Results 9,581-9,600 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As I said to Deputies earlier, we have an apprenticeship strategy. There has been a considerable increase in funding for apprenticeships in recent years-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and a major increase in the number of people taking up apprenticeships in recent years. There are many new types of apprenticeships. I do not have the numbers in front of me but I will-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Martin did not even ask the question. I am actually responding to Deputy Kenny, so perhaps we could have a little less irritability from him on this one. Deputy Kenny asked me about the EU budget and he is correct to say that the contributions will increase as our GNI increases over the next couple of years. That is factored into our multi-annual projections and is referenced in our...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: However, we do support the permanent structured co-operation, PESCO, to which we have signed up. This House voted by a very clear majority in favour of Ireland joining PESCO. That involves security co-operation and there is lots of scope for greater EU security co-operation. Operation Sophia, under which our navy participates in operations in the Mediterranean is one example, as is the EU...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On the question of how long it will take to negotiate a future trade agreement between the EU and the UK, it is hard to know. Nobody can know for sure how long it would take to negotiate such an agreement. Of course, there is a difference between negotiating a future trade agreement and actually ratifying it. We may well be able to negotiate it in a short period of time, but it would have...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have two more questions to answer and am happy to do so.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the Golan, the Government's position is, as it always has been, that we consider them to be illegal. We do not recognise Israel's attempt to annex any of the territories occupied in 1967 or thereafter. According to the current treaties, however, the EU can only act on foreign policy matters by unanimity. There is not a unanimous position in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 11, inclusive, together. The Climate Action Plan 2019 was published on 17 June 2019. The plan contains 183 actions, broken down into 619 individual steps, which Ireland needs to implement to meet our EU 2030 targets and achieve our long-term low-carbon transition objective. Delivering such an integrated set of actions requires a deep level of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Regarding the EU budget, which was the first item I was asked about, our contributions are going to increase over the next couple of years. They are linked to GNI, the size of our economy.

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I might get into it if Deputy Micheál Martin gives me more than ten or 20 seconds. I am sure somebody asked me about that. It is very difficult to write down the questions as quickly as they are asked, so my apologies if I picked up anyone's questions wrong. I was not able to write them all down, so I beg Deputies' forgiveness and forbearance for that. I was asked if it was factored...

Ceisteanna - Questions: EU Meetings (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. As the House is aware, I attended a meeting of the European Council on 17 and 18 October at which I engaged with the leaders of other member states and of the EU institutions. We were briefed by the new President of the European Parliament, Mr. David Sassoli, and the incoming President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is correct. A lot of what she referred to is being done. She will be aware, on foot of the winter plan published last week, that additional resources are provided for home care, for the fair deal scheme and for aids and appliances. This will enable more people to get home from hospital and more people to be discharged sooner, thus freeing up hospital beds for patients who are...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I can confirm that the legislation, which relates to the fifth EU money laundering directive, is due to be introduced during this session.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As Deputy Michael Moynihan stated, I do not have the details of the case in question, but I am sure the family would like to have their loved one home before Christmas. That is what the HSE and the Government would like too. Under the law, the Minister is precluded from making directions in individual cases. If, however, the Deputy passes on the details to him, he will certainly make inquiries.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Dr. Scally was correct in his remarks. The programme for Government contains a commitment in respect of the introduction of a no-fault vaccination compensation scheme. Mr. Justice Charles Meenan is looking at those issues and we expect his report in the coming weeks. It would make a lot of sense to have a no-fault scheme, as many other countries do, for errors where very often there is no...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Chambers's question jars with the remarks her own party leader made not too long ago. She is critical of Mayo County Council for underdelivering on its housing targets. Central government is putting the money in place. The budget for housing was €2.6 billion this year.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Between 10,000 and 11,000 homes will be added to the social housing stock this year, more than in any other year this century. If Mayo is not delivering, the Deputy needs to take this up with her councillors and party leader.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Some 11,000 homes are to be added. Why are there none in Mayo?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is not too much to ask but there is little point in asking me about it. If the Deputy wants to organise a meeting with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, I suggest she contact him directly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The budget for 2020 includes €40 million for measures relating to pyrite and mica. The full terms and conditions of the scheme are being finalised. The process has to take account of GDPR requirements with regard to data processing arrangements and the Department's current engagement with Donegal and Mayo county councils, which will operate and administer the scheme. The aim is to...