Results 10,561-10,580 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot make any commitments in advance of the budget and will not be able to until 8 October. However, it sounds like a good and fair idea that the free travel pass be extended to those 700 people. There may be more to it than meets the eye, but I will certainly have the Ministers, Deputies Regina Doherty and Finian McGrath examine it to see whether it can be done.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: My understanding is that all statutory instruments have to be laid before the House within a particular timeframe, but I will check that out and correspond with the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy raised a pertinent issue. We face labour and skills shortages across the economy in the public and private sectors. Whether it is carers who no longer have caring responsibilities, people in their 50s and 60s or migrants, we should do anything that we can to activate and assist people to join the workforce. Any suggestions that the Deputy has in that regard would be well received.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the Minister, Deputy McHugh, intends to bring that Bill to Cabinet in July.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am very sorry to hear about that case. However, the Deputy will appreciate I am not in a position to comment about individual cases without having all the information and without having the right to waive privacy and all those things of which he will be aware. We all acknowledge, notwithstanding the additional resources and staff, that the current system is just not working, which is why...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to ask the Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, to reply to the Deputy because I do not know the details. However, we ensure that if an appeal is made in somebody's favour, that they receive the payment in arrears. I know that is not much good for someone who is waiting for it, but it ensures that nobody loses out if their appeal is upheld.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I cannot intervene on such a matter. The decision to license a medicine is for the Health Products Regulatory Authority or the European Medicines Agency. The Oireachtas passed legislation to ensure that decisions on which medicines are reimbursed are not political decisions and should be made objectively by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I am not. The Deputy has raised many important issues, including pensions, redundancy, decongregation policy and a question about an individual. I would not be able to do him justice by giving him an answer without having a better understanding of the issues he is raising. If he sends me something in writing, I will ensure the Minister of State with responsibility for...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate this is a very important local issue but there is no legislation promised on it, nor any specific programme for Government commitment.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is best raised as a Topical Issue matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I understand it is intended to take all Stages next week.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have answered questions on this topic this afternoon. Perhaps I can summarise my response. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment wrote to Eir this morning to seek clarity on a number of aspects of what its representatives told the committee yesterday. There is a big gap between the bid they made only a year ago and what they told the committee. Eir made a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Like everyone in this House, I am very concerned about the situation developing in Drogheda. Additional gardaí and Garda resources have been provided. I ask people to support An Garda Síochána in its work and to provide it with any information they have. I thank An Garda for the excellent job it is doing. Any decisions on the deployment of further resources or 24-hour...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure if there is any particular legislation promised or a specific commitment in the programme for Government about the issue the Deputy has raised, but it is important. I will ask the Minister for Education and Skills or the Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues to provide him with a written response.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Like everyone in this House, I am very aware of the pressures beef farmers and the wider beef industry are under at the moment as a result of low prices, competition from other countries, and climate change. At the same time, the industry is heavily protected through trade restrictions and tariffs. It is one of the most subsidised industries in the country. When it came to the trade deals...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I was interrupted, but I am happy to answer it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Again, I am not fully sure what the question was. As I said, we believe the offer made at the Workplace Relations Commission was appropriate. We accept the outcome of the workplace evaluation process. It is about the timing and implementation of the additional pay increase on top of the other increases which are being paid this year. If the issue cannot be resolved at the Workplace...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will appreciate the limitations I am under when it comes to responding to questions about individual cases. I imagine the Deputy is aware that it would be illegal for the Minister for Health to give a direction to the HSE in a particular individual case. There is a reimbursement system in place. I have been advised that the following steps have to be completed when it comes to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On Monday I had the opportunity to meet groups representing the LGBT community to mark the beginning of Pride week. Hate crime was one of the issues they raised with me. I am not sure what the situation is when it comes to Garda monitoring of statistics, but I will have it checked and reply to the Deputy by way of correspondence. The issue of hate crime is being examined by the Department...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am glad that at long last progress is being made on this matter. It is a pilot programme that will run for five years. I recognise the Deputy’s work in helping to bring us to this point, as well as the families mentioned by him. The medical cannabis access programme provides for medical cannabis to be prescribed in three circumstances where a patient has failed to respond to...