Results 10,541-10,560 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised that the level of home ownership fell faster under Fianna Fáil than it has under the current Government. It is worth referring to that point. We really should not forget from where we are coming. We should not forget what happened ten to 12 years ago on Fianna Fáil's watch. When Deputy Micheál Martin's party was in office, we had a boom-and-bust cycle in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The banking sector collapsed and was unable to lend people mortgages for a prolonged period.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We had, on Fianna Fáil's watch, ghost estates, Priory Hall, problems with mica, hundreds of thousands of people in negative equity-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and hundreds of thousands of others in mortgage arrears. Deputy Micheál Martin is not in a position to lecture or advise anyone on housing.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The answer to Deputy McDonald's question is "No". We negotiate public sector pay with the trade unions. That is done under the terms of pay deals that happen periodically and that do not require legislation. We have a pay deal with the public service trade unions. When that comes to an end, I imagine that we will have another pay deal with the public service unions. That is how we...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The national minimum wage is calculated by the Low Pay Commission, taking into account the views of workers and unions and also employers in the business sector. It is now the second highest in the European Union. Far from being behind the curve, we are well ahead of it. We have the second highest national minimum wage in the European Union. Even when one accounts for the fact that we...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government acknowledges the enormous challenges we face as a country when it comes to housing. All of us feel particularly strongly about the fact that there are families living in emergency accommodation. While the family hubs are much better than hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation they are by no means a long-term solution. It is our objective to reduce the number of families...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----for those who are not able to own their own house. That is why we need the private market so that people can purchase and own their own homes. I want that 70% home ownership to be a reality for people in the 20s and 30s. As to what are we doing about it, there is the help-to-buy scheme which has already benefitted 10,000 people, mostly people in their 20s and 30s, helping them to get...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (2 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The breakdown of costs paid to date by my Department for the visit of President Trump, in June of this year, are as set out below: Staff travel and subsistence €4,556.72 Hotel costs (staff) €1,000.00 Gifts presented €344.10 Further invoices are expected in relation to this visit, which include provision of media facilities at Shannon Airport, catering and additional hotel...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Reviews (2 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are no live studies, reviews and research being undertaken or commissioned by my Department. The Deputy may wish to be made aware that the National Economic and Social Council is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The Council analyses and reports on strategic policy matters relevant to Ireland's economic, social, environmental and sustainable...

Post-European Council: Statements (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I attended a series of meetings of the European Council in Brussels on Thursday, 20 June, and Friday, 21 June. On Thursday, we met all 28 European Union, EU, Heads of State or Government, to discuss a wide range of issues. We adopted the new EU strategic agenda for 2019 to 2024, and had a substantial exchange on climate action, as well as the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will do my best. I do not have any direct involvement contact with the parliamentary liaison unit but I understand its main involvement is with Ministers rather than Deputies. It was established to perform a liaison function to help Ministers to be properly informed of the new responsibilities and procedures in the Thirty-second Dáil. In this regard, the main focus of the unit is to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The 11 do not include legislation superseded by Government legislation with the same objective. It is much higher if they are added. Article 17.2 of the Constitution requires a money message for any vote, resolution or law to be passed by the Dáil involving the appropriation of revenue or any other public moneys. The memorandum of understanding, MOU, between the Government and the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Howlin asked about the number of modules so far. Only one module is currently being dealt with, namely that on Siteserv. I think there are 20 or 30, off the top of my head, but I will have to double check.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: One is not yet complete and there are 27 yet to begin. The commission was established by the Oireachtas, largely on foot of demands from members of the Opposition. It is independent and is not being run or directed by the Government in any way. The time it is taking and the rising cost of the investigation demonstrate the real difficulty in carrying out inquiries into what are ultimately...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. The parliamentary liaison unit, PLU, was established in 2016. There are currently 3.5 whole-time equivalent staff working in the unit: one principal officer, 1.5 higher executive officers and one clerical officer. The make up of this current Dáil and the new procedures that have come into place as a result of Dáil reform...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----notices to quit from the private rental sector and issues around migration, for example. There is no Government that can predict the number of people who will enter into homelessness, any more than we can predict how many families will break down. What we can predict is the number of houses that will be built, particularly the number of houses that will be built by Government. We...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Following consultations with Opposition parties by the then Minister for Finance, the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, IBRC, commission of investigation was established in June 2015. The commission is entirely independent in its work and Mr. Justice Brian Cregan is its sole member. The commission was originally due to issue its final report by the end of December 2015, at an estimated...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. When the programme for Government mentions building fair and inclusive prosperity, there are a number of things which the authors, including me, had in mind. The first was that we would get to a point where there would be employment for anybody who wants it, and we are quite close to that point now, with unemployment down to 4.4%. We are...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Programme for Government (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Government recently approved its third programme for a partnership Government annual report, which provides a comprehensive analysis on progress since May 2018. Since its formation in 2016, the Government has been working in a unique political environment in the spirit of partnership to deliver our ambition for a better...