Results 9,921-9,940 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, they are consistent, but they are only projections. What I would say is that, if this current agreement gets through, we will have certainty about North-South trade, in that there will not be any tariff on trade North-South and that there will be no checks on trade North-South. However, it does not give us certainty on east-west trade. That is really important for our economy,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Not exactly because-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----the withdrawal agreement that we had with former Prime Minister May provided for a temporary backstop as a bridge to a future relationship, but it did not provide for a future relationship.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No. Only in the backstop, which was to be temporary, never to be used and to be an insurance policy. There was a single customs territory. It is not the case that the UK Government argued for, sought or had in the Theresa Mary agreement a customs union. That is not correct.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: She actively opposed a customs union, in fact. However, we do have a new joint political declaration on the future relationship. That was agreed last week. Hopefully, it will be agreed by the House of Commons when it is ready to do so. In that new revised political declaration, we talk about having tariff-free and quota-free trade between the EU, including Ireland, and the UK. We also...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----between Britain and Ireland and between the UK and the EU. I think that, if we can get past this current phase, which is the withdrawal agreement phase, the future relationship in trading terms and economic terms between the EU, including Ireland, and the UK is all to play for. One of the things that, if I have the privilege to continue to hold this office, I want to negotiate in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----between the UK and the EU and, therefore, between Ireland and the UK. It will never end. This is just a phase. This phase is the withdrawal agreement phase, in which we want to protect citizens' rights, ensure a financial settlement that is fair and make sure that we do not have a hard border between North and South. I believe that we will have achieved that if the House of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions No. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. At its meeting on 11 June, the Government agreed to the establishment of a Citizens' Assembly on gender equality and noted that a further Citizens' Assembly would subsequently be established to consider the best model of local government for Dublin and, in particular but not exclusively, the issue of a directly elected mayor and...

Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (Amendment) Bill 2017: Referral to Select Committee (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice and Equality pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 141.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3 together. I have had several recent engagements with the Northern Ireland political parties. Most recently, on 8 October, I spoke by telephone to Ms Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance Party. I also met with Ms Arlene Foster, MLA, leader of the DUP, in Government Buildings on Wednesday, 18 September. Previously, I met Ms Long, Mr. Doug Beattie of...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. In the United States people can get their learner permit at 16 years of age. I do not know if that is possible in any European country. I will advise the Minister, Deputy Ross, that the Deputy has raised the matter and I will him them to consider it and reply to him in some more detail.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The legislation is being handled by the Tánaiste and listed for publication this session. It has been brought to the Cabinet.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is not our intention as a Government to review the ten-year national development plan until we are about five years into it. There is provision for a review five years into it. Obviously, we will make amendments along the way and did provide additional funds in the summer economic statement. It turns out that some of it was not actually necessary. We will make modifications along the...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Deputy Ring, is in charge of the fund, as the Deputy knows. I am sure any application from Cork will be treated fairly and considered favourably in the next round.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We discussed Sinn Féin's motion at the Cabinet meeting this morning when we decided as a Government not to oppose it because broadly our policy position is travelling in the same direction as that of Sinn Féin. The Minister has set aside funds in her budget for next year for research into the best models in place in other countries. It may well be a statutory model, but we first...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Following discussions with party leaders, it was agreed that we would hold the by-elections by the end of November. Our intention is to hold them on 29 November which will be the last Friday of that month. That will require us to move the writs the week after the House resumes, that is, the week after next.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising the issue. It a private sector project, not a Government one. The advice is that it could be useful for Ireland when it comes to future energy security. Recognising that we will continue to use natural gas for decades ahead, we are reliant on imported gas through the pipeline with the United Kingdom and gas from the Corrib field. Gas from the Corrib field...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: A terminal on the other side of the country provides an alternative way of bringing gas in. It does not only have to be fracked gas. It could be gas from the North Sea also.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has raised a very valid question. It is intended, by the middle of the decade, to close the Moneypoint plan and remove coal from the grid when it comes to electricity generation. The sum of €6 million announced in the budget is for the midlands, more specifically, the peatlands, including places such as counties Kildare and Longford. It is part of our response to the fact...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, will answer the question in a moment. I am conscious that we were to have the State's apology at 3 p.m. and there are people in the Visitors Gallery and elsewhere. Rather than raising 30 or 40 miscellaneous items, perhaps we might go straight to it and then take questions on promised legislation, if that is agreeable to the House.