Results 2,821-2,840 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----or include too many one-beds or might accommodate, to use a term Sinn Féin likes to use, "transient" tenants.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a ceist. Is é Tithíocht do Chách an plean atá againn chun úinéireacht tí a chur i bhfeidhm, a chinntiú go bhfuil rochtain ag gach duine tithíocht ar ard-chaighdeán chun cobhsaíocht a thabhairt do chíosóirí, agus chun daoine atá i mbaol a bheith gan dídean a chosaint. Is...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Schemes (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Consideration of any specific policy matter and associated compensation or redress scheme by Government is a matter for individual Departments in line with their statutory functions. Based on reasonable checks and searches undertaken in the time provided, this Department has not put in place such schemes arising from the responsibilities and work of the Department.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There is also the energy credit, with another €200 being knocked off people's bills in March. Research by the ESRI and others has shown that for a lot of people, these measures largely or fully insulate them from the cost-of-living crisis but I absolutely acknowledge that is not the case for everyone. Certainly when it comes to deciding what we do in the March, April and May period,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I accept Deputy McDonald's point in relation to domestic violence leave in Northern Ireland but I do not think we can view things in isolation. If one take's sick pay for example, what we offer people in terms of sick pay is more per day than people get per week in Northern Ireland. One has to look at things in the round. The same also applies to the minimum wage, for example.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: To be honest, I have read a bit about that matter but I am not fully across it. Decisions on ticketing are ultimately a matter for the organisations concerned but there should be some provision for cash. One of the issues that came out of the report on the retail banking sector, led by the former Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, was that while we do want to have electronic payments and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry but I will have to ask the Minister for Transport to respond to the Deputy on the air connectivity issue. I will have a chat with Deputy Brendan Smith afterwards about the matter he raised because I did not fully catch what he said while I was trying to jot down the other questions.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the last matter, we are scoping out the Covid inquiry at present. We hope to have it established by the Oireachtas mid-year. It will not just be about the State's response; it will be about the wider response from all society, including the private sector. It is impossible to put a timeframe on it but given the scope and scale, it could take a long time. That is the truth of it. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the final matter raised, we completely accept we will need to increase staffing and resources given the large increase in the number of people who have applied for asylum and international protection here. We will need to ensure we are properly staffed to make decisions quickly and to enforce them. On the question raised by Deputy Jim O’Callaghan, I put on record my strong...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the home ownership issue, I acknowledge what Deputy Cian O'Callaghan is saying, that homeownership rates have fallen in recent years, and we want to reverse that. We made significant progress in the past year, where more than 16,000 people, couples and families bought their first home. That is the highest figure we have had in 15 years, and we have to go back to the Celtic tiger era to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: If we are going to extend the ban,we have to bear that in mind.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 23, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland. The NESC work programme currently includes six main areas, which are as follows. The first is housing, land and sustainable development. In 2022, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 15, inclusive, together. Government has been working to implement the commitments in the programme for Government, which are advanced through the co-ordinating mechanisms of the Cabinet committee structure. The ten Cabinet committees recently established by Government reflect the core policy areas set out in the programme for Government on which it...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gender Equality (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As I mentioned, Ireland's pay gap is 11.3%, which is a narrower pay gap than the EU average. I am happy to say this is less bad and not better than, if Deputies prefer. It would be in line with some of the Nordic countries, which are often held up as examples for us to follow in terms of gender pay. My view is there should be no gender pay gap at all. The objective, therefore, must be 0%,...

Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill 2023: First Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No. Nílimid ina aghaidh.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Gender Equality (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The Department of the Taoiseach, in line with the rest of the Civil Service, actively encourages equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The Department is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all staff and recognises that a diverse workforce helped by an inclusive culture can improve organisational...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As part of our response, the Government has announced €2 million in aid for Türkiye and Syria. Most of it will go to Syria and it will be done through the UN, the Red Cross and Red Crescent. We are going to talk to the authorities and see what else we can do. I expect this will be a matter we will discuss at the European Council tomorrow and I agree with the fundamental case...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the other matter, Deputy Verona Murphy will appreciate the deployment of Garda resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner rather than the Government but it is the Government's job to make sure there are more gardaí, and we are doing that. We have provided funding for an additional 1,000 to be recruited this year. That does not mean an extra 1,000 gardaí because there will...

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) (Amendment) Bill 2023: First Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Farrell. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to answer on MARA.