Results 5,461-5,480 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (22 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Chair.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The dental treatment services scheme, DTSS, was cut back significantly during the financial crisis and has not been restored. While we have agreed a restoration schedule for funding for general practice, we have not done so for dental practice. We will need to do that. It is a matter for the budget and the HSE service plan. I understand and share the Deputy’s sentiments. In the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. We have a programme of improvements for the National Ambulance Service, including new vehicles and bases. I am not sure where Carlow fits into that but I will certainly inform the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, that the issue was raised in the House. Hopefully, we will be able to make some progress on it in the not-too-distant future.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. As I indicated to Deputy McAuliffe earlier, if there was a Government decision to defer or postpone the MetroLink project I would know about it. There has not been. We will have a new national development plan agreed in early October and that will answer the question in respect of major infrastructural projects. I do want to say, however, that we need to take these...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: We do not know the route and we do not know the stations. It has not gone to tender.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: This is going to take years to get started let alone complete.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: When we have used citizens' assemblies to their best effect, we have done exactly what the Deputy proposes, which is to take the report, ask a time-limited special committee to examine it, refine it and then put proposals to the Government to which it can respond. That is how we intend to approach the report of this Citizen's Assembly. I have spoken about it with some of my people today and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry to hear of those experiences. I cannot give a comprehensive answer at the moment. I am not fully up to date or briefed on the matter, but I will let the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, know that it was raised here and ask him to reply to the Deputy directly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: 3 o’clock I am happy to use this opportunity to restate the Government's commitment both to MetroLink and DART west. They are really important transport projects for Dublin. I read the story to which the Deputy referred and while I do not know if it is true, I can say that no Government decision has been taken to delay these projects, nor am I aware of any proposal to delay...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: We will look at those matters in the context of the budget. We are all very aware of the increasing cost of fuel and how it is impacting on families, consumers and businesses. The fuel allowance kicks in again from next week. In the context of the budget, we will look at the rate and the issue of widening eligibility to cover more people. We did that in relation to the pandemic...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I agree with the Deputy's initial comment that those who are hit hardest by inflation are those on the lowest incomes, namely, people on social welfare and pensioners. They do not have much discretionary spend. They are rarely able to save money and they know where every euro goes. They will be most effected by the rising cost of living. The Deputy and I worked together some years ago in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Harkin for raising this issue again. I know that she has raised it before. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, has raised with me as well. Sligo Airport is a licensed European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, aerodrome. It was directed in 2019 by the Irish Aviation Authority to upgrade the aerodrome. This would allow it to update to air and navigation safety...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: First, I join the Deputy in welcoming the fact that the Shannon to London Heathrow route is operating again. That route opens Shannon and the midwest to the world. It is important that that is happening again. I welcome President Biden's announcement that fully vaccinated people from Europe will be able to travel to the United States again. That allows us to get routes from Dublin and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The mechanism by which the Government can intervene in an industrial relations dispute is through the Workplace Relations Commission or the Labour Court. Both are offices of my Department and both are available to the workers and the company involved if there is a willingness to engage.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: One of the advantages of the regions designation is that we can positively discriminate in a region's favour. Thus, when it comes to employment grants from my Department for new industry, we can offer grants in the west and north west that cannot be offered in Dublin and Cork. We are absolutely prepared to do that in order to secure jobs and investment for the region. Then there is what we...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I very much hear the Deputy's concerns. One of the many things the pandemic has taught us is the extent to which we are dependent on people coming from central and eastern Europe who are willing to work here. They are often willing to work in jobs Irish people do not want to do. Britain, which has left the Single Market, is really learning that because it will not see these people return....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: My understanding is that the Minister has clarified that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: It has been discussed. On the other questions, I will have to ask the Minister, Deputy Ryan, to confirm his actions in that regard. I would imagine the answer is "Yes", but I do not want to speak for him.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I have no detail on this because it is not agreed yet, but the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, is working on the issue. All of us in this House acknowledge that front-line workers who put in an extra effort and made extra sacrifices during the pandemic, and continue to do so, should be rewarded in some way. Whether that is a financial bonus or additional...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Sep 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I do not have an up-to-date briefing on that. I will let the Minister for Justice know the matter was raised and get back to the Deputy later in the week.