Results 2,641-2,660 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: There will be many opportunities to debate this further in the House and, indeed, in the Seanad. As I indicated earlier, the response is not just a financial response. There is a lot more to it than that. The biggest change we have made, in many ways, is giving people access to their birth information. In the past, they said it could not be done. With a lot of work from Government and...

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate this is not ideal, but the assessment and briefing the Ceann Comhairle got is correct.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Efforts were made to agree an all-party motion. That was not possible. The Government discussed the matter on Tuesday-----

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and the proposal the Tánaiste has put forward. He has put forward a motion.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: What you said, a Cheann Comhairle, was accurate.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: My understanding is the same as yours, a Cheann Comhairle. Efforts were made at the Business Committee to agree an all-party motion. That was not possible. As a result, were going to have a moment of silence and no motion? We, as a Government, did not think that was an adequate response and lacked true solidarity with the people of Ukraine, those living there and those living here, and we...

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----a motion.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: If there has to be a vote on it, so be it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: A number of different factors are at play when it comes to price of fuel but it is just not correct to say that international factors have nothing to do with it and that it is all about tax. That is demonstrably not the case. One need only go north of the Border to look at the price of petrol and diesel there, or go to the UK or to most parts of western Europe-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----but perhaps not to all parts of Europe. One will see what the price is in the Netherlands, Denmark or Germany. This is absolutely driven by international factors and we are price-takers in that regard. Tax is an element of it and we have taxes for a reason. They pay for education, healthcare, pensions, housing and all of those things we need. That is why we have taxes. When...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and one needs to look at that too. I stand over the carbon tax. This tax is ring-fenced and is being given back to people for retrofitting and green schemes for farmers.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is done for that particular purpose.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate it is short notice and that it is not best practice. There was an incorporeal Cabinet meeting this morning to sign off on the motion. There was an attempt, I understand, at the Business Committee to agree an all-party motion. That was not possible because some members wanted to include language that was not in our view fully supportive of Ukraine. This matter was discussed at...

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We do not stop other parties putting down motions and Private Members' Bills and the Government is free to put in a motion if it so wishes.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that the Deputy feels very strongly about this and that she feels passionately about this. I appreciate that this is an issue of genuine interest and concern to her but I do not think it is right for her to put words in my mouth. I did not quote the commission of investigation at all. I did not even mention the interdepartmental group and yet the Deputy has tied to put words...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----the Government.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to politics, it is in all of our interests that we do not engage in that sort of personalised criticism of each other where we question people's character and motivations. I do not think that serves anyone's interests, quite frankly, and I do not think it is the way politics should operate. The reason we took the decision we did during the previous Government and this...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am neither a victim nor a demon. We should not demonise each other here.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: At the outset, I want to say once again that the Government appreciates that the cost of living is very high, that inflation remains high and that prices are still rising. We understand that the high cost of living is hurting people and families and making it very hard for a lot of businesses to operate in the State. This is driven largely by factors outside our control. Of course we would...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Once again, yesterday's announcement was not a mini-budget. It did not involve any increases in weekly payments, income tax cuts or increases, as would happen in any budget, in spending for Departments. What was announced is a targeted package to help families struggling with the cost of living, pensioners and people on social welfare payments and small businesses in particular. It is...