Results 10,361-10,380 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: It includes the Czech Prime Minister, Mr. Babiš, whose party belongs to the liberal Renew Europe group. There are some issues there too, of which we are all aware.

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

Leo Varadkar: If we are going to have a go-----

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

Leo Varadkar: I do not think we in this Parliament should be having a go at other prime ministers, but if we are to be critical of the V4 as a group, as has happened in this debate today-----

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

Leo Varadkar: -----I do not think any particular prime minister-----

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

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to continue but I was stopped-----

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

Leo Varadkar: -----not by you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, but by interruptions.

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

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to resume.

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

Leo Varadkar: Other questions related to Ursula van der Leyen. It is important to say that she has not yet been ratified by the European Parliament - that procedure is yet to happen - nor has Commissioner Hogan for a second term. I hope the MEPs from Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil will vote in favour of her election as President and for the re-nomination of Commissioner Hogan. I have not spoken...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Before I reply to questions, I made some remarks in relation to sinning priests this time last week on Leaders’ Questions. They caused offence to people. I never intended to offend. I wish to apologise to anyone whom I offended, including the Deputy, and to withdraw the remarks.

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together. I attended the European Council in Brussels on Thursday, 20 June and Friday, 21 June. We adopted the new EU strategic agenda for the period 2019 to 2024, inclusive, in which Ireland’s priorities are well reflected. We also had an initial discussion on high level appointments to the EU institutions, a discussion which...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: 1 o’clock The Government's employment policies have been an enormous success. We see employment at a record high and unemployment at its lowest in over a decade. This includes youth and long-term unemployment. Part of the suite of policies that has made this possible are programmes such as JobPath, the work of the Intreo offices and local employment services. If somebody...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Health is not here but I will ask him to provide the Deputy with an update on that issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister of State is still working on that. It requires new primary legislation to establish a new scheme. That scheme must be affordable from the point of view of the taxpayer so it has run into quite some difficulties. He is still working on that but I cannot give a timeframe for the legislation.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I again thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The Government is very committed to the Adare bypass project and connecting Foynes to our motorway network. I am not aware of any delays in the project but I will check it out with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and get back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I met the Stardust families approximately six weeks ago and was very impressed by what they had to say to me but this is a decision for the Attorney General, who is considering it. I am not sure when he will be in a position to make a decision but I know he is giving it very careful consideration.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that since the programme for Government was agreed three years ago, Jigsaw has been extended in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. The budget for mental health services is now approaching €1 billion, the biggest ever, to meet the enormous need for mental health services. I do not know the exact situation in relation to Clondalkin. That is a matter...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies asking about the capital plan, which is still under negotiation between the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Minister for Health. The non-publication of the plan does not, in itself, prevent capital projects from going ahead. No capital plan at all was published last year, yet the Dunmore wing was built at University Hospital Waterford and new wings were...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I strongly support the extension of the railway to Navan. It would benefit my constituency because services on the Dunboyne line, which crosses through my constituency, pick up passengers there.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Project Ireland 2040 provides for a review and a full costing of this project.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We need to change this and started to do so by increasing taxation on diesel imports in the last budget. We must also invest in greenways, cycle lanes and public transport, as we are doing. As to what is under way, the new bus fleet is arriving, with hundreds of low emission buses on order. Hybrid carriages for the DART expansion project are on order. We are pushing ahead with the DART...