Results 3,001-3,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The standing in relation to this particular joint venture is that the contracts are signed. They are signed for the first five years. I have said, the Tánaiste has said, and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has said, this is not our preferred model going forward. Our preferred model is Coillte planting trees on State land and especially farmers. I was at the Irish Farmers' Association AGM...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the legislative question, our plan is to bring forward our own legislation to reform the ethics Acts and to strengthen SIPO. We hope to do that, and expect to do that, during the course of this year. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael McGrath, is working on that at the moment. Deputy English resigned and is no longer a Minister of State. Any further action would be a matter for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not accept the thesis that there is overreliance on the private sector because that implies we should, maybe, have the same number of houses but with more public and fewer private. I have a different view: we need more public housing and more private housing. We need more private housing for people who want to buy and own their first home, which is a social objective we should all get...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a ceist. Is rud an-tábhachtach é, mná d'onóir. Ceapaim go bhfuil an tuarascáil leis an Aire Cosanta anois ach níl mé cinnte, agus tá sé ag dul go dtí an Liobáin inniu. I understand the report is either complete or nearing completion and that if it is not already with the Tánaiste and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Níl an tuarascáil leis an Tánaiste fós. Tá an Tánaiste thar lear. I understand he has not yet received the report, but we will give the Deputy a more detailed answer to her specific questions before the end of the week. I understand from the Tánaiste's office that he has not received the report as yet but that it is expected very soon.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. Those are very fair and legitimate questions to ask but I cannot answer them today because the Government has not made decisions in respect of the measures that expire at the end of February. We will do so, however, and we will make sure that people have certainty long before the end of February comes. What we have done to help people with the cost of living is a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Of course I understand the magnitude of the problem. I do not think anybody living in this country - certainly nobody who runs for election or gets elected - could not understand the magnitude of the housing crisis we are facing. It is the biggest social issue with which the Government and the country is currently grappling. It affects people in all sorts of different ways, whether it is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: More than 1,000 young people and couples a month now buy their first home. Of course, we have new forms of public housing that are now becoming a reality, such as cost rental, for example. As regards the social housing target, the Deputy is correct that we missed it last year. Some 6,500 new social homes were provided. What the Deputy did not acknowledge - she should have done so,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The cost of living is a matter that concerns huge numbers of individuals, families and businesses across the country. It is very much the issue that is coming up on the doors for our public representatives as well, when we are knocking on doors and speaking to people, and not other matters. I have to say that I agree with Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government commits to establishing four Citizens’ Assemblies, on the topics of Biodiversity Loss; the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin; Matters Relating to Drugs Use; and the Future of Education. The Dublin related Citizen’s Assembly has concluded its work, and submitted its report and recommendations to the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Bodies (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The role of the Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division is to assist me, as Taoiseach, and the Government in delivering programme for Government objectives and public policies and services which help create a socially inclusive and fair society. Specifically, the Division assists the work of the newly established Cabinet Committees, as follows: - the Cabinet Committee on Social...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: World Economic Forum (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: At last week’s Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, I had a wide range of engagements including: - A reception hosted by the IDA for enterprises with a presence of Ireland and those with a potential interest in investing in the country; - bilateral meetings with a number of international business and political leaders including representatives of Intel, Amazon Web...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The failings in CAMHS was mentioned again and I addressed this earlier in response to Deputy Bacik's question during Leaders Questions. I accept the assertion that action is urgently needed. Deputy McDonald is absolutely right about that. Funding has been increased and will be increased further. Staffing levels have almost doubled in the past ten years and they will be increased more. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (24 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: They account for about 10% to 14% of all electricity we use and less than 2% of greenhouse gas emissions. We have no plans for a ban, but we will reduce new connections and prioritise data centres linked to employment and important social functions, which they are. That is a fact and reality of modern life. On the Navan rail line, I very much welcome the decision of Government to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 29, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on health is due to meet on 13 February. In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and of Cabinet committees, I meet Ministers on an individual basis to focus on different issues. I met with the Minister for Health and HSE leadership team just before Christmas to discuss the pressures being...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (24 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 21, inclusive, together. Climate action is the most pressing long-term global challenge of our time and is a significant priority for this Government. Through our strengthened climate legislation, Our Shared Future and our annually updated climate action plan, we have set ourselves the ambition of halving Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions by the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (24 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies again for their contributions on this issue. Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan, who is a great advocate for climate action and renewable energy, pointed out that our ambition now is produce 8 GW of solar capacity. That is a very ambitious target but one we believe can be achieved. I very much agree with him that we must remove any obstacles that we can. Planning laws...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is a long time since I have done this and I had forgotten what it was like. I have done my best to write down as many questions as I can. I definitely cannot write as quickly as people can talk but will do my best to answer the questions. In relation to Deputy Tóibín's question on the 166,000 vacant homes, I am not sure it is published yet but it is worth taking a look at the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot remember the exact figure but a fraction of that-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and it shows as well that vacancy rates in Ireland are falling compared with the last time the survey was done and are in line with European norms. There is huge variability from different parts of the country to others, as the Deputy can imagine. Bear in mind the vacant property tax will only apply to habitable homes. It will not apply to those that are not habitable; they are...