Results 35,861-35,880 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: It is the policy that is written down.

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to share time with Deputy Catherine Byrne.

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: I despair of the Minister. For somebody who preaches about consensus and everybody working together to agree a budgetary strategy, he is showing a great contempt for the Opposition and a great ability to misrepresent other people's positions and make assumptions based on attitudes that are not correct.

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: It shows how phoney the Green Party is that it demands consensus in regard to difficult decisions but in the case of other policy issues, it just wants to slag people off. It is very disappointing. I thank Deputy McManus and the Labour Party for bringing forward this important motion, which we support. I propose to address three issues. First, I will refer to the truth about energy prices,...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: I do, but that is not our position. We are proposing to defer the increase and in the meantime, if needs be, to take that money out of the massive profits of the utility companies. The Minister needs to review aspects of the PSO levy. Under the old system, when the price of energy was high, the owners of wind power plants had to pay something back into the fund, but that is no longer the...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: It would be. It is a debate we have had at committee, which the Minister does not attend. The Joint Committees on Climate Change and Energy Security and on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources have debated the matter of super-subsidies, such as those of 14 cent and 27 cent per kilowatt hour which are twice the market price of energy, and whether such subsidies make sense. Can we be...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: We should have that debate. I hope the Minister, having said that, now has a slightly more advanced understanding of Fine Gael thinking on this. We understand the issues. We have studied them in detail. We are not total idiots.

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: When the Minister comes to that debate I hope he will bring his figures and his calculators. I am not anti-ideology. I am interested in political idealism and ideology but there is nothing worse than having an ideology and ignoring the numbers. Whatever ideological or philosophical position one has must make economic sense. The numbers must add up. Some of what the Minister is doing on...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: As the person responsible for the legislation, the Minister can also change it.

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: The price increase is not the regulator's fault. The Minister can change the legislation, which was passed by the Oireachtas with his support.

Order of Business (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: I would like to ask about the assisted human reproduction Bill. Following a court case some months ago a commitment was given by the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, that legislation would be introduced to regulate in vitro fertilisation and research on and the destruction of embryos, etc. That commitment was given by the Minister but it does not appear in the Government's...

Order of Business (12 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: The expert report was published.

Written Answers — Sex Offender Treatment Programme: Sex Offender Treatment Programme (7 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 29: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform by application of the current remission system the number of convicted sex offenders he anticipates will be released in the next 12 months having completed their sentences; the number of such offenders who have to date engaged in a treatment program; the numbers of those scheduled for release within 12 months who he anticipates will...

Hospital Beds (7 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for allowing me to raise this important issue which relates to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, in my constituency of Dublin West. As the Minister will, no doubt, be aware the hospital currently has a deficit of €4.5 million out of its annual budget of €91 million. As a result, the hospital has been prevailed upon by the HSE to close a number of...

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (5 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 56: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a decision has been made on the location of the new central mental hospital; when this decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34771/10]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (5 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 131: To ask the Minister for Finance if an individual PAYE taxpayer who takes on an employee as a nanny, carer or [i]au pair[/i] is responsible for making PAYE and PRSI payments for the employee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34534/10]

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (5 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 137: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding works planned for the main road in the Phoenix Park which were promised to the finance committee during the Estimates meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34551/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding given to an organisation (details supplied) in 2008 and 2009; the amount that will be given in 2010; if there will be any cuts and how will it impact on services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34550/10]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 378: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding implementing the monitoring of the quality of broadband initiative, encompassing independent in-country monitoring of broadband speed, quality and access; whether he or ComReg intends to issue a tender for the job; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34536/10]

Order of Business (5 Oct 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps the Ceann Comhairle or the Taoiseach can assist me with an item on the Order Paper that was laid before the Oireachtas last week. It concerns secondary legislation and the manner in which this House is treated. This concerns the treaty amending, with regard to Greenland, the treaties establishing the European Communities and protocol done at Brussels on 13 March 1984. Ireland's...