Results 8,921-8,940 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Ms Doherty, is not here but I am sure she would be happy to provide a briefing to Opposition Members later on today. That is not a problem but I wish to clarify that it is the intention of the Government to extend the pandemic unemployment payment beyond 8 June and the wage subsidy scheme as well. The Government has yet to make a decision on to when they are extended but that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Sorry?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I was distracted momentarily by my phone.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: For clarity, this is an Estimate which is being presented to the House on a no-policy-change basis. If any changes are to be made to the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, in future, the Government has not made that decision. Like many Estimates in the past, this allows the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to continue to pay all social welfare payments - pensions,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure that can be arranged but it literally is that simple. Nobody is being asked to vote for any legislation or change to the pandemic unemployment payment. No decision has been made on that by Government. This is an Estimates motion to allow the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to continue to pay pensions and other welfare payments from 8 June because if it is...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Health provided the information outlined in the correspondence of the 29thApril 2020. I understand the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommendation to expand testing capacity to 100,000 tests per week is recorded in the minutes of 17thApril 2020. The NPHET provides direction, guidance, support and expert public health advice on responding to COVID-19 in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As I set out in a PQ reply on 20 May, I spoke with the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday 15 May. We discussed the general Covid 19 situation and our respective experiences in seeking to contain the virus and manage its impacts. We shared information on our respective plans to start easing restrictionsas well as our respective approaches to related travel restrictions. We also...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: On 14 May last I met (by video conference) with representatives of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly to share thoughts on the reopening of places of worship over the course of the summer. The Church shared information on the work that is being done at all levels to develop a national church plan for the safe...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (27 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In the past three months the main focus of the Government has been on the Covid-19 crisis. In that time there have been 22 Government meetings and the Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 has met five times - 9 March, 16 March, 2 April, 16 April and 20 April.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (27 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Charity in question has not confirmed with me the board members of a company, nor would I expect it to. Governance of Charities is the responsibility for the Charities Regulator which is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions under Section 14 (3) of the Charities Act 2009. Síle de Búrca 0872846235 Miriam Dollard 0876086785

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Rent supplement is means-tested. I think everyone in the House appreciates that. Rent supplement is not provided to people who can afford to pay their own rent or mortgage or buy their own home. If we were to extend rent supplement to any group that does not need it for financial reasons that would be a big policy change and an expensive one and I am not sure it would be the right course...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge that financial abuse can be part of the abuse that people who suffer domestic violence face, both men and women but mostly women. The solution is probably the urgent needs payment, which is available under the social welfare code.

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I read the letter that she alerted me to and I have replied. Actually, I have received many letters from parents of children with autism, with intellectual disabilities, with behavioural problems. I know they are really distressed. I am concerned about their welfare and I know they are, too. They may not have a powerful lobby, but they do have a voice at Cabinet....

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The decision made by the Government on foot of advice from NPHET back in March was that schools would close - all schools, including special schools - so I cannot give the Deputy any commitment now about them reopening. I would love to see it happening if it can be done, but it would require public health advice from NPHET and the co-operation of staff and unions. I am sure that will be...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy knows, it is my practice not to arrange meetings in the Chamber. I do not think that is fair to people who do not have a Deputy who can seek an appointment with me in the Chamber, so any request for meetings will be considered in the normal way.

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I join the Deputy in welcoming the establishment of the tourism recovery task force, which is under the chairmanship of Ms Ruth Andrews, whom I worked with when I was the Minister responsible for tourism. I know she will do a really great job. I remember when I was Minister with responsibility for tourism many years ago, the sector was going through a very bad patch but recovered very...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to check that.

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: This is something I have spoken about before. As I understand it, the most recent advice from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is 2 m. The distance of 2 m is used in the United Kingdom and mostly across Europe as well. I see in other countries like Australia and New Zealand they are talking about 1.5 m. I see that the World Health Organization is talking about 1 m....

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The funding has been released by the Department of Health to the HSE. If there is any problem with the funding, I have not been informed of it. I know there is a delay in getting the works done but I will check with the CEO of the HSE today whether there is any difficulty with the funding.

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Shanahan for his remarks. In particular, I echo his words of thanks to that great Waterfordman Dan Mulhall, our ambassador in the United States, who has done a lot of work getting people safely home. As the Deputy is probably aware, my Department is made up of 150 civil servants. While they are great people, I am afraid they just do not have the wherewithal to take on the...