Results 39,701-39,720 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 66: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his view on the high proportion of Chinese and Nigerian nationals who claim to speak the Irish language; his views on the figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29441/07]

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 89: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on the census figures relating to the use of the Irish language; his views on whether the questions asked give an accurate impression of the level of proficiency in the language and use thereof in the general population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29440/07]

Financial Resolution No. 3: Excise Duties (Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: He took an incinerator.

Financial Resolution No. 3: Excise Duties (Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I fully support the proposed changes, at least in vehicle registration tax and compliment the Minister on this innovative proposal. We could argue about whether the measure would have been introduced had the Green Party not been in Government but that is beside the point. It is a welcome step forward which Fine Gael supports because it introduces an emissions based tax, which is, in many...

Financial Resolution No. 3: Excise Duties (Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister should provide the information today. This is a tax on car ownership. I am not aware of other assets which are taxed on the basis that people own them. We tax people for buying goods. This tax is an attack on business and consumers, as are the proposals on tolls we will discuss at an oral hearing on Wednesday. If the Minister proposes to change motor tax, why not take the...

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: The evidence is that the amount of tobacco and cigarettes being sold over the past few years has increased. Perhaps I am wrong about that but I am pretty sure it is the case that there has been an increase. The excuse given is that a large number of people have come here from central and eastern Europe, that they smoke a lot and that is the reason for the increase. I am, however, a bit...

Financial Resolution No. 1: Excise (Tobacco Products) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I was referring to cigarettes where the tax has already been paid and the stamp is already on them and where the retailer tomorrow will charge 30 cent more even though the tax has already been paid.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: In tabling this motion, Fine Gael hoped to promote a serious debate on the future prospects of the economy, which depends on competitiveness. Together with my colleagues, I recognised the initial economic success of the Government in its first three years in office. However, we also charted the subsequent change in policy and demonstrated how a series of serious policy mistakes caused...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: In contrast to my speech, which did not mention any other Member of this House bar one, the Minister's speech cast aspersions on me, as well as on Deputies Bruton, Hogan and others.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: It is interesting to read the Minister's speech which mentioned the word "competitiveness" 18 times, yet refers to Fine Gael 19 times. In his speech, the Minister of State, Deputy McGuinness, used the words "Fine Gael" six times, twice more than the word "competitiveness". They are more interested in slagging off the Opposition — they are afraid of us for the first time in a long time —...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Rather than criticising Fine Gael, the Minister should accept that we have a real challenge in competitiveness. He should have laid out clearly the steps he will take to restore competitiveness, instead of behaving like an ostrich burying his head in the sand.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister hopes the problems will just go away, but when Fine Gael returns to power we will not run away from economic challenges. We will welcome them and embrace them.

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (Resumed) (5 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I will finish on one point of agreement. In his speech, the Minister said the best benchmark of how a country is doing is to look at its capacity to generate new sustainable jobs. I guarantee that is the benchmark to which we will hold him next year and the year after. Let us see how well he does in terms of job creation in the next two years.

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 150: To ask the Taoiseach if his Department has carried out a study of opening hours of public offices under the control or remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32009/07]

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 152: To ask the Taoiseach the opening hours of his Department's public offices and public phone lines and if they close for lunch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32059/07]

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 153: To ask the Taoiseach the opening hours for the public offices and telephone lines and if they close for lunch for each of the agencies and State bodies that are under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32074/07]

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (4 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 151: To ask the Taoiseach the official forms issued by his Department for use by the public and business which can be completed on-line; the forms which can not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32044/07]

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 168: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has carried out a study of opening hours of public offices under the control or remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32004/07]

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 177: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the opening hours of his Department's public offices and public phone lines and if they close for lunch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32054/07]

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (4 Dec 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 178: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the opening hours for the public offices and telephone lines and if they close for lunch for each of the agencies and State bodies that are under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32069/07]