Results 39,761-39,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I respectfully disagree. In the past two years, 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing war have come to our country. More than 70,000 of them have been accommodated by the State. There are some 14,000 Ukrainian children in our schools and between 15,000 and 16,000 Ukrainians working in our economy and contributing by paying tax and PRSI. I know it has not been a perfect response but when people look...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy knows, large aspects of BusConnects are in planning. We expect decisions from An Bord Pleanála quite soon - in the next few weeks and months. The power to direct the NTA, to the extent that it exists, lies with the Minister for Transport. He is in Dubai at the moment but I will let him know that the Deputy raised this so that he can take it into account. As people know,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am familiar with CUH but not ward 2D. I know some people who have been treated recently for leukaemia between CUH and St. James’s Hospital and they are very complimentary of the quality of healthcare and the competence of the staff there. I appreciate the infrastructure is very much out of date and, sadly, that is the case for many of our hospitals. In regard to the particular...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I understand it is out for circulation among Departments at the moment. I had hoped, and still hope, that it could be done as part of the Social Welfare Bill before Christmas. If not, there will be a second Bill in the new year.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that the severe weather has caused significant damage to public infrastructure, not just in Cork but in Waterford and other parts of the country. The process is that the relevant councils cost it, the cost gets double-checked by the Department of Transport and the OPW, and a special allocation is then agreed by the Government. It will be a special allocation on top of existing...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know. I am glad that we have come to that agreement with the retained firefighters. The Government will act in good faith in terms of implementation. When it comes to timelines, I will have to check with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and ask him to come back to the Deputy directly about that.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Obviously, I am familiar with the sad death of Ms Lucas and I remember it very well. I want to extend my condolences to her family and friends, the wider community and the other Coast Guard volunteers. I do not know all the facts of this. Coroners act independently of Government and I am not going to make commitments here on the hoof. I will certainly speak to the Minister, Deputy Ryan,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Education has been allocated a very considerable capital budget for next year, mostly for new schools and school extensions. I think it is in the region of €1 billion; it is certainly several hundred million euro. As is often the case, there are many more projects that we need to progress than we currently have funding for. I know the Ministers, Deputy Foley and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I noted what the Australian Government did, and I know the Australian Government has a scheme in place to provide additional compensation to thalidomide survivors in addition to the compensation that they currently receive. This Government would be very happy to match what the Australian Government has done, both in terms of an apology and also in terms of a compensation scheme....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Deputy McGrath, is very much apprised of this situation and is very concerned about it. We have all come across cases of people who have been paying their mortgages and who have a perfect payment record but whose mortgage has been sold to a non-bank lender and who now face very big increases in interest rates they would not have faced had the mortgage not been sold on. It is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing last met on Monday, 27 November. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for 18 December. This committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the implementation of Housing for All and programme for Government commitments regarding housing and related matters. Housing for All...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Deputy Dillon raised the issue of pyrite in County Mayo and whether modern methods of construction and rapid-build housing might form part of the solution. We can and will examine proposals made by Mayo County Council in that regard. Our experience with rapid-build solutions, however, is that they are never as rapid as people may believe they are....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 12 go 14, go huile, le chéile. The parliamentary liaison unit in the Department of the Taoiseach assists the Government in its relationship with the Oireachtas. It works with the Office of the Government Chief Whip on issues that arise at the Business Committee and the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform, including Dáil...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies. Deputy Barry said that Israel has consistently ignored UN resolutions. It has been doing that for many decades.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: He is correct in that regard. I did not say that the US could do nothing. I am pretty sure that is not what I said. I note that Israel is not economically dependent on the US in the way it was in the past, and certainly not in the way it was before the 1980s. It is a considerable military power in its own right but of course receives significant US help in that regard. I said yesterday...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----surely that says something.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 22, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social, and environmental development in Ireland. NESC was established in 1973 and celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. I spoke at a conference last week to mark this occasion, which demonstrated...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I will be as brief as I can. Deputy McDonald asked about the implantation group. I think it is not established yet but I will double-check and come back to the Deputy. When it comes to climate, we produce a climate action plan every year and quarterly progress reports. Deputy Smith mentioned the all-island economy, and is often the case in the House, drew my particular attention to the...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I will participate in the December meeting of the European Council in Brussels next Thursday and Friday. The agenda will cover EU enlargement, Ukraine, the Middle East and the mid-term review of the multi-annual financial framework. There will also be discussions on security and defence, migration and certain items relating to external relations. European Council President Charles Michel...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 to 103, inclusive, together. The Department of the Taoiseach’s ex Vat expenditure on the X (formerly Twitter); Meta (Facebook & Instagram); and Google platforms for paid advertisements placed in the years 2021 – 2022 and to date in 2023 is set out below. The bulk of the expenditure relates to the dissemination of information related...