Results 261-280 of 16,693 for speaker:Leo Varadkar in 'Dáil debates'

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I am told that over 1,600 applications have been received for the old scheme and 236 for the enhanced scheme until the end of December but that over 300 have received grants of the higher rate under the new scheme. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy with the exact figures.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland welcomes the decision by the International Court of Justice to order provisional measures in the South Africa versus Israel case. The court’s order is significant, that Israel must ensure that its military does not commit actions prohibited under the Genocide Convention and takes immediate and effective measures to enable basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: There have been a number of requests for statements on Northern Ireland, the fishing industry and negotiations currently happening at European level, Dublin, housing affordability and Garda recruitment. On many of these issues, such as housing affordability and gardaí, we regularly have discussions in the House. We would be happy to have statements on Northern Ireland, perhaps next...

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I know he has raised it before in the Dáil. It is a very distressing situation for people living and earning their livelihood around Lough Funshinagh. I have not had the chance to visit but am familiar with the area and it has been raised with me personally by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and Senator Dolan. The Minister...

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

Leo Varadkar: I confess I am genuinely not sure precisely what emergency legislation the Deputy is referring to. I know something about emergency legislation because I have been involved in it on a number of occasions in government. It is not as clear-cut as the Government deciding it wants to declare an emergency and bring about emergency legislation. It requires-----

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

Leo Varadkar: Yes, but it is not as simple as the Government-----

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

Leo Varadkar: -----just deciding what an emergency is and is not.

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

Leo Varadkar: I have also come across one or two not dissimilar cases in my constituency. The Deputy has my assurance that I will follow up on this. The Minister, Deputy McGrath, is in Brussels today but I will see him during the week and we will try to make some changes to make things better.

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Nolan for raising this important issue. Everyone in the House can agree that we need to do all we can to ensure people with disabilities have independence and freedom and can take up employment, use a car, travel and do all of things we and they need to do. I do not have an up-to-date note on the primary medical certificate, but I will get more information for the Deputy as...

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

Leo Varadkar: I join Deputies Bacik and Doherty in welcoming the news earlier this morning that the DUP is willing to re-enter power-sharing in Northern Ireland. This paves the way for democratic and devolved government to be restored, for the assembly to function and for the executive to meet and make decisions for Northern Ireland. Crucially, it will also allow the North-South bodies, including the...

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

Leo Varadkar: We are always happy to consider proposals for new laws and regulations but any time we consider a new law or regulation, we must always consider the unintended consequences. We have seen that play out so many times. When renters are surveyed, as the Deputy will know from the recently published survey, approximately 80% say they have a favourable experience. That still leaves 20% with a bad...

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

Leo Varadkar: The statement the Deputy made earlier was not correct because he did not take account of the first home scheme. The whole point of the scheme established by the Government is to close the affordability gap, where there is a gap between what a new house costs to buy and what a person can get in a mortgage. If we take into account the first home scheme, which thousands of people are now using...

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...

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,...

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...

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: 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: 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...