Results 10,221-10,240 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Following a Government decision in July, the Cabinet Committee structures were reorganised. The Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Services covers issues relating to Social Policy and Public Services including health and Sláintecare. The Committee last met on 10September, 2019 and will meet again before the year end. The Committee ensures a co-ordinated approach to the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Capital Expenditure Programme (1 Oct 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There has been no capital expenditure by my Department or any agency under the remit of my Department since 1 January 2014.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Civil Service Staff Data (24 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together. The Regulation of Lobbying Act was enacted in 2015. Section 22 of the Act provides that specific categories of Designated Public Officials (“DPOs”) are subject to a one-year “cooling-off” period, during which they cannot engage in lobbying activities in specific circumstances, or be employed by, or provide...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Living Wage (24 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The suggested wage at €12.30 per hour based on the Civil Service 37 hour standard net working week equates to an annual salary of €23,747. Public servants currently on an annual salary of less than €23,747 may be receiving remuneration in excess of the suggested living wage through additional premium payments in respect of shift or atypical working hours or are on salary...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: British-Irish Council (24 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will host the next British Irish Council summit meeting in Dublin in November. The date for the Summit has not yet been announced but will be issued in due course.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together. I met with Ms Arlene Foster MLA, Leader of the DUP, in Government Buildings on Wednesday, 18 September. We discussed issues relating to Brexit and ongoing efforts between the two Governments to restore the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. We agreed to stay in touch on these important issues.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies. In respect of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Julian Smith, I had the opportunity to meet him with the Tánaiste on Monday evening, and I am very much aware of the content of his Cambridge speech. Work is ongoing on restoring the Assembly and the Executive. There is deep engagement between the Tánaiste and the Secretary of State at the moment....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): British-Irish Council (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: In the context of Rockall, First Minister Sturgeon and I and our respective Governments are very keen to de-escalate the issue. Neither Scotland nor Ireland have an interest in coming into conflict over fishing rights around Rockall, particularly given that Ireland and Scotland are currently so aligned on some bigger-picture questions. However, it is the case that in the event of no deal,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. The Tánaiste and I met the leader of Sinn Féin, Deputy McDonald, and Ms Michelle O'Neill in Dublin on 18 June. We discussed Brexit developments, the political situation in Northern Ireland at the time and what could be done to get the institutions in Northern Ireland up and running again. I emphasised the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Regarding President-elect von der Leyen, she was nominated unanimously by the European Council, albeit with one abstention by her own country of Germany. She has now secured the majority support of the European Parliament, and only did so with very strong support from the EPP, to which my party is affiliated, the Group of the Progressive Alliance of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): British-Irish Council (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. These questions both relate to my attendance at the British-Irish Council. I attended the 32nd British-Irish Council summit, which was hosted in Manchester by the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Mr. David Lidington, MP, on Friday, 28 June. I was accompanied by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. I attended the meeting of the European Council in Brussels from Sunday, 30 June, until Tuesday, 2 July. President Tusk convened this extraordinary meeting of the European Council to secure agreement on high-level EU appointments. Our objective, which I believe was achieved, was to propose candidates who reflect the diversity of the EU,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. As they will be aware, there has been a phenomenal increase in resources for mental health in recent years. The budget is now almost €1 billion, if not more. I do not know the circumstances of the particular Jigsaw service the Deputies mentioned. I am at a disadvantage as none of the four health Ministers managed to make it...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. All Government policies are both urban-proofed and rural-proofed because Ireland is both urban and rural. It is wrong to try to set different parts of the country against each other. What has the Government done? It has established a Department of Rural and Community Development, with a dedicated Minister for rural affairs, backed with a fund of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that, as of September, 29 new medicines have been approved for reimbursement by the HSE. I do not have information to hand on the medicine that the Deputy raised but I will say to the Minister that it was raised today in the Chamber. I will ask him to reply to the Deputy in writing.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Finian McGrath, so I will ask him to correspond with the Deputies in a bit more detail. I checked up on it and I was advised that it would not apply to anyone who currently receives that payment but would only apply to new entrants. A difficulty arose in that some people were getting the grant and others were...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I know is of great interest to him, as it is to the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, and I was very affected by what the families had to say in the meeting. It had been intended that the Attorney General would be in a position to make a decision before the summer recess but that was not possible. The last time I checked with him, he...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I agree with the Deputy that this should not happen. These are people who are paying their taxes and PRSI and should be entitled to jobseekers benefit within a week or two, and to have it backdated. If the Deputy wants to pass some of the information around this case on to me, I will make sure the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, looks into it and advises him directly.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that this is an important issue and one that is close to the Deputy's heart, but the best way to raise it would be as a Topical Issue matter to the Minister of State with responsibility for disability services.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, the resourcing and organisation of the Garda are a matter for the Garda Commissioner. When he was appointed the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, and I gave him a commitment that we would support him in making the changes to the organisation of the Garda force he felt were necessary. We fully support him in the work he is doing. The plan he...