Results 38,321-38,340 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (24 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Question 394: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, during his meeting on 31 January 2008 with Ambassador Amr Helmy of Egypt, he raised concerns relating to the human rights situation in Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24302/08]

FÁS Training Programmes. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Minister of State for his response. The question was tabled prior to the enterprise committee meeting last week. I welcome the Minister's comments at the meeting. This is an important issue because between 40,000 and 50,000 construction jobs will be lost. I do not know how many will be lost by apprentices but it will probably be several thousand. It is important they should...

Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Will the Minister confirm that she does not believe there is collusion in the retail sector? Will she consider amending the Companies Act? If not, will she at least wave the stick at retailers that if prices do not come down the Companies Act will be amended to require them to publish their Irish profits, which is not currently the case?

Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Does the Minister have any suspicions in this regard?

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Retailers.

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Does the Minister agree that taxpayers and consumers have been shafted by the by the partnership process? Business gets its bit, at any rate big business does, the unions get theirs, farmers get something and Government politicians and Ministers who are supposed to stand up for taxpayers and consumers do not do so. In the current context, given the politicians we have, does the Minister...

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: It did but it was refused.

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: The Government refused it.

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Bertie Ahern did.

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Who stands up for our taxpayers and ordinary consumers?

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is supposed to but it does not.

Social Partnership. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: I did not say it should be abandoned.

Unemployment Levels. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Over the weekend I had a chance to look through the figures in detail, taking both the live register and the most recent quarterly household survey, and two things struck me in particular. First, of those who lost their jobs in the past year almost 50% are under 35 and, second, between two thirds and three quarters of those who became unemployed during that period are male. That probably...

EU Directives. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: It is clear from the answer I received from the Minister for Finance that the payment services directive will allow member states to ban surcharges provided doing so does not distort competition — it would not — or benefit inefficient means of payment, such as cash payment. It is clear the directive will empower the Government to ban credit and debit card surcharges. Will the Minister...

Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Question 1: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions she has taken or plans to take to address the rising cost of consumer goods and services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24096/08]

Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Deputies will be aware of widespread consumer anger about the price of goods and the growing fear of those on tight budgets. While I am not on a particularly tight budget, I returned from my local Spar outlet the other day having paid almost €100 for a basket of goods which had very little in it. I appreciate the Minister earns €5,000 per week and probably has her driver do her...

Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Clune does not have a driver.

Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: On a brief supplementary——

Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: ——the Tánaiste stated she met Tesco and that she had not met Dunnes Stores. Did she meet Lidl, Aldi and Superquinn?

Price Inflation. (19 Jun 2008)

Leo Varadkar: She did not meet them directly, did she?