Results 39,921-39,940 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy very much. I take the opportunity to again acknowledge that the cost of business in Ireland is very high and is rising. That is due to a number of factors, namely, higher labour costs, the energy crisis, the costs of supplies and materials and the withdrawal of temporary Government supports. The latter have to be withdrawn at some point and cannot go on forever....

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

Leo Varadkar: That is a good question. It will have to be pretty soon. In order to have the referendum in the first ten days of June, we will have to publish the legislation soon. I think there is a draft floating around, so I would say it will happen in the next week or two.

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

Leo Varadkar: Unfortunately, as Deputies will be aware, we have a shortage of gardaí all over the country. I was in Blanchardstown Garda station in my constituency in recent days. Blanchardstown station is located in the very big Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, west district, which as approximately 50 or 60 fewer gardaí than it had when Garda numbers peaked in 2020. Those numbers fell off...

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

Leo Varadkar: We do not yet have a date set for that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take question Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the economy and investment was re-established in January 2023. It met twice last year, most recently on 16 November. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for 15 February 2024. Membership of the committee comprises: the Taoiseach; the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. I join Deputy Dillon in complimenting the IDA on its success in securing investment and good jobs for Ireland. Again, over half the investment is occurring outside Dublin. I would like to see that figure rise further in the coming years and I have said that to the IDA board. I will follow up about the Castlebar advance building solution with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 8, inclusive, together. I participated in the western Balkans summit which took place on 13 December in Brussels. The meeting brought together EU leaders with their counterparts from six countries in the western Balkans, namely, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia. On conclusion of the summit, the EU and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Prime Minister Orbán of Hungary did not use his veto to block talks with Ukraine on membership. In fairness to him, he made his case and made it very strongly. He could have vetoed it but chose not to. It is unfair to mischaracterise him because by not using the veto he allowed European countries to proceed with the majority decision. He was...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: -----allowing the Palestinian Authority to take over Gaza with international support. That would then lead to talks not just on a two-state solution but on wider mutual security for the region. If we are serious about stopping this conflict and ending this 75-year cycle of violence and terrorism, that has to be our priority. However, we will of course take our role under the various...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, together. Through the shared island initiative, the Government is engaging with all communities to build a consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. The Government has so far allocated almost €250 million from the shared island fund. This includes contributing to the expansion of higher...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Farrell for raising the shared island youth forum. It has been really good success. I had a chance to meet with them in Dublin a few months ago. It brings together 80 young people between the ages of 18 and 25 who are meeting over the course of a year to set out their vision and values for a shared future. There are 40 young people from the North and 40 from the South, and...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 14 and 15 December in Brussels. The agenda covered the Middle East, Ukraine, EU enlargement, the multi-annual financial framework, security and defence, migration, COP28, EU-Türkiye relations, the fight against antisemitism, racism and xenophobia, and the EU strategic agenda. In his contribution to today's debate, the Minister of State,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic. It will include a review of the whole-of-government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar type event were to occur. It will include a consideration of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (23 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland is one of ten Cabinet Committees re-established in January 2023. It last met on 29 November 2023. The Cabinet Committee is intended to oversee implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of Brexit and Northern Ireland, and ongoing related developments. Northern Ireland and related matters are also discussed at...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (23 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 99, 100 and 101 together. Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 98 go 101, go huile, le chéile. Tá Roinn an Taoisigh tiomanta go hiomlán dá dualgais reachtúla faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021 a chomhlíonadh. Oibríonn oifigigh le gníomhaireacht ceannaigh meán na Roinne chun na ceanglais a...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Travel (23 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: As Taoiseach, I regularly travel to participate in formal and informal meetings of the European Council in Brussels and elsewhere. In keeping with the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy, I also place a high importance on engaging actively with fellow Heads of State and Government, both within the EU and more widely. I also use international visits to promote Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Climate Change Policy (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) is a statutory body whose mission is to provide independent, evidence-based advice and recommendations on policy to Government, and this includes periodic reports, as well as its annual report the most recent of which was published in July 2023. As Taoiseach, I have also received correspondence from the Chair of the CCAC in relation to particular...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Flexible Work Practices (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together. Guided by the Central Policy Framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service, the Department of the Taoiseach launched a Blended Working Policy in November 2022 with staff members invited to submit applications for blended working arrangements. In general, all applications for blended working arrangements were facilitated subject to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Irish Sign Language (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - which incorporates the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) - is set out in the tables below. Department of the Taoiseach Platform Total Videos* Videos with Speech** Videos with Speech that feature ISL...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have those numbers available yet but I think they will be available in the next couple of weeks. I want to acknowledge that rents are very high for far too many people in this country and that a lot of people are waiting far too long to be in a position to buy their own home. This is something that the Government is helping with. The rent credit, for example, is worth €750...