Results 9,861-9,880 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will give the facts if I am permitted to do so. There has been an increase in staffing levels by grade since September 2018, or this time last year.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Since this time last year, we have recruited 125 more consultants, 189 more registrars and 301 more clinical nurse managers, who would have been called ward sisters or senior nurses in the past. There are 143 more nurse and midwife specialists and 111 more staff nurses and midwives. Since this time last year, a considerable number of front-line healthcare professionals-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I suggest that the Deputy's own lack of practical knowledge of the health service, health policy and how it works is what gives her reason to believe that there are easy solutions to complex problems such as this, which Governments of all parties have struggled to deal with for many decades. If she wants to talk to somebody about it, she should talk to her party's deputy leader, Michelle...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government will do everything it can to improve access to our hospitals and reduce overcrowding. That involves providing more beds, which is being done. We are up to 11,000 beds now, which is back to where we were ten years ago in terms of acute capacity in our hospitals. We have more doctors in our health service than ever before and 600 more nurses than this time last year....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I do not need to imagine the scenario that Deputy McDonald speaks about. I am a doctor by profession. I worked in the public health service for seven years. I worked in three emergency departments and visited all of the other emergency departments during my time as Minister for Health so I fully understand what the experience of an overcrowded...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am not in a position to answer questions on behalf of the Garda Commissioner or the Garda. The Deputy would have to put that question directly to them and I am sure they would be happy to answer it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy knows, a statutory agency would require legislation both north and south of the Border. That may be impossible currently for the various reasons that the Deputy knows.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It could take much time. We need practical co-operation between the PSNI and the Garda. Perhaps there could be a joint investigation; I discussed this with the Garda Commissioner and he said he would examine the practicalities of doing this. That can be done quite quickly. We need more resources in the Border region for the Garda, and that is being done. An extra 100 gardaí have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I say again that the threats made to the directors of Quinn Industrial Holdings are totally unacceptable, as is the violence perpetrated against Kevin Lunney. It is a question of the rule of law. Law and order must prevail in all parts of the country. I met the Garda Commissioner, with the Minister for Justice and Equality, on this matter only last week. I spoke to John McCartin twice on...

Death of Mr. Gay Byrne: Expressions of Sympathy (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Ar son Rialtas na hÉireann, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh faoi bhás Gay Byrne, an craoltóir ba mhó tionchar i stair an Stáit. Bhí ardmheas agus gnaoi ag an bpobal air mar chraoltóir a chuir feabhas ar an saol agus ar sochaí na hÉireann i slite éagsúla. Ar an raidió agus ar an teilifís, thug sé guth ard do...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Meetings (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Israel and Palestine was not discussed at the most recent European Council meeting on 17-18 October. International matters are generally discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council. The wider Middle East was last discussed at an informal Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Helsinki on 29-30 August 2019.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Legal Cases Data (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There were no financial settlements reached by my Department or any statutory body under my remit in the past five years.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 to 76, inclusive, together. There is one computer in the Department of the Taoiseach that uses the Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System. This computer is used for an internal system and is scheduled to be replaced in November 2019 with the supplier of that system. The provision of modern, appropriately secured and appropriately supported computer operating...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are currently 221.5 whole time equivalent staff working in my Department. All staff are paid above the current national minimum wage rate of €9.80 per hour.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts Data (5 Nov 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Under Department of Finance Circular 40/02, my Department makes annual returns to the Comptroller and Auditor General in respect of contracts above a €25,000 threshold which are awarded without a competitive process. Contracts awarded without a competitive process are not necessarily non-compliant with procurement guidelines. Details of contracts/purchases of more than €25,000...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (23 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Burton is probably correct. In fact, I am sure she is correct. I thank her. Regarding the Common Agricultural Policy, my assessment is that it is possible to ensure that it is fully funded for the next period. The Commission is proposing a 5% cut. Our objective is to get that cut reversed. I am not sure we can achieve that but that is going to be our negotiating objective for the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (23 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It was. She was successful in getting a rebate but she got it for other countries too. Now that the UK is gone the question is if the rebate should continue. Then there is the whole issue around own resources; 80% of customs duties go straight to the EU budget. There are suggestions about a plastic tax or perhaps some other EU-wide taxes that could fill the hole in the budget, which we...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (23 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Howlin is correct; that did change, but it is not part of the withdrawal agreement, and it can change again depending on the composition of the UK Government. That was always the case. The Prime Minister, Mr. Johnson, is taking a different approach to the future relationship to the previous Prime Minister, Mrs. May, and a future Government may take a different approach to the...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: At the outset, I congratulate Deputy Haughey on his recent promotion.

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (23 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the meeting of the European Council in Brussels on Thursday, 17 October, and Friday, 18 October. We began on Thursday by meeting the new President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, and we heard about his priorities for his term. We then discussed Brexit, first with Prime Minister Johnson, and then in Article 50 format, that is to say, as 27 member states. Over dinner,...