Results 2,781-2,800 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to Israel itself, we should acknowledge that it is one of the few countries in the region that has a democratically elected Government, an independent judiciary and equal rights for women and LGBT people. We would not like that to change. I am concerned that Israel is going down a very different path from that but I do not think our concerns about Israel should blind us to other...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We need to be fair and even-handed and not apply double standards.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I agree with the Deputies in that regard. In response to Deputy Haughey's question, the focus of the summit-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----was Ukraine for the first part and then migration for the second part. A particular focus was placed on external borders, and how we can strengthen the external borders of the European Union, and also on returns, and how we can increase the number of returns of people who have been deemed ineligible for international protection in the European Union after an appropriate legal process....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and they were supported by governments that include green parties in various parts of Europe. Those include the socialist government in Malta and the social democratic government in Denmark, for example. The mainstream centre left in Europe supported these conclusions-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and to try to present them as something hard right followed by the centre right-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----really misunderstands where the mainstream of European opinion now lands. These conclusions were supported by centre-left Governments, the Party of European Socialists and the European Green Party in government. For my part, I supported the conclusions on behalf of the Irish Government. I also made the case for legal pathways, which is something we in Ireland do better than other...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----but we also need controls as well. I do not agree with the view that we should have no controls at all or have no nations or borders. Those who have that view should be honest about it and not try to cover up that they do not believe in any returns or any borders. They should be honest about that if that is their view. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, my reference to being hard...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----why somebody may have false papers if they are coming from a country where they cannot get papers. What I do not understand is the destruction of papers.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Trade is an EU competence so it is the same position as we had before.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 12, inclusive, together. The Mulvey report, Dublin's North East Inner City: Creating a Brighter Future, which was published in February 2017, contains recommendations for the social and economic regeneration of Dublin's north-east inner city. The report has been further supplemented by the north-east inner city strategic plan 2020-2023....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. On Deputy McDonald's question about Israel and Palestine, I agree that we must speak honestly with our friends. I hope, when the Deputy is in the US in March, she will speak honestly with her American friends about the stance she takes on issues relating to Palestine, Cuba and Venezuela. I have yet to see evidence of that but I will check her...

Commission of Investigation (Collusion of British State Forces) Bill 2023: First Stage (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs was established by the Government on 18 January. Its role is to oversee implementation of programme of Government commitments relating to the EU and international issues. It generally meets in advance of regular meetings of the European Council. Its next meeting will take...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is something we are examining. As I said earlier, I have never been a big fan of rigid or compulsory retirement ages if people are fit and healthy and are able to pass a fitness test. Why would we not allow them to stay on, particularly at a time when we are finding it so hard to get staff across society and the economy because of full employment? It might have been different ten or...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The year 2005 is a long time ago and a lot has happened and changed since then, so a review probably is timely, but I have not had a chance to discuss that with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, or the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. Perhaps the Deputy will allow me to come back to him with more detail when I can.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: These big infrastructure projects take time, unfortunately.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I wish they could be done more quickly. It is Government policy to extend the train line from Pace, Dunboyne, to Navan. It would benefit the Deputy's constituency and mine, as the trains would pick up passengers in my constituency too, so I am keen to see the project progress, but these things take time. In the meantime, we need to make sure we improve bus services, in particular, at least...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is absolutely a priority for the Government and for me personally to have the commission on care established. I hope to have it established by the middle of this year. We have had a number of commissions look into particular matters in real depth under the Government. There has been the Commission on Pensions, the Future of Media Commission, the Commission on Taxation and Welfare and...