Results 4,921-4,940 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: -----and not just on the operation of it. Let me check on that today, though. There is a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on health later and I will then come back to the Deputy once I have a better answer.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The cost of living in Ireland is rising very quickly. After more than a decade of little or no inflation, we now see prices raising at a rate of more than 5% a year. We have not seen that in 20 years. This is very much driven by increases in fuel and energy prices. The Government is very aware of that. We know it is very difficult for many families who are trying to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: It is very much the view of Government that we need to take action and do something to help people with their energy bills in the new year. We are particularly focusing on electricity because it is a bill everyone gets. It is something that people have to use. They do not have any choice as to what type of energy to use and must use what comes in on the wires. We are working on that at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: IDA Ireland is committed to building a new advance technology building in Tralee. I know both Deputy Griffin and Councillor Jim Finucane, among others, have been working on the matter for some time, and the Deputy has raised it with me several times on the floor of the House. The latest position is that IDA Ireland is continuing to engage with stakeholders to seek a suitable site for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: What we seek to achieve in Kerry is a diverse and balanced economy. That means investment in tourism - the county is hugely successful in that regard already - food production, energy, public services and FDI. The county has shown what an attractive place it can be for FDI and for major companies such as Liebherr and Fexco. We anticipate seeing further investment in Tralee during the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: We will certainly give consideration to that, but, obviously, Tralee is top of the list at present. The restoration of the EWSS to the full November amount will benefit all companies that are down 30% or more in turnover. It will benefit and help the hospitality, arts, entertainment and night-life sectors to get through this difficult period. It will be in place until at least the end of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I disagree with the analysis of Deputy O'Rourke-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The fact is the EU is the biggest exporter of vaccines.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The EU is the biggest exporter of vaccines. While other countries such as the United States, on some sort of national security grounds, stopped vaccines being exported to developing countries, the EU exported as many vaccine doses as we made for ourselves. I acknowledge Sinn Féin is a Euro-critical party but that is going too far. The EU has exported more vaccine doses than any other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I can see where this is going and I am disappointed that, rather than having a rational debate and weighing up the pros and cons of options such as a TRIPS waiver or compulsory licensing, it will turn into-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: -----people wanting to shout at one another and make out they are more virtuous than the next person-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: -----and engaging in personalised remarks. It is disappointing. I knew before I came to the Chamber that, rather than having a rational debate on the correct solution, it was going to turn into Deputies-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: -----saying they are more virtuous than others or a better person than others-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: -----and that is sad.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: This is just showboating, unfortunately. I wonder whether the Deputy is even capable of having a rational debate on the different options, such as compulsory licensing, the TRIPS waiver and others. What is required-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think the Deputy wants a debate at all. He just wants to make out he is the person who is virtuous and that we are nasty people looking after companies rather than people. It is just part of the political games his party plays and that is the truth of it. It is disappointing but, unfortunately, that is the alternative his party offers. We all share the same objective, in my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 131, 153 and 159 together. Universal and equitable access to vaccines is crucial in the global fight against Covid-19 and governments in the developed world must do more to ensure it happens. The Government is a very strong supporter of vaccine equality in the world. Morally, we need to make sure the world is vaccinated. We were not able to defeat...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Supports (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware, Brexit is not a passing storm; it is a permanent change in our relationship with the United Kingdom with which the Government, business and citizens will have to deal for some time. On a positive note, it was confirmed earlier this week that Ireland's allocation under the Brexit adjustment reserve is €1.165 billion at current prices. This represents just over...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Supports (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. He is absolutely right regarding diversification. If one goes back 100 years, 50 years or even 40 years, Ireland was almost entirely dependent on Britain for trade and foreign currency. It is never a good thing for a country to be too dependent on another country, particularly a large neighbour if it has one. For several decades, our industrial and enterprise policies...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Supports (9 Dec 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I will cover some of it anyway. I very much agree with the Deputy's remarks in respect of boots on the ground. There is no substitution for having boots on the ground or personal contact. It has to happen. Virtual engagement is great, but it is no substitute for individual personal contact and having boots on the ground. We are doing exactly that - increasing our embassies, embassy...