Results 39,821-39,840 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Skills Olympics. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I asked this question because of the concerns expressed by the organisers at the extremely high number of people sent from Ireland to this event. It seems extraordinary that we are spending half a million euro of taxpayers' money to send 85 people to this event. Only 54 of these people are participants and not all of that group are actually competitors. Does the Minister feel that the...

Skills Olympics. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Why was the proportion of hangers-on so much higher on this occasion?

Skills Olympics. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: There was increased activity among hangers-on, not participants.

Skills Olympics. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister should find out if he is going to spend half a million euro of our money on them.

Skills Olympics. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister described these people as non-participants.

Skills Olympics. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I will, but so should the Minister before he spends half a million euro of taxpayers' money.

Industrial Development. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Minister for his reply. I acknowledge that he does not have day-to-day responsibility for the activities of IDA Ireland. I accept it is now the policy of IDA Ireland to move away from owning and operating properties. At the time that policy was adopted, 18% of the agency's properties was vacant. However, although it has since off-loaded many of its properties, there is now a...

Work Permits. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure if the Minister has yet had an opportunity to meet with representatives of the Irish Nursing Homes Association. If he has not done so, I hope he will as soon as possible. This is an issue in which I have an interest and am involved. Since the introduction of the new rules in February this year, there has been a clear problem for many nursing homes in meeting the 50% rules and...

Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate the Minister's acknowledgement that we are in a catch-up phase. It is perhaps a more honest answer than the one I got from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan. John McElligott, managing director, of eBay also wrote to me on foot of previous questions I asked. I will quote one line from his letter. "I am embarrassed to tell my peers in...

Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Seoul is in South Korea.

Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister should tell this to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who is in total fantasy land regarding broadband. At least the Minister, Deputy Martin, has some realisation that we are behind and trying to catch up.

Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: On the issue of density, we are four times slower than Australia——

Telecommunications Services. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: ——which is pretty sparsely populated unless you count the kangaroos.

Work Permits. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: It is fair to say that work permits are not cheap. I am not sure what the exact cost of a work permit is — I think it is approximately €1,000.

Work Permits. (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Given that approximately €10 million accrued to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment last year in respect of fees for work permits, it seems reasonable that a portion of the fee should be refunded if the employment terminates within six months, for any reason. I ask the Minister to consider that suggestion.

Copyright and Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Minister of State for his comments and associate myself with his message of thanks to the Department and other staff. The Bill will shortly become law when it is signed by the President and we were happy to co-operate with its speedy passage, given the need to do so as we faced prosecution in European courts. I ask the Minister not to waste any time in making the provisions in...

Order of Business (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: There is an ongoing problem in providing school sites and developing new schools in rapidly growing areas. I refer to page 42 of the programme for Government, entitled High-Quality School Buildings and Planning for New Schools, in which a specific commitment is given to ensure that no rezoning of land for residential development can take place without a prior commitment to provide an...

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Everybody wants to take their tablets.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 150: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance when the capital gains tax roll-over for businesses which upgrade to a new premises was abolished; the reason for doing so; the amount of tax take gained as a result for each year since this change was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30697/07]

Written Answers — Assisted Human Reproduction: Assisted Human Reproduction (27 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 182: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if experimentation on human embryos is a specific offence here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30703/07]