Results 41-60 of 554 for drugs speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (7 Mar 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As provided for in the Terms of Reference for the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use, agreed by Dáil Éireann on 21st February 2023 and Seanad Éireann on 23rd February 2023, the Chair of the Assembly will be paid an honorarium. This will be the standard per diem rate which is applied for similar such positions, and will be sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure, National...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (28 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...privatise Irish Water. It is not the policy of any party in this House and in any case it is prevented by legislation. To respond to Deputy McAuliffe, we anticipate the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Policy will report by the end of the year, thus allowing us to consider its recommendations in early 2024.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...for access to IVF treatments in Ireland for the first time; the expansion of the entitlement to free contraception to women aged 26 to 30; €5 million for oral healthcare for children up to seven years of age; and a reduction in the drugs payment scheme threshold, that is, the maximum amount any household has to pay for medicine every month, to €80. Our health service has...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (22 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On that final point on drug debt intimidation, I agree it is something the citizens’ assembly needs to examine as part of its work. On the issue raised in regard to air PSOs by Deputy Cathal Crowe, we have had a few air PSOs in the past, for example, there was Dublin-Kerry, which we no longer need because it is a commercial service; Dublin-Donegal, which is still there; and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...wrong. Perhaps we will talk about that matter again. We do not yet have a date to establish the citizens' assembly on the future of education. We want to establish the citizens' assembly on drugs policy up and running by the middle of the year. It is hard to run two at the same time, as we learned earlier this year. We expect the citizens' assembly on drugs policy to finish towards...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Government agreed on 14 February to establish a Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use. Motions are before the Dáil and Seanad this week to formally establish the Assembly which will likely commence in April and conclude its work by the end of the year.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...allowance lump-sum payments; an energy credit of €200, with another €200 being paid at the moment and a further €200 to come in March; a reduction in student fees; a 25% reduction in childcare costs; a rent tax credit; a reduction in public transport fees; a reduction in the cost of the drugs payment scheme; and reductions in VAT and excise duties. A lot has been...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...lump sums; universal energy credits of €600 for every household; a reduction in student fees; a 25% reduction in childcare costs; a 20% reduction in public transport fees; a reduction in the drug payment scheme for medicine costs; reductions in VAT; and reductions in excise. We will meet later in the week to see what else we can do to help.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...' assembly having submitted its report to the Oireachtas in December and the biodiversity loss assembly following suit shortly, with two further citizens' assemblies, one dealing with matters relating to drug use and the other on the future of education, under consideration, which will be subject to Oireachtas agreement; and the publication of the Future of Media Commission report and the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Programme for Government (8 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...the Dublin-related Citizens Assembly having submitted its Report to the Oireachtas in December and the Biodiversity Loss Assembly following suit shortly. Two further Citizens’ Assemblies, one dealing with matters relating to Drug Use and the other on the Future of Education, are under consideration and will be subject to Oireachtas agreement. -Publication of the Future of Media...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...report back to the House before the end of the year. The Government is committed to fulfilling the programme for Government commitment to establish new citizens' assemblies on matters relating to drug use and the future of education. We are keen to have them up and running before the summer recess. I can confirm that the work of the Joint Committee on Justice will inform the terms of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I will take up the issue of the north inner city drugs and alcohol task force with the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton. She is new to her role, but I will ensure that she is aware of it and that progress is made on it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (31 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...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. The Citizens' Assembly on local government in Dublin has concluded its work, and submitted its report and recommendations to the Oireachtas in line with...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (25 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...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. The Dublin related Citizen’s Assembly has concluded its work, and submitted its report and recommendations to the Oireachtas in December, in line...

Appointment of Ministers of State (18 Jan 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...my nomination, the Government appointed Deputy Naughton, in addition to her current responsibilities, as Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for public health, well-being and the national drugs strategy; Deputy Peter Burke as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for EU affairs and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2022)

Leo Varadkar: ...need to help out those bodies with their high energy costs because if we do not, they will not be able to provide the vital services that they do. The Minister of State with responsibility for drug and addiction services, Deputy Feighan, is just behind me. He would be happy to follow the matter up with the Deputy directly to see if we can assist in any way.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Cost of Living Issues (27 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: ...of this year, including measures such as a lump sum payment of €125 on the fuel allowance to 390,000 recipients, temporary 20% reduction in public transport fares applicable from April 2022, a reduction of the drug payment scheme to €80, and the working family payment increase announced on Budget Day 2022 was brought forward from 1 June to 1 April. The Government also...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: ...and complications that have arisen around this but we certainly have not given up on it. The policy remains an objective. I absolutely agree that we need to continue to invest more in drug treatment centres and drug treatment beds. It is money very well spent. The fact we can rescue people from addiction makes a huge difference not only for them but for their families and the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Cost of Living Issues (15 Sep 2022)

Leo Varadkar: ...Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare to ensure childcare prices do not rise; - Temporary 20% reduction in public transport fares applicable from April until the end of the year; - A reduction of the drug payment scheme to €80; - The working family payment increase announced on Budget Day was brought forward from 1 June to 1 April; - Most recently, the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Low Pay (19 May 2022)

Leo Varadkar: ...;520 million and a social welfare package of over €550 million. There were also increases in the allocation of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare to ensure childcare prices do not rise. The cost of the Drug Payment Scheme was reduced to €80. The working family payment increase announced on Budget Day was brought forward from 1 June to 1 April, and a reduction in...