Results 3,641-3,660 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge that the housing shortage is an enormous challenge facing our country and people of all age groups, but particularly young people. It is the case that Ireland is a country with high homeownership. Some 60% or 70% of people own their own homes. That is a good thing. However, that is not the reality for people in their late 20s and early 30s, when it used to be. Probably only...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I have heard suggestions or allegations that there are still quarries producing defective materials. If that is the case, it needs to be dealt with, but the relevant authorities will need evidence of that. I am not sure if that is being provided to the relevant authorities. As the Deputy knows, any criminal prosecutions are not a matter for Government. We are a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is one that is of enormous importance to thousands of families across the country. I think all of us will know from our constituency services of cases of people and children who have had to wait a very long time for their assessment of need. I am sorry to hear of the case the Deputy raised and hope Uisneach is getting the support he needs now....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I absolutely guarantee that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is leading the way on this and is committed to working with the Government as a whole to make improvements in this area. There are a lot of additional financial resources for disability. The total budget for the year coming is going to be €2.4 billion, with €11 million or €12 million being provided...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It is disappointing it seems to be the Deputy's approach to anything, rather than coming up with a solution or ideas and detailing them to set out what he would actually do.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Instead, the solution is just Sinn Féin.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It is pretty narcissistic.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Chairperson and members of the committee for inviting me to discuss the Citizens' Assembly’s recommendations on gender equality and the work that my Department is doing to achieve gender equality in the workplace. I am joined on my left by Ms Fiona O'Dea who covers company law matters at the Department and Ms Helena Quilty from the enterprise division, which monitors and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Regarding the impact of the reforms we are undertaking in the workers' rights area, including the move to a living wage, the introduction of sick pay and also the commencement of auto-enrolment and every worker having a pension fund to top up their State pension, and this will all be the reality by 2024, which is not that far away, this will help with the achievement of gender equality. It...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: People face all sorts of barriers, depending on their circumstances. There are socio-economic barriers and barriers related to race and membership of minorities. Therefore, we need to see things in the round. As the Deputy knows, three of our seven Cabinet Ministers are female. We have 66 female councillors, which is more than any other party. We have more female MEPs than any other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: No, I would love to have more people to promote. I am working on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality: Recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality: Discussion (29 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. As she knows, the rates for paternity, maternity and parental benefits are the same for women and men. The maximum is around €250, which I believe is what she said. I am a supporter of pay-related benefits. We used to have them in Ireland but do not anymore. They are actually recommended by the Commission on Taxation and Welfare, which has some very positive...