Results 2,961-2,980 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----with regard to things that happened six, eight or ten years ago. Some of the people who are laughing at me are people who had to change their own declarations on multiple occasions. It is a little much. Ministers want some time to look at documents and check the records before making statements. I am here twice a week and am happy to answer any questions the Deputy wants to put to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. It is fair to say that the rising cost of living is biting hard. It is affecting many people and families who are struggling to make ends meet, notwithstanding the help that has come from the Government in recent months. Inflation is slowing down and it is good to see that prices are not rising as fast as they were a few months ago, but...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We need to consider a number of options. It probably would not be useful for me to speculate on the options now because it might just raise expectations. We will discuss it next week. I agree that the measures need to be targeted. It might be the case that there will still be some universal measures but, generally speaking, they need to be targeted at those who need them the most, those...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I think decongregation is the right approach. If anything, it has been happening too slowly. When congregated settings or institutions in my constituency have closed, I have seen how it can cause disruption and a lot of difficulty and nervousness among residents and families initially. When you meet them a year or two later, after they have moved into a house in a housing estate where they...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I acknowledge how essential respite is for people with disabilities and their families. It gives people the break they need and, in many cases, keeps people going. They would not be able to keep going if it were not for respite and I know how important that is to people. The need for increased respite, including in south Kerry and west...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As I mentioned, the Attorney General has been asked to prepare a report on the matter for Cabinet next week and that report will be published. There will also be statements in the Dáil next week. As I think the Deputy acknowledged on the radio this morning, it is reasonable that Ministers should have a bit of time to put all of the documents together because this goes back a long way....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is a fair point and what the Deputy says is true. There is no universal legal entitlement to public healthcare or social care in Ireland and there was not at the time-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There was no legal entitlement there and people who claim there was are incorrect. Things were changed in 2009, long before I was a Minister - I was in opposition, in fact - when the fair deal scheme was brought in. Certainly by the time the Government was formed in 2011 and by the time the fair deal scheme was set up in 2009, there was a scheme in place to provide nursing home care on a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot confirm who was or was not briefed over that period of time. I am sure individuals will do that as they can, based on their recollections. In relation to documents, we are assembling those documents now in the Attorney General's office and the Department of Health. I have not seen them. I have seen one or two but certainly not all of them. When we have assembled them all we...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: This is an historic issue that dates back to the 1970s. I do not know the full facts of it and I doubt that anyone else does. The Minister for Health has sought advice from the Attorney General and a detailed written briefing from his officials. The Attorney General is also preparing a report for Cabinet for next Tuesday, which we will publish thereafter. Until such a time as we receive...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seanad Reform (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The current 26thSeanad has made good progress on Seanad reform. A number of measures have been put in place to give effect to the non-electoral recommendations arising from the Manning and McDowell reports on Seanad reform. These include the establishment last year of the Seanad Select Committee on the Scrutiny of Draft EU Statutory Instruments. The Seanad has also put in place procedures...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The persons currently employed in the Department of the Taoiseach as Special Advisers are detailed in the table following. The appointment of special advisors are made in line with the Public Service Management Act, 1997 and subject to Government approval. The relevant contracts will be laid before the House of the Oireachtas in due course. Office Holder Special Adviser...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Travel (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Circular 01/2020 requires all Government Departments, Offices and agencies to record, monitor and value the emissions associated with official air travel. The procedures to be followed in calculating the offsets for both commercial and Ministerial Air Transport travel are also set out in the Circular. In accordance with the Circular, payments, as set out in the table below, related to these...

Ceisteanna - Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies. To respond to Deputy Durkan, I absolutely agree there are things we can do to move things forward absent an Assembly and Executive, and the shared island fund is part of that. It is one of the few positive things that is happening North-South at the moment. It is making a difference in Northern Ireland and has been a very successful initiative by the Government,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I absolutely call for de-escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. The best way it can be de-escalated is for Russia to withdraw, either by withdrawing fully from Ukraine or at least by withdrawing to the boundaries as they were this time last year. That is the best way for us to de-escalate this war and-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----that is what I am calling for. To go back to the initial question by Deputy Alan Farrell, it is correct to say that there is an improved atmosphere between the European Commission and the UK Government. It is a much better atmosphere, a much better backdrop and a much better mood music than I have seen or heard at any period since Brexit was passed. There is increased trust. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 15, inclusive, together. As provided for in the programme for Government, we are continuing our shared island initiative to deliver benefits for the whole island and work with all communities for a shared future, as underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. This involves unprecedented co-operative all-island investment, through our €1 billion...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 8, inclusive, together. I spoke with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, by telephone on 11 January 2023. This was my first opportunity to speak with the President since my reappointment as Taoiseach. She offered me her congratulations and we said we looked forward to operating closely on the important agenda of work...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising these various matters. Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned the issue of ASD classes in County Louth. I agree we have a need for more investment across the country to allow space for more ASD classes come September, when they are particularly going to be needed. They are needed now but they will be needed even more come September. That will require...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ------how they can best be deployed. The issue of the CAMHS report was raised. The findings of the independent review are concerning and raise significant risks and deficits. Similar to the Mental Health Commission, I thank the young people and their families who spoke to those conducting the independent review and shared their experiences. That was not easy. It is incumbent on all of...