Results 2,621-2,640 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I very much agree with Deputy Bruton on this. It is something the Government is very much seized of. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, have engaged with Dublin Airport Authority and the Irish Aviation Authority on the matter. It should not be the case that a person remotely controlling a small drone can disrupt people's lives and disrupt air travel....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I have discussed this matter with the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner, who was one of the first people I met when I was reappointed to the office of Taoiseach. They have plans in place to ramp up recruitment dramatically this year. Funding has been provided for an additional 1,000 gardaí. If successfully recruited, this will mean more new gardaí than retirements...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not believe so. Planning decisions are made by local authorities in the first instance and final decisions on appeals are made by An Bord Pleanála. The only recourse is a judicial review in the courts. I do not believe the Minister has the power to intervene.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate the matter the Deputy raises will be of real concern and interest to people living in Dublin South-Central. These are, of course, matters for the Minister for Transport and the NTA. I know that, when such issues arise in my constituency, it is sometimes a question of a trade-off between a more convenient service that picks you up closer to your house and a more frequent...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is right; the energy companies do have a part to play in this. It is welcome that Pinergy has reduced its prices. It was one of the more expensive suppliers in the market in the first instance. There is, of course, an interplay between wholesale prices and retail prices and hedging forward. I understand, as we all do, how the energy market works. It would not be acceptable to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure what the reason for the delay is. I will certainly raise the matter with the Ministers. I am aware of the dispute. As the Deputy has said, it is a dispute between tutors and the education and training boards that are their employers. We have an industrial relations process to resolve matters such as this. I certainly hope the dispute can be resolved and that these workers...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I agree this is a matter at which we need to look. I discussed the matter with the Tánaiste, Deputy Martin, because as Minister for Defence he is responsible for emergency response. I may be wrong, but it would appear that one of the reasons we did not send a team abroad is because we are not set up in that way in Ireland. For example, when the terrible events...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the bundle comprises Clonmel Garda station, Macroom Garda station and the Hammond Lane court complex. I know this issue is also of great concern to Senator Ahearn and Deputy Cahill.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I met this week with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy O'Donovan, and the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris. We are now examining the option of splitting the Garda station projects from the courts project.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That might allow them to go ahead more quickly. We want to be sure that is the case and we also need to work out how we will reprofile the funding. It would not cost any more but the funding line would fall differently. That is being worked on at the moment.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. Carrickfinn is an airport I have used on occasion. I know it is a valuable service for people in Donegal. It plays a genuine public service obligation, PSO, role. People use it to get to medical appointments in Dublin and things like that. I am glad we are able to continue to fund it. I do not have a detailed response to give the Deputy. I am aware there are some...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I am aware this is an issue not only in the Deputy's county but throughout the State. People are struggling to find a GP with whom to register. It is certainly an issue in my constituency too. We have more GPs with HSE contracts than ever before but, of course, we also have a bigger population than ever before. We have an ageing population with growing medical needs....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which I know will be of real interest to people in the greater Drogheda area, in wider County Louth and in County Meath. The RSA has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the national driving test. The test centre in Marian Park, Drogheda, is due to close by the end of February when the lease on the site expires. The authority has...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. This is a sensitive matter. Perhaps we can try to deal with it in the way he has mentioned, that is, through correspondence with the Ceann Comhairle and other engagements. I acknowledge that things happened during the Civil War that should not have happened. Atrocities were committed on the side of the National Army and the Government and on the side of the Irregulars...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Come on now, Deputy. I think you use scripts quite a lot in this House. Usually when you are asking me questions, you use a script and I answer without one.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Leaving that aside, I think we have explained it.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I did in my response, and the Minister has in the debates in the Dáil.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Coveney, is engaging with the tech sector and, indeed, was on the west coast of the US only a week or two ago engaging at the highest level with those companies. I am very sorry to hear about the job losses in Google today. Obviously, my thoughts are with those affected and their families. The Government will make sure that everyone...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: They have not been ignored.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We increased the qualified child allowance and the working family payment in the budget. Just yesterday, we announced an additional payment for those who are recipients of the working family payment.