Results 9,821-9,840 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is quite correct; the number of detox, stabilisation, and rehabilitation beds taken together is 793. That figure comprises 19 inpatient detox beds, 127 community-based residential detox beds, four adolescent residential detox beds, 625 residential rehabilitation beds and 18 adolescent residential beds. We now put more than €100 million a year into addiction services. That...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am very much aware that our emergency departments are very overcrowded today. Indeed, they have been for quite some time. However, there has been a reduction in overcrowding today versus yesterday and we expect that reduction to continue through to tomorrow and Friday. As regards the actions the Government is taking, we are adding more beds to the hospital system. Since 2014, as soon as...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: When one goes to towns such as Enniscorthy and smells the air-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Air quality in such areas is hugely related to the burning of peat and briquettes. In Dublin, it is largely due to diesel cars.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will send it on if there is one. There may not be.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reform (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together. The role of my Department is to assist my work as Taoiseach and to co-ordinate the work of the Government and Cabinet. While there are currently no plans to change the structure of my Department, its staffing needs and structure are reviewed on an ongoing basis. My Department is currently structured around five main divisions: the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reform (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: This Government, made up of Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance, has established a Minister of State for disability who sits at the Cabinet table. This is the first time we have had a dedicated Minister with responsibility for disability sitting at the Cabinet table.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reform (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: When was the last time?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reform (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Did they sit at the Cabinet table?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reform (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I really do not think that is the case. This is the first time we have had a Minister of State at the Cabinet table whose sole responsibility is disability.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reform (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As he works across a few Departments, he is able to co-ordinate the work of the Departments of Health, Employment Affairs and Social Protection and so on.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I state at the outset, in case anyone has any doubt about it, that climate change is real, is happening right now and is man-made, unprecedented and detrimental to human life and well-being both in Ireland and globally. Any benefits that may arise from it are far outweighed, many times over, by the damage it is doing and will do. I said that last Thursday as well. That is why we are taking...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Luas capacity expansion is under way and a new national train control centre has been approved. We have decided to take coal and peat out of the energy system in favour of wind and solar power. We are promoting electric vehicles and changing our bus fleet to hybrid vehicles. We have introduced new building regulations to make sure that new buildings are zero or near zero energy rated....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----in the last couple of months to bring about climate action, something about which we are very serious. On what I said on Thursday, I am happy to clarify that it was, as The Sunday Business Poststated, an observation, not a policy statement. I can see how it was open to misinterpretation by those who may be pursuing a climate sceptic agenda. However, I would like to provide a little bit...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Sorry, on the electric vehicles-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to get that for the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: If there is one, I will get it for the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is fair to say that there-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----are plenty of targets that do not necessarily have an evidence base behind them.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: They are ambitions.