Results 9,321-9,340 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Strategy Statements (10 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The details requested by the Deputy on the progress of reform measures outlined in Appendix 1 of my Department’s Strategy Statement are set out in the 2019 Annual Report on the Programme for a Partnership Government. This report is available on the Gov.iewebsite.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that no promises were made to Independent Deputies in return for votes on the confidence motion and there is nothing to publish. However, Independent Deputies and plenty of Opposition Deputies are in touch with Ministers all the time looking for help on issues and we try to help them as best we can. As the Deputy stated, the statement of strategy will expire at the end of this...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----Private Members' Bills. I pay tribute to Deputy Micheál Martin's reforming zeal and self-congratulation in that regard. It is also worth saying there are 300 Private Members' Bills in the system. Most of them do not require a money message. Probably only about 50 of the 300-----

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----require money messages. In some cases, money messages have not even been requested. I have seen suggestions that there are 40 or 50 Bills awaiting money messages. However, a money message must be requested first and the matter is then processed by the Department before a decision is made. It is all covered under Article 17.2 of the Constitution, which states that a Bill which...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----would be substantial. The second ground relates to whether a Bill is unconstitutional. Some legislation put forward is unconstitutional. On the advice of the Attorney General, I cannot grant a money message for legislation I know to be unconstitutional.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The third ground relates to whether the legislation is contrary to European law or international treaties. Again, I cannot sign a money message for legislation that is contrary to European law or to international treaties to which this country is a signatory. The fourth ground relates to circumstances where the Government is introducing legislation that supersedes a Private Members' Bill....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have been there on the odd Sunday night in recent times not too far from here. I am happy to confirm once again there is no threat to bingo halls or bingo nights. The change in the law is to require operators to give 25% of the money to charities, as they are supposed to. There are some large, profitable and commercial bingo halls that have not been giving any money to charity at all or...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. My Department assists the Taoiseach and the Government, including the Independent members of Government, through the Government secretariat, the programme for Government office, the Cabinet committee structure, and the parliamentary liaison unit. As outlined in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2016-2019, these business...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): British-Irish Council (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to the British-Irish Council it has not been the norm for the UK Prime Minister to attend since its inception. I think that Mr. David Cameron may have attended one of the meetings, perhaps in London, or a few during his term of office, but it has been the norm since its inception to send a different senior Cabinet minister to attend the British-Irish Council to represent the UK...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation Expenditure (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I can be shorter than that on this occasion. This is a commission of investigation and I need to be careful what I say about it. I answered a question earlier with regard to former Deputy Dara Murphy. I can confirm, however, that the Standards in Public Office Commission can investigate a former Member in relation to his or her conduct as a Member. The former Deputy, Dara Murphy, has said...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): British-Irish Council (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 6, inclusive, together. I was pleased to welcome the administration heads from Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey and the British Government to Dublin for the 33rd British-Irish Council on 15 November. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the inaugural meeting of the British-Irish Council, BIC, and it was agreed that the council...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation Expenditure (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Following consultations with the Opposition parties by the then Minister for Finance, the IBRC commission of investigation was established in June 2015. The commission is entirely independent in its work and Mr. Justice Brian Cregan is its sole member. The commission was originally due to issue its final report by the end of December 2015 at an estimated cost of €4 million,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Deputy Zappone, is currently looking at this issue. I will ask her to contact the Deputy about it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry, is the Deputy referring to the DeSouza case?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There is nothing about that in the withdrawal agreement but it is something we are taking up with the British Government. The British courts have made a distinction between being able to identify as British, Irish or both and being a citizen of Britain, Ireland or both. We do not agree with that interpretation. I have taken this matter up with the Prime Minister and the Tánaiste has...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to check this out as well. The legal position may or may not have changed since then. While I have been around the table, we have never been involved in operational matters involving RTÉ, about where it locates its staff or anything like that. I am not sure we would like to get into that space either. Perhaps the legislation has changed since then but I am interested to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----but it is interesting that that was possible in the past.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised that this matter is currently under negotiation between the IPU, which represents pharmacists, the Department of Health and the HSE. Hopefully, we will be able to make an announcement on that in the next few weeks.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the terrible impact low beef prices are having on the incomes of our beef farmers. I really hope we will see prices rise in the next few weeks, at least to the European average which they had been at previously. The Deputy will know the Teagasc farm report shows that farmers’ incomes fell precipitously in 2018 and while they recovered a bit in 2019, they have not...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. I assure them that bingo is just as popular in urban Ireland as it is in rural Ireland.