Results 2,101-2,120 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is what was done. We did not have time in our meeting to discuss the situation in Israel or Palestine but there were other meetings. The Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, was present in Ireland as well, as were other senior White House staff, so it may have come up in other meetings that I was not party to. The main focus was on Ukraine and also on China. The president was very...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I certainly believe it should exist alongside an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. That is the position of the Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to the question on climate, one thing President Biden asks from time to time is for people to compare him to the alternative, not the Almighty. That is my answer on climate, given what the alternative might be under a different administration. We do not have a choice when it comes to whom people select as their president or their government. That is the sovereign right of any...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I think it is fair to say there is more commitment to climate action from this administration than others. On Deputy Haughey's question, the UK Government is working closely with Ireland. We certainly worked closely together over the past couple of months when it came to the Windsor Framework and getting that agreed but I do not think the UK and Irish Governments have operated as closely...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, together. It was a pleasure to welcome President Biden to Ireland last week for what was a successful visit, underlining the warmth and closeness of our bilateral relations, our common approach on many global issues, and above all, the enduring commitment of the United States to furthering peace and prosperity on this island. During...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. As I think I explained in earlier answers, the temporary winter eviction ban was exactly that: a temporary winter eviction ban that ended on 31 March. That is the legislation we voted for in this House. We do not believe extending the ban is a solution. We believe the number of notices of termination would have mounted up and up, and that there would have been fewer...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and that we get more detail on Sinn Féin's knowledge of his actions. It is clear from Deputy O'Broin's interview this morning that there was more than an inkling and that there was knowledge.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Unified Patent Court is now up and running. We are very keen for Ireland to become a member of the court but that requires a referendum. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, is working on the legislation and on the information office at the moment. We have not set a date for a referendum yet. It will most likely be concurrent with the European and local elections next May or June but that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do agree. The Regency murder trial is now over and we have two convictions of people who were involved in serious organised crime. I want to thank the gardaí, the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, and the courts for their work. We have had no murder related to a criminal gang feud in Ireland in five years now and please God, that will continue. I really want to thank the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this very sad issue. I had an opportunity to read about the case and to hear Vivienne's mother speak on the radio at the weekend. It is a heartbreaking story. It is important that we raise awareness of strep A, especially among the medical profession, including nurses, and among parents. It is tragic to think that perhaps if treatment had been given sooner,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I think I have answered this question before. The temporary winter eviction ban was always a temporary winter eviction ban, giving people more time to find alternatives. We believe that Sinn Féin's policy of extending it for another few months will only mean that more and more notices of termination will mount up, that fewer properties will be available-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and more people will be competing for even fewer houses. It would make the situation worse-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----just at a later point. I do not want to comment on individual cases because there is always more to them than can be put across in the space of a minute or two in the Dáil but I would certainly advise the Deputy's constituent to seek advice, perhaps from the council or from Threshold. The Deputy seems to contend that the landlord is not going to move back into the house-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----because he has several already. If that is the case, it is not a valid notice of termination. However, this is an individual case. It is important that he gets good advice and if he is not getting it from the Deputy, perhaps he should seek it from a different body.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy McGrath. There is roughly €500 million a year in the national roads budget. About half goes to maintaining and strengthening existing roads and about half goes to new projects. It is never the case that we can fully fund every project that we want in any one year. There has been an allocation made to the N24. We have decided that if other road projects run behind...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Connolly. I am familiar with the issues in respect of Áras Mhic Dara but I am not sure exactly what the underlying problem is. I will certainly ask the Minister to get in touch with the Deputy about it and try to provide her with a proper answer.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Troy. I welcome the report from the independent reviewer Ms Maura Quinn. It is important to say the report does not make findings against any individual and, in fact, points out that those involved acted in good faith. We should not forget that the secondment never happened. It did not happen in the end. Lessons have to be learned from this and a number of these have been...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know where the Deputy gets her information from. There is not a week that passes that she does not try to put some words into my mouth. I have never said I would take ownership of housing. I have never made that statement. I am the Head of Government and the Taoiseach. I take leadership of the Government and work with Ministers on every matter. I am working closely with the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has been clear on this on a number of occasions and I will be very clear on it too. There is no proposal from this Government to introduce congestion charges. At some point down the line when the metro is picking up people at Dublin Airport, the DART to Dublin 15 and Kildare is up and running, Cork metropolitan transport is operating, all vehicles are...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Apr 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and there are no taxes coming in from petrol and diesel, perhaps there will be a case for congestion charges, but certainly not under this Government and not in the foreseeable future. I am happy to be clear on that and I say that as somebody who represents a commuter constituency. The Minister has made clear that we are doing a public consultation on how to achieve what we want to...