Results 39,661-39,680 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly make the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and Minister of State, Deputy O'Brien, aware of that request.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is absolutely right. I would welcome such a debate. I agree it should be fair, balanced and measured. It is also important that it be informed. I am not an expert on immigration law, but I worry when I hear Members of this and the other House mixing up international protection with temporary protection or EEA with EU. We in this Chamber are well paid and we all have a duty to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I would be happy to look into it. If the Deputy passes on the details to my office along with permission from the gentleman for me to make representations on his behalf, I will certainly do so. Our target is that no one who needs to see a specialist would have to wait more than ten or 12 weeks. Unfortunately, approximately 400,000 people are waiting longer than that at the moment....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Child Poverty (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. The report, Breaking the Cycle: New Measures in Budget 2024 to Reduce Child Poverty and Promote Well-being, describes the enhanced steps the Government is taking to help children to realise their potential and escape intergenerational poverty. While the most substantial investment the Government makes in reducing child poverty...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Child Poverty (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is true.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Child Poverty (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies for their questions. Deputy Murnane O'Connor mentioned DEIS schools and the need for more educational welfare officers. We always need to remind ourselves that, while many children experience disadvantage in DEIS schools, most children who experience disadvantage are not in DEIS schools. That is why extending the hot school meals programme to non-DEIS schools is really...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. I met with the Prime Minister of France, Élisabeth Borne, in Government Buildings on Monday, 13 November. We discussed the close and strengthening ties between our two countries, as well as current EU and international issues. France is Ireland’s nearest neighbour in the European Union, and we share a deep...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I recognise Deputy Haughey for talking about the Year of the French in 1798. It is fascinating how it still lives on in our folk memory even though it was a relatively small force and ultimately unsuccessful. It led to the creation of Ireland's first republic, the short-lived Republic of Connacht. We know from historical accounts that people were impressed to see a citizen army in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No, we discussed the need for a ceasefire. Thankfully, we have that now and it has facilitated the release of hostages and prisoners and allowed aid to get into Gaza. We did not talk about the medium or long term. On the other matter, I spoke to our ambassador to Israel last night. She was one of a number of EU ambassadors summoned. I assure the Deputy that she was able to both...

Ceisteanna - Questions: An Garda Síochána (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 16, inclusive, together. A Policing Service for our Future is the Government’s plan to implement the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Implementation of the plan is being overseen by a dedicated programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach and has entered the final consolidation phase, with many substantive...

Ceisteanna - Questions: An Garda Síochána (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy Dillon asked about examining the Children Act. I am not aware of any plans to do so, but I will come back to him on that. However, the fact that we treat juveniles differently in the criminal justice system is not a bad thing, and it does not mean juveniles are immune from the law. They are accountable for their actions. That is why we...

Policing, Protests and Public Order: Statements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on the dreadful events that occurred in Dublin last week - the stabbing of a woman and several schoolchildren, the far-right protest that followed, and then the riot, looting and criminal damage. We are all still coming to terms with what happened, what it means and how we might respond further. The Government and the Garda are...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has primary responsibility for matters relating to integration. The Social Policy Division in the Department of the Taoiseach supports the whole-of-government approach to integration and related matters through the Cabinet Committee structure.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Climate Change Policy (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out how Ireland will respond to the climate crisis, by placing the delivery of climate solutions at the heart of the development of our society. This Plan includes actions to tackle the mitigation and adaptation challenges posed by climate change. The Department of the Taoiseach prepares quarterly progress reports on the delivery of measures committed to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Climate Change Policy (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Climate Action Delivery Board is jointly chaired by the Secretaries General of the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Membership of the Delivery Board consists of Secretaries General from those Government Departments who have the main responsibilities for climate action delivery. Meetings are also attended by the Chiefs of Staff...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Freedom of Information (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table beneath. Year Number of FOI Requests Received Number of FOI Request Refused 2022 325 107 2023 (to date) 320 79 It should be noted that of the 107 requests refused in 2022, 66 requests were refused on the basis that no records were found...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The amount spent on advertising with RTÉ from 2016 by the Department of the Taoiseach is set out in the accompanying table. The bulk of this expenditure relates to public information campaigns relating to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. All expenditure is placed through a media buying company procured through an Office of Government Procurement framework. - RTE...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No briefings by these organisations have been facilitated by the Department of the Taoiseach, or any body under its aegis, from 2020 to date.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (29 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The following table details the amount of Prompt Payment Interest and compensation paid by the Department of the Taoiseach from January 2016 to the end of October 2023, which are the latest available figures. These figures are published on the Department's website on a quarterly basis and reported to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in compliance with the Late Payments in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We have rent pressure zones in Ireland. We introduced them many years ago and the vast majority of people renting in Ireland are covered and protected by them. That means there are increases of between 0% and 4% per year. We have also introduced the rent tax credit and that is a big help for a lot of people. Next year, it is €750 a year for a single person and €1,500 a year...