Results 10,341-10,360 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Let us not pretend that the objection is to Mercosur, as the far left in Ireland is fundamentally opposed to free international trade. If that policy were to be pursued in this country, hundreds of thousands of workers would lose their jobs and all the others would be much worse off. That is the truth of those policies.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: People need to know that socialism is bad for workers and the environment. The Deputy's comments prove this when we listen to them carefully.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I answered that in reply to Deputy Eamon Ryan. I can give an answer again.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to keep going on the air quality question. This was discussed earlier in response to Deputy Eamon Ryan's question.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am delighted to answer but it is hard to get the answers across if I am interrupted constantly.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I know and appreciate that.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As I mentioned earlier with respect to nitrous oxide, the requirement to introduce action plans falls to local authorities and it is important that they do so, although they will be supported by central government. The actions taken are the promotion of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles-----

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Approximately 15% of those have been bought already this year, and that is an increase on previous years. Deputy Martin's figures on the number in the State might not be accurate as they may not include the vehicles in An Post and Inland Fisheries Ireland, which have bought quite a lot of electric vehicles.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The DAA also has some. The figures may be out of date.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I fully appreciate that but they may not include the vehicles owned by An Post, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the DAA.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The hybridisation of the bus fleet has begun and the first hybrid vehicles have arrived. There are several hundred on order. The rail electrification project is under way and hybrid rail vehicles are now in the procurement phase. There is much investment in greenways and cycling and there is a move away from diesel cars. These are the kinds of actions being taken to improve air quality...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On Deputy Haughey's question about reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, Ireland and I supported it at the EU summit but a number of countries - the V4 countries - could not sign up to that. They worked together on that, largely because they wanted to see a roadmap as to how it could be achieved, and they were not willing to accept the view that carbon sequestration and carbon storage...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, other Departments and other bodies. The model we will use is the same model that was used in the Action Plan for Jobs, with which the Deputy will be familiar. It is almost exactly the same model, which worked well, being used again for climate action with a dedicated unit in my Department to monitor the implementation. The membership of the delivery board includes the Secretaries...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Yes. As well as that, a Cabinet sub-committee deals with climate action and the delivery board will report to us. There are some robust structures in that regard. I anticipate that the sub-committee will meet at least quarterly. On climate justice, Deputy Howlin referred to the ESRI report on carbon tax and how, if it is done properly, it can be progressive. It is a very good report...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No, either here or globally, next year, the year after, or even any year.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We know from the science, however, that a carbon tax will reduce greenhouse gas emissions-----

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----next year, the year after and the year after that. If this is a climate emergency, which I believe it is, surely the sensible action to take is to support those actions that will produce a result next year and the year after. The Deputy is opposed to actions that will produce a result in the short term, locally and nationally, and proposes instead solutions that will not produce a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Four out of 11 is a minority. Eleven countries did not want to support his nomination as President of the Commission, only four of which were V4 countries. His defence of the rule of the law was not an issue for me or for Ireland. I said that to him at our meeting. I am sure that when he continues in his role as First Vice-President, he will continue to pursue those issues. After a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, to 17, inclusive, together. The Climate Action Plan 2019: To Tackle Climate Breakdown, was published on 17 June 2019. The plan contains more than 180 actions that Ireland needs to implement to meet our EU 2030 targets and achieve our longer-term low carbon emission objective. Delivering such an integrated set of actions and policies will require...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Burton. She very kindly mentioned that I am often quoted as being close to particular EU prime ministers, including Mr. Rutte. I thank her for her comments. Over the past two years I have put tremendous effort into building up personal relationships with all prime ministers in the European Union regardless of their political colour because I need them to be on our side when...