Results 581-600 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Once again, for the avoidance of doubt - not in this House but perhaps in other parts of the world - I want to condemn unreservedly the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel where 2,000 people were killed, were tortured. We know now that many women were raped and others were kidnapped and taken hostage, and remain as hostages in Gaza today. While Israel has a right to defend itself, what it...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I appreciate that a lot of renters in Ireland are paying very high rents and that a lot of people who are renting do not want to rent. They want to be able to own their own home. The Government understands that lived experience. We do not agree with the Deputy's proposed policy of an across-the-board rent freeze for three years precisely because we think it would be...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Inquiries (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic. It will include a review of the whole-of-government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar type event were to occur. It will include a consideration of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Policies (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: During 2023, the Department of the Taoiseach has been working with Government Departments to progress work across a number of priority areas as follows: · progress on the Housing for All Action Plan, with strong momentum in new homes this year with over 22,400 completed in the first three quarters and construction started on almost 24,000 more; · three progress reports produced...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I would like to make a point of order.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is a point of order. The leader of the Opposition has quite disgracefully misled the Dáil.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There was contact from the Government with the school within 24 hours of the events.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Several Ministers did so. She knows that. It is deliberate misleading and it should be withdrawn.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I call on her to be decent for once and to withdraw it.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy McDonald knows it is not. It is absolutely disgraceful behaviour.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It should be withdrawn.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is extraordinary.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I move: That Dáil Éireann has confidence in the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD. We will debate a lot of things over the next two hours, but I want to reiterate that our thoughts are first and foremost with the schoolchildren and their carer who were so brutally and senselessly attacked last Thursday week. Two remain in hospital this evening and we hope they make a...

Estimates for Public Services 2023: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I hear a recurring theme from Deputies opposite. I think half of them are half-saying it and the other half are saying they are not saying it. It is that they seem to think that there is some sort of action the Government could take this evening or tomorrow that would cause the Prime Minister of Israel to think again and change his policy. Half the Opposition Deputies seem to be...

Estimates for Public Services 2023: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The view was that the only thing that is going to change this is a change of public opinion in Israel, and that is a very different thing-----

Estimates for Public Services 2023: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and something very different from change. Again, it is sad we have got to the point where people are so keen to score political points on an issue like this-----

Estimates for Public Services 2023: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----that they somehow want to blame the Government for what is happening in Gaza.

Estimates for Public Services 2023: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: In fairness, I do not think the Deputy is doing so, but I think some other people are. I think that is wrong and I find it objectionable because when I meet people-----

Estimates for Public Services 2023: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Foreign policy is important, and what we hear from the far left here are just gestures and pantomime. It does not serve the interests of the Palestinian people at all. When I meet with the Palestinian Authority and the Prime Minister of Palestine, they thank us for the position we are taking and the work we are doing. When I meet with Arab ambassadors, presidents and prime ministers, they...

Estimates for Public Services 2023: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Actually-----