Results 9,761-9,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: If the Deputy wants to talk about young people, let us talk about young people.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Let us talk about those young people. Since this Government of Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance has come into office we have introduced the help-to-buy scheme. That help-to-buy scheme-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----has ensured that 15,000 young people and young couples have been able to raise a deposit to buy their first home.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That has happened because of decisions taken by this Government to support and help first-time buyers and supply is now coming on stream. According to the figures released yesterday, 28,000 new homes commenced in the past year, up significantly on the figure for last year, and 35,000 planning permissions were granted in the past year-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and a good pipeline being granted behind that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy mentioned the daft.iereport and said there were 3,500 properties available for rent on that particular website. According to the website's own report, that is 10% more than this time last year.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge that rents relative to incomes are high, which is a real problem. They have become unaffordable for many, particularly those living in cities. In the Government’s view, the solution is twofold, namely, rent controls and an increase in housing supply. Rent controls which are in place mean that for an existing tenancy, the rent cannot be increased in any given year by...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Behind that, we see a 31% increase in the number of planning permissions. There have been commencement notices for 26,000 new homes in the past year, while planning permission has been granted for 31,000 right behind them. We see a strong pipeline of new housing. This covers social housing for people on housing lists and private housing for people to buy and rent. Fundamentally that is...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Legislative Process (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables below. Table 1: money messages issued 2016 Garda Síochána (Amendment)(No.2) Bill 2014 Parole Bill 2016 2017 Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016 Intoxicating Liquor (Breweries and Distilleries) Bill 2016...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Reports (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No post-enactment reports have been published by my Department since March 2011 as no relevant legislation was enacted in that period.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Consultancy Contracts (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has no contracts with external companies to advise on human resources, public relations, legal, financial or other policy matters.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not occupy any accommodation outside Dublin city.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Freedom of Information Data (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As part of its FOI publication scheme my Department maintains a FOI disclosures log on the gov.ie website containing details of the non-personal freedom of information requests that were granted or part granted by my Department. In keeping with its policy to update the disclosures log on a quarterly basis, my Department last updated its FOI disclosures log in October with details of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising Campaigns (12 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: This current Be Winter Ready campaign is the ninth campaign launched by the Office of Emergency Planning, which my Department supports through it's membership of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning. The campaign aims to assist households in preparing for severe weather, and coping with it when it actually happens. The Government Information Services' role is to provide...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Preparations (6 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We were prepared for a no-deal Brexit in March and in October, or were at least as prepared as we possibly could be. We will continue our preparations for a no-deal outcome in case we end up facing into that scenario again on 31 January. I have said it before but I want to say it again - being prepared for a no-deal outcome does not mean that there will be no disruption. It does not mean...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Preparations (6 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. My Department works closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which has overall responsibility for Brexit. Within my Department, staff across several divisions contribute to the work on Brexit preparedness. Brexit is an important part of the work of the international, EU and Northern Ireland division in my Department,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Government Information Service (6 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: All parties in this House have shown themselves to be very capable and very adept at attacking their political opponents in any way they can on occasion. There is an advertisement up at the moment from a political party which states that I am against democracy and which compares me to Kim Jong-il. I do not get precious about these things so I hope other people do not either. If one is...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Government Information Service (6 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Solidarity-People Before Profit. Legislation relating to the electoral commission is being worked on at present. We expect to have the heads of a Bill next year. We are working on other legislation that will come in before that. That was approved in principle by Government just this week. That legislation will require transparency when it comes to political advertising online. As we all...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Government Information Service (6 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and agree to be candidates. People who might consider being candidates look at the social media of politicians of all parties, read the comments people make about them and ask themselves if they really want to let themselves in for that. That is a problem we face. How we deal with that while still protecting freedom of expression and freedom of speech, which I am committed to, is a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (6 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies. I reassure them that the Government will not take sides in the UK general election. While individual parties might support other individual parties, as a Government, we certainly will not have any role or involvement in the UK election. If there is a conservative win, I would expect the withdrawal agreement to be ratified quickly, allowing us to move swiftly on to...