Results 39,621-39,640 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware of the issue. It relates to a Revenue determination made with respect to how GPs are taxed. We have found a solution to it and an amendment was approved by Cabinet to the finance Bill. I am not sure why that has not been published yet. It has been agreed by Cabinet. I will double-check on that and follow up on it. It should have been published by now but perhaps it has not been.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am pleased to welcome the fact that the Cabinet signed off on the approval of the Adare bypass. I expect that will get under construction next year and be completed by 2027. At the same time, we are very keen to progress the reopening of the line to Foynes for freight, but also the development of Limerick commuter rail and the opening of new stations in and around the city.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thought those questions were for one of the Ministers.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am not, and I spoke to the Minister for housing about this only on Tuesday. We are seeing some great regeneration projects happening around the city but some are painstakingly slow. Dolphin House and St. Teresa's Gardens spring to mind, and that is very frustrating. It is a matter for Dublin City Council to lead on these projects, not central government, but it is certainly something I...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I have just conferred with the Minister for Justice and we expect to have the new defamation legislation published in the new year, and we hope it will be enacted later in the year. I saw the letter that Deputy Cannon saw too. It is signed by the Coalition for Women in Journalism; the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, named after the Maltese journalist who was murdered; the European...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is up to the Deputy whether he supports the Finance Bill but I ask him to look at the merits of the Bill with regard to whether he supports it or not. If he votes against it, as he is free to do, the Deputy will be voting against income tax cuts for people in Waterford and help for small landlords and people who are struggling with their mortgages. If he wants to vote against those...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Deputy McEntee, might be better able than me to answer that question but she is in the Seanad. The community safety partnerships are an important innovation, on which she is really leading, and will help to make our communities both safer and stronger. I am meeting the Garda Commissioner today to discuss a number of matters and this is one of the issues on the agenda. Once I...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland has welcomed a lot of people - approximately 100,000 - from Ukraine in the past two years. I am proud that we as a country were able to do that, notwithstanding the pressures and problems it has created. The numbers are big but we are not top of the league table in the EU, either on raw numbers or in percentage terms. There are much higher numbers in countries like Poland, Slovakia...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The Government intends to hold a referendum next year on gender equality, as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Gender Equality. The decision to hold one or more referendums on this issue is in line with commitments in the programme for Government to respond to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the questions asked about the referendum on housing, in line with commitments in the programme for Government and in Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland, the Housing Commission was established by the Government in December 2021 to independently examine and review the housing system in Ireland. The Housing Commission submitted its report, proposed wording for an amendment to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has an obsession with which words are used. It is the same thing.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: They do matter. The Deputy will always need to find a stronger word, no matter what word we use-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 8, inclusive, together. Ireland’s well-being framework was launched in July 2021. It consists of 11 dimensions made up of different aspects of well-being, with a dashboard on the CSO website of 35 indicators. The development of the framework is a major new initiative of the Government and is modelled on best practice from the OECD. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. This block of questions relates to the well-being framework and I am not sure whether many of the issues raised by Deputies relate directly to that. Of course, they are entitled to raise any issue they wish in the House, but it makes it difficult for me to reply. Day services in Saint Michael's House, which Deputy O'Callaghan has raised a number...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 13, inclusive, together. The Housing for All update and quarter 3 progress report was published last week. This report sets out our priority actions for the coming year as we build on the strong start we have made in tackling the crisis. It is clear that we are making real progress. We can see it on the ground, with new homes and apartments being...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies for their contributions. Deputy O'Sullivan raise the process of buying a house. Approximately 60,000 people a year are buying houses. It is great to see that happen. For a lot of people who I know and who bought a house in the past couple of years, some found the process seamless and others found it really complex and stressful, particularly if they were involved in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. A decision has not been made on it yet. It recommends changes to the income thresholds, recognising the fact that people earn more than they did before, and also increasing the amounts of grants given, recognising that the cost of construction has gone up. It has not been formally signed off on yet.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do broadly, yes.

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

Leo Varadkar: Last Thursday, we experienced two appalling acts of violence on our streets. First, the stabbing of several children and their carer, two of whom remain in hospital as we speak. They are stable, but critical and we pray for their recovery. Second, an ugly far-right protest on our streets led to a riot, looting and serious criminal damage. These events were shocking and unacceptable. It...

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

Leo Varadkar: I believe Deputy McDonald is not listening. She is not listening to parents. She is not listening to Dubliners. She is not listening to citizens all over the country. They do not want to hear her playing politics when it comes to an important issue like this.