Results 281-300 of 16,695 for speaker:Leo Varadkar in 'Dáil debates'

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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy very much. I take the opportunity to again acknowledge that the cost of business in Ireland is very high and is rising. That is due to a number of factors, namely, higher labour costs, the energy crisis, the costs of supplies and materials and the withdrawal of temporary Government supports. The latter have to be withdrawn at some point and cannot go on forever....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: That is a good question. It will have to be pretty soon. In order to have the referendum in the first ten days of June, we will have to publish the legislation soon. I think there is a draft floating around, so I would say it will happen in the next week or two.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Unfortunately, as Deputies will be aware, we have a shortage of gardaí all over the country. I was in Blanchardstown Garda station in my constituency in recent days. Blanchardstown station is located in the very big Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, west district, which as approximately 50 or 60 fewer gardaí than it had when Garda numbers peaked in 2020. Those numbers fell off...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: We do not yet have a date set for that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take question Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the economy and investment was re-established in January 2023. It met twice last year, most recently on 16 November. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for 15 February 2024. Membership of the committee comprises: the Taoiseach; the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I am not entirely sure. The matter has been over and back between the different Departments involved. There are some outstanding issues to be resolved. I will check with the responsible Ministers and come back to the Deputy with a further reply.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. As he will be aware, people who work for section 39 bodies are not public servants. They are not Government employees-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: -----so they do have different terms and conditions, even when they are doing the same job. As we know from the hospices, we have successfully brought a number of hospices from section 39 to section 38 status. When you do that, it turns out to be much more complicated than people think. While some people may have lesser terms and conditions, others will have better terms and conditions....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that many children have been waiting a long time for orthopaedic surgery. There is considerable investment in this area. Money has been set aside by the Government specifically for investment in orthopaedic services. Additional theatres have been provided and a whole new hospital will be handed over to the State and in commission next year. That will make a huge difference....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: It is worth pointing out that the carer's support grant is in place as well. That is not means tested. The carer's allowance is means tested. We have relaxed the means test and are changing the pension rules in order that carers who are in receipt of the allowance can receive the full State pension. We are going in the right direction. The referendum, if passed, will protect all of that...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: It is a very good idea that every student in transition year, fifth or sixth year would be trained not just in first aid but also basic life support. That can be done in one day and would certainly save lives and reduce the impact of injuries. I know what will be said to me if I discuss the matter with the Department of Education and the Minister, Deputy Foley. I will be informed that...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I am familiar with the issue. I remember it coming up before Christmas. I do not have an up-to-date note on it, so I will ask the Minister for Education's people to get in touch with more detail.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The school transport review will be coming to the Cabinet shortly and will contain proposals to improve the situation. I know this is a major issue around the country, particularly in August, when TDs from all over the country get on to me about it. I will look again into the issue of drivers not being allowed to continue driving up to the age of 72. We allow people to be GPs and do all...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I will check into it again. I know this is not the first time it has been raised in the House. What has been suggested might be part of the solution to the driver shortage. If I remember correctly, the last time I looked into the matter, I discovered it is not actually a Government rule but a CIÉ rule linked to terms and conditions within that agency, which might then be linked to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I am not familiar with those cases or how many there were but I will certainly look into it. I know there are cases that were litigated and it was found the existing article did offer very little protection to women in the home. The main purpose, however, of the change we are making is to recognise care in our Constitution. At the moment, care is not recognised. The duty of women in the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I absolutely concur with the Deputy. There are better ways to spend €3 million of the education budget than by sending out payslips to teachers and staff. Whether it could be repurposed for school buildings, special needs or other things, that is not for me to decide here, but the Deputy's basic point is fundamentally correct. This is something the Minister, Deputy Foley, will want...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know the position, but I will find out and get back to the Deputy with some more detail. We both agree that we want to see solar panels on the roof of every school, if not every public building, in the country. That can only help to reduce energy costs and emissions. It will be really powerful at winning hearts and minds in favour of investing in solar energy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I have to be honest - I am quite disappointed in the question the Deputy asked. I can see the faces of many people around this House, who I think agree with me. I think the killing and the death of Ashling Murphy was one of those events that really touched the nation. I remember it so well. I remember the outpouring of grief for that young woman who was killed in the way she was. I...