Results 39,141-39,160 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----but that does not mean-----

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I think any reform should be a good and meaningful one. I am not sure whether, if the public were actually aware of the all-party proposals and the different reports that were made, they would actually be supportive of the reform that was proposed. I am being honest about that. If we are going to reform the Seanad, it should be a reform for the better, and the difficulty with what was...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is fair to say that it would certainly be a much more diminished role for local authority members than they currently have. Like I said, we have a Supreme Court judgment now that Government has to respond to. The deadline is set. It is not practical to change how we elect the Seanad for the next Seanad election. That is only 15 months away at most. However, it is a necessity that it...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Okay. Will I just keep going?

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On CAMHS, I agree with Senator Doherty and her comments on the need for a radical overhaul, and root-and-branch reform. It is not working. We all know that from our experiences with our constituents. I am not actually sure what that root-and-branch reform would look like in detail, and that is what we have to figure out. The Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Anne...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: She gave a lot of information and hope to a lot of people. I will not insult anyone's intelligence by telling them that it is complex legislation, because we all know that. We just need to progress it now and I hope we get that done in this Dáil session. Senator Fitzpatrick touched on the cost-rental model. I am a big fan of that, too. Senator Craughwell spoke about the Defence...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Finally, on the issue of trade in narcotics, which Senator Burke raised, the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, is in Brussels today. She is at a meeting between EU and Latin American ministers to discuss exactly that issue. I have covered the nitrates derogation already. Senator Clonan made an appeal for us to ratify the optional protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I want to say once again that the Government supports the Garda and the essential work it does in keeping our communities safe and in keeping us safe. The Garda has a budget of more than €2 billion this year, the highest ever, being invested in pay, equipment and buildings. We anticipate between 700 and 800 new recruits this year in addition to 400 Garda staff. We also understand...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I largely agree with what the Deputy said earlier. We all want this dispute to be resolved. We all want a roster that works for citizens to make sure that gardaí are available when we need them, and also one that reflects the need to recruit and retain gardaí. This means a roster that recognises the need for work-life balance and the caring and family responsibilities. Disputes...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On behalf of the Government, I want to say that we recognise the important and essential role played by barristers in undertaking criminal legal aid work and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is currently engaged in discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on the issue of criminal legal aid fees as part of the budgetary process. Of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am informed by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, that the Policing Authority has said it does not have a role to play in rosters-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and I understand it said so as recently as its public meeting last week.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the barristers dispute, I do not think the criminal justice system is collapsing. This is a one-day withdrawal of labour. Barristers are protesting and they have every right to protest. We live in a democracy. I can understand the case they are making. Just like public servants and the vast majority of people across the public and private sector, they have seen their pay and fees...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ----- and also as part of the discussions around reforms. When we reversed the fee cuts for GPs there were changes; there was loss of private income.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is the kind of debate that needs to happen.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is absolutely right. Rare diseases are not that rare and that is certainly the case if one puts them all together. It includes diseases such as cystic fibrosis, haemophilia and muscular dystrophy. Often it is a delayed or missed diagnosis and the sooner patients can get a diagnosis the better for everyone; not only themselves but the wider health service. As the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As I said earlier, rare diseases taken all together are not that rare but some rare diseases are very rare. When we have conditions that are one in a million or one in 5 million, it is not possible for us to treat those patients on our own; we have to co-operate internationally and particularly at European level. We definitely need better patient registers. There are many conditions for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I do not have those figures available to me at the moment, so it is impossible for me to comment on them. I know Deputy Connolly has raised the housing task force for Galway city and county before. When we calculate how much social housing is being provided, we need to recognise that there are many different ways in which social housing can be built and provided. I do not mean...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. What we are doing, and what the Deputy has recommended that we do, we are doing all over the country, namely, building public housing on public land. We are building public housing on private land and buying private housing to use as public housing. We are doing all of those things. Look at the census figures for the past ten years. The percentage of people who live...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised that engagement is taking place regarding section 39 and section 56 agencies. All of us on all sides of the House are very conscious of the vital services those bodies provide. The issue can only be solved, and it can be solved and the strike avoided, through engagement over the next two weeks. Regarding time being provided, I spoke to the Chief Whip. It is possible,...