Results 3,261-3,280 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising the need to expand and develop our public health services in the mid-west, not only in UHL but also in the other hospitals such as Nenagh, Ennis and Croom hospitals. I am very much seized of the matter, having visited all of those hospitals on more than one occasion. I assure the Deputy it is very much on the Government's agenda for the next two years.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I am very sorry to hear about the job losses at the Butcher's Block shops and I am very sorry to hear how those people are being treated. I strongly encourage them to engage with the Intreo service and the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, as needs be. The Government is there to help and to make sure that employment rights are enforced. That means that the people affected will get their...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy O'Donoghue has made a number of allegations with regard to cover-ups and other things. I do not know if those allegations are true and I do not have any powers to investigate them. However, if the Deputy has evidence to back them up, I would encourage-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It is impossible for me to comment on allegations of cover-ups without knowing the specifics or what evidence the Deputy has. If he has evidence to support his claims, I ask him to make it available to the relevant authorities. To clarify, in case it was not clear from my original response, I do not have and have never had any role in the appointment of hospital managers.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I am very sorry to hear that consultant in Letterkenny, Mr. Aslam, has resigned. I am sure the position will be readvertised. A hospital of Letterkenny University Hospital's size should have a good urology service. I absolutely agree with that. Again, it is very difficult for me to comment on the details of any individual's employment but I will certainly make sure the Minister for Health...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I am very aware that rents are extremely high not just in Dublin, but across Ireland, and that we compare unfavourably with most other European capital cities.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps it is all. I am not sure about London, which is still part of Europe, although let us not go there. We all agree that rents in Ireland and in Dublin are unacceptably high. What can we do about it? A rent credit will kick in within the next few weeks. This will put €1,000 back into the pocket of the average single renter and €2,000 into the pockets of a couple. That...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I know he is doing a lot of work as an advocate to highlight this matter. COPD, formerly known as emphysema or bronchitis, has a considerable impact on the quality of life of patients, families and carers. The course of the disease involves ongoing medical care and, in the case of certain patients, frequent hospital admissions. It is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The idea is to manage COPD, diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and other chronic illnesses in the community, insofar as is possible. If those diseases are well managed in the community, and they can be in the majority of cases, the number of hospital admissions will be very low. However, there will always be people who need specialist care and need to see a consultant or be admitted to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the situation in UHL is grave. The hospital suffers from a high level of overcrowding almost all the time. There has been a lot of investment in the hospital in recent years. The budget has never been greater. Notwithstanding the difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff, there have never been more staff. I include medical and clinical staff in that. Extra beds have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think it is correct to say what the Deputy said about every metric. I will just mention two, as she raised metrics. We anticipate this year between 20,000 and 28,000 new homes being built. That does not include derelict homes being brought back into use and student accommodation. Approximately 26,000 to 28,000 new houses and apartments will be built in Ireland this year. That is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I referred to two cities - Sydney, where the average house price is AUD1 million, and rents in New York. The Deputy has represented what I said in a way that was not said and certainly not the way I intended it. I believe Ireland is a great country in which to live. That is not just my opinion. The United Nations, which assesses these things objectively, put Ireland in the top ten...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Of course, it does; everyone's experience is different.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I acknowledge that Ireland faces a cost-of-living crisis, as does most of the world, and we are seeing inflation at levels not seen for a generation. That impacts different people and households in different ways. People who drive and commute are affected in a serious way because the price of petrol and diesel is so high at the moment, notwithstanding the reductions in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The briefing I was given was that there had not been an increase in the maximum toll for nine years. That may well be incorrect-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: -----and I will get that double-checked today. In terms of information, I was not informed, nor were the Taoiseach or the Cabinet, but I accept the doctrine of collective responsibility and if Ministers were aware, then the Government was collectively aware. The question now is what we can do about it. I would like to be able to give a cast-iron commitment today but it would not be...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Correspondence (23 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: To date I have received no communications in respect of the company referred to.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Defective Building Materials (23 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together. NSAI, as the National Standards body for Ireland, nominated in accordance with the requirements of EC Regulation 1025 and as the Irish Member of the European standardisation organisations, CEN and Cenelec (CLC), is obligated to adhere to the standardization principles of the World Trade Organization, to comply with CEN/CLC Internal...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Official Travel (22 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Neither I nor any officials from my Department, or from bodies under the aegis of my Department, travelled to the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (22 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department continues to support the work of IDA in attracting Foreign Direct Investment to Ireland. In the first half of 2022, 155 investments were won, with associated employment potential of over 18,000 jobs. Several investments approved and announced in the first half of the year involve large job numbers and significant capital investments. The current staffing levels at IDA Ireland in...