Results 5,041-5,060 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: That legislation falls under my remit as the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Work is being done on it. Unfortunately, we do not have a publication date yet for it. I agree with the Deputy's remarks on community energy. We will get much greater acceptance for an onshore wind or solar plant being provided in local communities if people have ownership of it or receive a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I agree wholeheartedly. We have said for some time that the era of self-regulation is over, but we need to back that up with actions and legislation. A package of legislation is anticipated at European level. The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, is taking the lead for the Government on that. At a domestic level, the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, is taking the lead on online safety and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: We have scaled up our testing capacity considerably. We can provide tests for about 30,000 people a day now. Unfortunately, with so many people experiencing respiratory symptoms, there is no system in any country that could deal with that number of people with symptoms looking for a test. As has been the case at other points of the pandemic, we now have to prioritise those with a GP...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As I said earlier, we scaled up testing to the capacity of about 30,00 a day. We brought the Defence Forces, the private sector and the public sector on board. However, there are limitations to capacity when it comes to testing, as is the case in any country of the world, and that is why we have to prioritise. We are prioritising those with GP referrals, those who are symptomatic close...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: In line with the lifting of restrictions on public transport, and with effect from the return of schools following the October mid-term break, implementation commenced for post primary school transport services to resume operating at 100% capacity. With regard to post-primary special needs transport services, the Department will work with schools on a case-by-case basis where such services...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly follow that up with the Minister. Part of my constituency is under a special area amenity order as well and I understand the difficulties that arise. People are generally happy to have their area designated but there are real consequences and costs for people. When the State imposes an order like that, it must be taken into account. I must speak to the line Minister about...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Rural and Community Development is currently assessing applications submitted under category 2 of the rural regeneration and development fund. I know Deputy Griffin is very supportive of the application in respect of Killorglin's town centre. It is a project he raised with me and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, before. I know the town centre well, having tried to cycle up...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. As far as I understand, this decision is for the Garda Commissioner rather than being a political or Government decision. In response to the request, I will certainly say to the Taoiseach that the Deputy raised the issue here. I will also mention it to the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I read about that development in the news the other day. It is really encouraging to see regeneration and redevelopment of the Cork docklands coming to life. I do not know enough about the development or who the developer is so I do not particularly want to get into discussions on whether the Government should engage with the developer in question. We are very keen to see elective...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Just under 700,000 people have received their third dose and we expect that number to be over 1 million by early December. Under the current guidance from NIAC, 2.5 million people are now eligible for a third dose. We should bear in mind that even when the vaccine programme was at full tilt, the maximum number of people we could vaccinate in any week was approximately 250,000, so it will...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the extraordinary impact that rising fuel prices have had on hauliers. Of course, it has a wider impact in increasing transport costs for everybody in society and it is something the Government is very concerned about. It is largely out of our control because prices are driven by international factors. A diesel rebate scheme was introduced in 2013 and further improved in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I cannot answer the Deputy's question on an individual basis, but I hope that gentleman gets his third dose of the vaccine as soon as possible. As of today, about 700,000 people have received their third dose of the Covid vaccine. We are now able to provide the third dose to between 160,000 and 200,000 people a week. Even at the peak of the vaccine programme, it was not...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I have not yet seen the Central Bank report. I believe it was only published in the last hour or so and therefore I am loath to comment on it. We support the shared equity scheme, as one element of our housing policy, because it will help people who are currently renting to become homeowners for the first time. In most cases the mortgages they will pay will be less than the rent they are...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am not briefed on the matter but I will certainly make sure it is checked out because obviously we would not want people to lose that service.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I will need to ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to come back with a more comprehensive reply than I can give. The Government is very keen to proceed with the expansion of wind energy both onshore and offshore. It is what we need to help save our planet and to end our dependence on fossil fuels. It is also what we need to improve energy...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: It does.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I would not like us stop wind turbines that are louder than a bird. It would be hard to have any onshore wind-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Government appreciates and understands the enormous impact that rising energy prices are having on people, whether it is households and families struggling with the bills or businesses. I engage with business all the time and the same business people whose main concern would have been finding staff or insurance costs a few weeks ago are now talking to me about the impact of high energy...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: It is important to say these prices are driven by international factors. The Government only has so much control over these things.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2021)

Leo Varadkar: It is 2%; that is correct.