Results 3,361-3,380 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: That is absolutely my point. I thank the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I expect we will see that legislation next year. I agree that we need to strengthen the powers and functions of the standards commission. When it comes to ethics, standards and codes of conduct, I do not believe it is the role of any standards commission to investigate the political decisions or actions of Ministers. That is a different thing. Ministers are responsible to the Dáil...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Social Democrats is a party of the left. It has lower standards for people who are on the left. The Deputy said on radio that I should not serve in government just because I was under investigation even though I have subsequently been cleared.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Why will the Social Democrats not apply the same standards for Sinn Féin? When the Deputy is doing future interviews, I hope journalists this will press her on this matter.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It is because you are a hypocrite, Róisín. You are a hypocrite, that is why.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I agree there is a housing emergency and have said so in the past. I agree there is a housing crisis, which is a term I have used in the past. However, competing with each other to find new and more dramatic words to describe the housing challenge does not build any houses or solve problems for any of the people the Deputy mentioned in his contribution. What we require...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Energy Prices (10 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I know businesses around the country are very worried heading into the winter. The cost of energy and of doing business is rising, interest rates are going up and consumer confidence is waning. Irish businesses can rely on us to back them and to protect jobs to ensure a strong economy. The Government announced a package of measures in the recent budget to respond. The TBESS will provide...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (9 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: While my Department has 72 staff* seconded to State Agencies and other public bodies, according to records held on each secondment none of these 72 are in receipt of a higher duty/acting allowance. Of the 72 staff seconded, 2 have been seconded for more than 10 years.  Records indicate that there are no staff seconded for more than 20 or 30 years. *36 staff assigned to the Office...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Ukraine War (8 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together. My Department and its Offices are tenants in ten buildings across the country in office accommodation provided to it through the Office of Public Works (OPW) who manage the State's property portfolio on behalf of Government Departments. These buildings are either state owned or leased from private landlords by the OPW. I can...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Data (8 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: There are 92 Enterprise Ireland (EI) supported companies, employing 4,862 people in County Mayo. In 2021, there were 502 jobs created by EI supported clients. Enterprise Ireland (EI) supports companies in every county of Ireland to start and scale, innovate, and remain competitive on international markets, now and in the future. The contribution of EI client companies to the Irish economy...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: National Standards Authority of Ireland (8 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is an independent agency, under the aegis of my Department. As part of its remit, NSAI carries out a range of operational functions, some of which are in areas which fall within the lead policy responsibility of other Departments. In this context, NSAI carries out activities in relation to construction products, which is an area within the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (8 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department operates an Advanced Payment of Fees Scheme (APF), where on an annual basis employees are invited to apply for funding to undertake third-level studies appropriate to the business mandate of the Department. According to records held in my Department, no funding has been provided to any employee under the APF Scheme or the preceding Refund of Fees Scheme to undertake the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I struggle to answer the Deputy's question. I am obviously conscious of the separation of powers, which I am sure the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will remind me of. It is my understanding that the rule of law applies in our courts. That is the point of our courts. Perhaps there is a more detailed question behind the Deputy's question, which we can perhaps talk about with the Minister of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is determined to dramatically increase the amount of offshore wind generated in Ireland between now and 2030, and beyond. We can use the ports in Belfast and in England but that is not ideal. Therefore, major investment, well in excess of €100 million, is now going into Rosslare to enable it to service the wind farms we are going to build off the east and south-east coasts.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It is a very important issue and one in which I am taking an interest. All of us find it hard to explain to patients or constituents why a medicine is available on the NHS or in Germany or France but is not yet available in Ireland. Cancer survival rates have improved a lot in Ireland in recent decades. Rates are ahead of those in the UK but are still behind the EU average. The impact...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I have not seen the review and I do not know if it is even complete at this stage, but I will make inquiries with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and ask him to get back to the Deputy directly.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will see a lot happening in the next couple of years, particularly with the developments in Rosslare, the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, and the auctions for offshore wind. I do not have the answers to the Deputy’s precise and very reasonable questions, but there is a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on the environment and climate this...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: This issue is currently under consideration in the context of the all-island rail review. The case for extending the western rail corridor is stronger than it was in the past given that public finances are in a much better state and we are able to increase capital spending, the need to meet our climate plans, the high cost of fuel and the desire to get more freight off the roads and onto the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I have read about it in the news but I am not familiar with the detail of the rosters.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot say whether I am in favour of it. It is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, of course, and he will negotiate with the representative bodies on that. The most important thing is that gardaí are rostered for when we need them. They are there to serve the public. They must be rostered for when we need them most. That is my position but I also acknowledge that we must make...