Results 39,901-39,920 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, you did, Deputy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to the Deputy's remarks about me, I have engaged in this debate. I probably engage in it every other day in my constituency, in this House and in the media. Only a few weeks ago, I wrote a detailed article, published in the Sunday Independent, setting out what our immigration policy is and was, what the facts were and what they were not. I will keep doing that, but I need a bit...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: No, you are not. Sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: There were just under 500 people on trolleys in our hospitals this morning, which is a high number and is not acceptable. It has a significant impact on their patient experience and also makes things very difficult for staff. Thankfully, most of those patients will be in beds by this evening. The level of overcrowding we have seen in our hospitals this January, thankfully, is considerably...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly commit to engage with Dublin City Council alongside the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in good faith on this. Living in Dublin city, as the Deputy does, I see how slow regeneration has been, whether it is in Dolphin, Donore Road, Emmet Road,-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: -----Pearse Street or Oliver Bond. It is a good example of why the State does not always do things better. Sometimes it takes longer and costs more. If it was done by the private sector, these would all have been built a long time ago. I know it is not as simple as that. I will commit, in good faith, to engage with the new city council CEO on it.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The cost of doing business in Ireland is very high and it is rising. We acknowledge that. Some of that is down to increased labour costs, increased energy costs, the increased cost of supplies and also the withdrawal of some temporary supports for businesses that simply cannot go on forever. There are things the Government can do to help. We will inject over €250 million in the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I am familiar with the issue. I remember it coming up before Christmas. I do not have an up-to-date note on it, so I will ask the Minister for Education's people to get in touch with more detail.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The school transport review will be coming to the Cabinet shortly and will contain proposals to improve the situation. I know this is a major issue around the country, particularly in August, when TDs from all over the country get on to me about it. I will look again into the issue of drivers not being allowed to continue driving up to the age of 72. We allow people to be GPs and do all...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I will check into it again. I know this is not the first time it has been raised in the House. What has been suggested might be part of the solution to the driver shortage. If I remember correctly, the last time I looked into the matter, I discovered it is not actually a Government rule but a CIÉ rule linked to terms and conditions within that agency, which might then be linked to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I am not familiar with those cases or how many there were but I will certainly look into it. I know there are cases that were litigated and it was found the existing article did offer very little protection to women in the home. The main purpose, however, of the change we are making is to recognise care in our Constitution. At the moment, care is not recognised. The duty of women in the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I absolutely concur with the Deputy. There are better ways to spend €3 million of the education budget than by sending out payslips to teachers and staff. Whether it could be repurposed for school buildings, special needs or other things, that is not for me to decide here, but the Deputy's basic point is fundamentally correct. This is something the Minister, Deputy Foley, will want...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know the position, but I will find out and get back to the Deputy with some more detail. We both agree that we want to see solar panels on the roof of every school, if not every public building, in the country. That can only help to reduce energy costs and emissions. It will be really powerful at winning hearts and minds in favour of investing in solar energy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I am not entirely sure. The matter has been over and back between the different Departments involved. There are some outstanding issues to be resolved. I will check with the responsible Ministers and come back to the Deputy with a further reply.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. As he will be aware, people who work for section 39 bodies are not public servants. They are not Government employees-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: -----so they do have different terms and conditions, even when they are doing the same job. As we know from the hospices, we have successfully brought a number of hospices from section 39 to section 38 status. When you do that, it turns out to be much more complicated than people think. While some people may have lesser terms and conditions, others will have better terms and conditions....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that many children have been waiting a long time for orthopaedic surgery. There is considerable investment in this area. Money has been set aside by the Government specifically for investment in orthopaedic services. Additional theatres have been provided and a whole new hospital will be handed over to the State and in commission next year. That will make a huge difference....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: It is worth pointing out that the carer's support grant is in place as well. That is not means tested. The carer's allowance is means tested. We have relaxed the means test and are changing the pension rules in order that carers who are in receipt of the allowance can receive the full State pension. We are going in the right direction. The referendum, if passed, will protect all of that...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: It is a very good idea that every student in transition year, fifth or sixth year would be trained not just in first aid but also basic life support. That can be done in one day and would certainly save lives and reduce the impact of injuries. I know what will be said to me if I discuss the matter with the Department of Education and the Minister, Deputy Foley. I will be informed that...