Results 381-400 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The statement the Deputy made earlier was not correct because he did not take account of the first home scheme. The whole point of the scheme established by the Government is to close the affordability gap, where there is a gap between what a new house costs to buy and what a person can get in a mortgage. If we take into account the first home scheme, which thousands of people are now using...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have those numbers available yet but I think they will be available in the next couple of weeks. I want to acknowledge that rents are very high for far too many people in this country and that a lot of people are waiting far too long to be in a position to buy their own home. This is something that the Government is helping with. The rent credit, for example, is worth €750...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Child Poverty (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The work of the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office is to prioritise action across government in areas that will have the greatest affect for children and families experiencing poverty. From Poverty to Potential: A Programme Plan for Child Well-being 2023-2025was published last year and is the initial Programme Plan for the Child Poverty and Well-being Programme Office in the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos from 17 to 19 January. My programme included an IDA Ireland event where I met with business leaders from the manufacturing, chemical, technology, and finance sectors. I attended a foreign policy-focused event organised by the Washington Post, with other European leaders, heads of prominent international organisations, and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos from 17 to 19 January. My programme included an IDA Ireland event where I met with business leaders from the manufacturing, chemical, technology, and finance sectors. I attended a foreign policy-focused event organised by the Washington Post, with other European leaders, heads of prominent international organisations, and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Mother and Baby Homes (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: In advance of the Government considering the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation on Mother and Baby Homes certain information relating to matters in the Report was disclosed in a newspaper article. In that context, the then Taoiseach requested that an investigation be carried out. The investigation was conducted by a senior official in my Department and received full...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I welcomed Premier Li Qiang to Ireland on 17 January for a working visit which marked 45 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and China. In addition to our bilateral meeting, there was a working lunch which included several Chinese ministers; the Governor of the Central Bank of China; the Tánaiste; and Ministers Ryan, Foley, McConalogue and Coveney. I had a productive meeting...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach has not availed of any services or consultancy for the past five years to date from the companies in question nor has any expenditure been incurred.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Travel (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: On the 20th September last year, I travelled to Miami to officially open the Consulate General of Ireland there. During my visit I met with members of the Irish community and local political leaders. The Consulate is the eighth Consulate in Ireland’s US network and was established under the Global Ireland strategy (2018) which commits to doubling Ireland’s diplomatic footprint....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government commits to establishing four Citizens’ Assemblies, on the topics of Biodiversity Loss; the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin; Matters relating to Drugs Use; and the Future of Education. With the publication last week of the Citizens’ Assembly report on Matters relating to Drugs Use, three of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Staff (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: As Taoiseach, I am provided with Ministerial transport driven by Garda protection officers. Ministerial transport driven by Garda protection officers is also provided to the Government Chief Whip who attends Cabinet. The arrangements for the civilian drivers for the Minister of State for European Affairs are a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs. Responsibility for provision of...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 14 and 15 December in Brussels. The agenda covered the Middle East, Ukraine, EU enlargement, the multi-annual financial framework, security and defence, migration, COP28, EU-Türkiye relations, the fight against antisemitism, racism and xenophobia, and the EU strategic agenda. In his contribution to today's debate, the Minister of State,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Farrell for raising the shared island youth forum. It has been really good success. I had a chance to meet with them in Dublin a few months ago. It brings together 80 young people between the ages of 18 and 25 who are meeting over the course of a year to set out their vision and values for a shared future. There are 40 young people from the North and 40 from the South, and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Prime Minister Orbán of Hungary did not use his veto to block talks with Ukraine on membership. In fairness to him, he made his case and made it very strongly. He could have vetoed it but chose not to. It is unfair to mischaracterise him because by not using the veto he allowed European countries to proceed with the majority decision. He was...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: -----allowing the Palestinian Authority to take over Gaza with international support. That would then lead to talks not just on a two-state solution but on wider mutual security for the region. If we are serious about stopping this conflict and ending this 75-year cycle of violence and terrorism, that has to be our priority. However, we will of course take our role under the various...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, together. Through the shared island initiative, the Government is engaging with all communities to build a consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. The Government has so far allocated almost €250 million from the shared island fund. This includes contributing to the expansion of higher...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 8, inclusive, together. I participated in the western Balkans summit which took place on 13 December in Brussels. The meeting brought together EU leaders with their counterparts from six countries in the western Balkans, namely, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia. On conclusion of the summit, the EU and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. I join Deputy Dillon in complimenting the IDA on its success in securing investment and good jobs for Ireland. Again, over half the investment is occurring outside Dublin. I would like to see that figure rise further in the coming years and I have said that to the IDA board. I will follow up about the Castlebar advance building solution with the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy very much. I take the opportunity to again acknowledge that the cost of business in Ireland is very high and is rising. That is due to a number of factors, namely, higher labour costs, the energy crisis, the costs of supplies and materials and the withdrawal of temporary Government supports. The latter have to be withdrawn at some point and cannot go on forever....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: That is a good question. It will have to be pretty soon. In order to have the referendum in the first ten days of June, we will have to publish the legislation soon. I think there is a draft floating around, so I would say it will happen in the next week or two.