation (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Haughey asked whether any progress has been made in recent weeks on the restoration of the institutions in Northern Ireland, the Assembly and the Executive. The truth is that nothing, or very little, progress has been made. Engagement continues between the DUP and the UK Government. The Tánaiste met with the party leaders. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will be in Dublin shortly for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter again. The revelations from RTÉ last week are deeply unsettling and have shaken public trust in what is an important institution. We want to see trust restored quickly because we need to have a strong and effective public service broadcaster for our State. It is important once again to acknowledge that the vast majority of staff in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy very much for his questions. I acknowledge what he is saying about double standards in RTÉ, with people at the top applying one set of rules to some among them and a different set to others in the organisation. I want to point out two relevant facts of importance. From the information we to date, of the top ten or top 20 personalities in RTÉ it appears that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Bacik. In my view, the people who are perhaps most hurt by all of this are the public, the vast majority of whom dutifully pay their licence fee every year when some people around them do not. Many people who have paid their licence fee every year for ten, 20, 30 or 40 years are extremely annoyed, quite frankly, about what has transpired. I acknowledge, of course, that the...