Results 681-700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Bacik has suggested an independent review by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate. We will give consideration to that. It may well be a very good idea. I do not want to commit to it on the hoof on the floor of the House but I will certainly give it consideration. I thank the Deputy for her constructive remarks. She is absolutely right that accountability is required. Before...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. More than ever, all of us in this House need to be willing to talk about migration and to do so in a fair way. I want to make the case for migration and why it is a good thing for Ireland. When I go into any hospital in Ireland, including ones in which I have worked, I see a very diverse workforce. Many of the doctors, nurses and other staff who looked after the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, the childcare facility nearby which the children were being brought to and the people who intervened to help stop the attack on Thursday. Many more people would have been injured and perhaps killed had those brave people not gone with their instincts and intervened in the way they did. All of us send our solidarity to Gaelscoil...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I believe Deputy McDonald is not listening. She is not listening to parents. She is not listening to Dubliners. She is not listening to citizens all over the country. They do not want to hear her playing politics when it comes to an important issue like this.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: They are not interested in that. They do not want to see her trying to score points and improve her poll ratings or looking for heads. What they want is action from the Government so they feel safe on our streets. I want people to be safe and feel safe on our streets. That is why we are responding with more gardaí, better equipment for our gardaí and stronger laws. All of those...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Last Thursday, we experienced two appalling acts of violence on our streets. First, the stabbing of several children and their carer, two of whom remain in hospital as we speak. They are stable, but critical and we pray for their recovery. Second, an ugly far-right protest on our streets led to a riot, looting and serious criminal damage. These events were shocking and unacceptable. It...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has primary responsibility for matters relating to integration. The Social Policy Division in the Department of the Taoiseach supports the whole-of-government approach to integration and related matters through the Cabinet Committee structure.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Climate Change Policy (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out how Ireland will respond to the climate crisis, by placing the delivery of climate solutions at the heart of the development of our society. This Plan includes actions to tackle the mitigation and adaptation challenges posed by climate change. The Department of the Taoiseach prepares quarterly progress reports on the delivery of measures committed to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Climate Change Policy (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Climate Action Delivery Board is jointly chaired by the Secretaries General of the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Membership of the Delivery Board consists of Secretaries General from those Government Departments who have the main responsibilities for climate action delivery. Meetings are also attended by the Chiefs of Staff...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Freedom of Information (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table beneath. Year Number of FOI Requests Received Number of FOI Request Refused 2022 325 107 2023 (to date) 320 79 It should be noted that of the 107 requests refused in 2022, 66 requests were refused on the basis that no records were found...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The amount spent on advertising with RTÉ from 2016 by the Department of the Taoiseach is set out in the accompanying table. The bulk of this expenditure relates to public information campaigns relating to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. All expenditure is placed through a media buying company procured through an Office of Government Procurement framework. - RTE...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No briefings by these organisations have been facilitated by the Department of the Taoiseach, or any body under its aegis, from 2020 to date.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies for their contributions. Deputy O'Sullivan raise the process of buying a house. Approximately 60,000 people a year are buying houses. It is great to see that happen. For a lot of people who I know and who bought a house in the past couple of years, some found the process seamless and others found it really complex and stressful, particularly if they were involved in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That is with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. A decision has not been made on it yet. It recommends changes to the income thresholds, recognising the fact that people earn more than they did before, and also increasing the amounts of grants given, recognising that the cost of construction has gone up. It has not been formally signed off on yet.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do broadly, yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 13, inclusive, together. The Housing for All update and quarter 3 progress report was published last week. This report sets out our priority actions for the coming year as we build on the strong start we have made in tackling the crisis. It is clear that we are making real progress. We can see it on the ground, with new homes and apartments being...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. This block of questions relates to the well-being framework and I am not sure whether many of the issues raised by Deputies relate directly to that. Of course, they are entitled to raise any issue they wish in the House, but it makes it difficult for me to reply. Day services in Saint Michael's House, which Deputy O'Callaghan has raised a number...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the questions asked about the referendum on housing, in line with commitments in the programme for Government and in Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland, the Housing Commission was established by the Government in December 2021 to independently examine and review the housing system in Ireland. The Housing Commission submitted its report, proposed wording for an amendment to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has an obsession with which words are used. It is the same thing.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: They do matter. The Deputy will always need to find a stronger word, no matter what word we use-----