Results 641-660 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Alternative facts.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I share her horror about what is continuing to unfold in Gaza. I do not think anyone could find the current situation to be anything more than unbearable, quite frankly, to see thousands of people being killed and thousands of children losing their lives. While Israel has the right to defend itself, the actions it has taken, in my view and that of the Government, are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy says things with such a level of confidence that I would say many people actually believe her. Does she actually know the facts? The census states that in 2011, when I was first appointed to government, 1.15 million people owned their own home. In the last census, in 2022, 1.2 million people owned their own home. In raw numbers, more people owned their own home in 2022-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----than was the case in 2011. Fair enough, the population has increased, so homeownership in the census in 2022-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----was 68.9% while in 2011, it was 70.4%. Is that really a collapse? By the way, just in case the Deputy is not aware, percentages have to add up to 100. One of the reasons we have seen a change in numbers is because the percentage of people benefiting from social housing has gone up from 8.7% in 2011 to 10% in 2022.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We have rent pressure zones in Ireland. We introduced them many years ago and the vast majority of people renting in Ireland are covered and protected by them. That means there are increases of between 0% and 4% per year. We have also introduced the rent tax credit and that is a big help for a lot of people. Next year, it is €750 a year for a single person and €1,500 a year...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 to 103, inclusive, together. The Department of the Taoiseach’s ex Vat expenditure on the X (formerly Twitter); Meta (Facebook & Instagram); and Google platforms for paid advertisements placed in the years 2021 – 2022 and to date in 2023 is set out below. The bulk of the expenditure relates to the dissemination of information related...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: White Papers (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach has not published any White Papers in the period specified.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Consultations (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: From 2011 to date in 2023, the Department of the Taoiseach has commissioned 10 reports, at a cost of €30,007, which have not been published externally. These reports relate to the Department's internal operations and relate to assessments covering Health and Safety, disability and ICT security.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach manages a number of social media accounts (either as MerrionStreet.ie or as Government of Ireland) to provide news, updates and information to the public in a way that is accessible and relevant to them. The Department keeps all methods of communication under review with a view to maximising the accessibility and effectiveness of government communications. ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach uses social media, including the X (formerly Twitter) platform, as one element of how it communicates public information in a way that is accessible and relevant to people. Working with a media buying company, the Department continues to keep all methods of communication under review with a view to maximising the accessibility and effectiveness of government...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (29 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The following table details the amount of Prompt Payment Interest and compensation paid by the Department of the Taoiseach from January 2016 to the end of October 2023, which are the latest available figures. These figures are published on the Department's website on a quarterly basis and reported to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in compliance with the Late Payments in...

Policing, Protests and Public Order: Statements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on the dreadful events that occurred in Dublin last week - the stabbing of a woman and several schoolchildren, the far-right protest that followed, and then the riot, looting and criminal damage. We are all still coming to terms with what happened, what it means and how we might respond further. The Government and the Garda are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: An Garda Síochána (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy Dillon asked about examining the Children Act. I am not aware of any plans to do so, but I will come back to him on that. However, the fact that we treat juveniles differently in the criminal justice system is not a bad thing, and it does not mean juveniles are immune from the law. They are accountable for their actions. That is why we...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I recognise Deputy Haughey for talking about the Year of the French in 1798. It is fascinating how it still lives on in our folk memory even though it was a relatively small force and ultimately unsuccessful. It led to the creation of Ireland's first republic, the short-lived Republic of Connacht. We know from historical accounts that people were impressed to see a citizen army in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No, we discussed the need for a ceasefire. Thankfully, we have that now and it has facilitated the release of hostages and prisoners and allowed aid to get into Gaza. We did not talk about the medium or long term. On the other matter, I spoke to our ambassador to Israel last night. She was one of a number of EU ambassadors summoned. I assure the Deputy that she was able to both...

Ceisteanna - Questions: An Garda Síochána (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 16, inclusive, together. A Policing Service for our Future is the Government’s plan to implement the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Implementation of the plan is being overseen by a dedicated programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach and has entered the final consolidation phase, with many substantive...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. I met with the Prime Minister of France, Élisabeth Borne, in Government Buildings on Monday, 13 November. We discussed the close and strengthening ties between our two countries, as well as current EU and international issues. France is Ireland’s nearest neighbour in the European Union, and we share a deep...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Child Poverty (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is true.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Child Poverty (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies for their questions. Deputy Murnane O'Connor mentioned DEIS schools and the need for more educational welfare officers. We always need to remind ourselves that, while many children experience disadvantage in DEIS schools, most children who experience disadvantage are not in DEIS schools. That is why extending the hot school meals programme to non-DEIS schools is really...