Results 10,581-10,600 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: As I pointed out, the public sector pay bill is now at a record high. It comes to approximately €18 billion a year. There is enough to build a children’s hospital every two months. We have set aside €400 million for public sector pay increases this year. Anyone who is drawing equivalence with the national children’s hospital or the national broadband plan needs...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which is very much a priority for Government as we seek to respond to the many wrongs of the past, including the institutionalisation of so many of our citizens. As the House will be aware, on 16 April, Government published the recommendations of the collaborative forum for former residents of the mother and baby homes. Government also...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. From my part and that of the Minister, Deputy Zappone, we feel that the establishment of the forum has added to this process. The term the Deputy used is very apt - "nothing about us without us". However, we need to bear in mind that Government committed to consider the recommendations but not to automatically implement all of them. We are currently considering some...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Is mór an pléisiúr dom ómós a thabhairt do Jackie Healy-Rae agus mo dhea-mhéin a ghabháil dá chlann. Ní leor a rá gur pholaiteoir é Jackie Healy-Rae. Bhí i bhfad níos mó i gceist leis. Ba cheann fhine polaitiúla é. Rugadh agus tugadh é i dtimpeallacht na sléibhte agus labhair sé ar son mhuintir...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: They might not appreciate her attempt to appoint herself as their spokesperson. Their union, not the Sinn Féin Party, speaks for them. We should all be very clear about this. The Government's policy on pay restoration across the public service is very fair. It is to start restoring pay for the lowest paid and then to move on to those on middle incomes and then the highest paid....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. Again, in the absence of a question, all I can do really is restate what I said, that the Government wants the strike to be resolved. It was not necessary and the offer made was appropriate. If it was considered that it was not appropriate and that the right place to resolve the dispute was the Labour Court. We are willing to accept a binding determination from the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The answer to the Deputy's first question is "Yes". The answer to the other questions is that the dispute is about timing and the implementation of the additional pay rises. It must be done broadly within budget and we must bear in mind the consequent costs. The Deputy has drawn equivalence with judges, for example, but that is a red herring. I have already explained that public sector...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the Deputy's welcome to my earlier response. I think, as is often the case, he accuses me of things that he does himself. It was interesting to hear the Deputy say that the cost of resolving the health sector dispute today would be only €3 million or €4 million but, of course, that is not true.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That would be the cost in year one, rising to €15 million or €16 million in year two. That is only phases one, two and three. There would then be phases four and five-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and then there would be knock-on claims. We can all see-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There is a constant pattern of the truth hurting.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The truth really hurts. One of the accusations made by the Leader of the Opposition was that the Government is too willing to allow costs to escalate. I am demonstrating exactly how he would behave in the same way or worse. It is €3 million in year one, €15 million in year two, then phases three and four and all the knock-ons. One needs to take into account the full cost...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I fully understand, appreciate and know the important role that support staff in our health service play in allowing it function. I do not know that because I visited the pickets for a photo opportunity; I know that because I worked in our public health service for four or five years and witnessed that every single day.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Those who are hurting the most are the patients, service users and their families, not anyone here. The Government wants the strike resolved and it can be resolved. All strikes ultimately are resolved. It is our view that this strike did not have to happen. The option of going to the Labour Court still stands.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is willing to accept a binding determination by the Labour Court. The nursing dispute was resolved there, as was the Garda dispute and any number of transport disputes. I again respectfully ask the union to accept a binding determination from the Labour Court and not to refuse to go there.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Sometimes I wonder if those on my benches are too respectful and polite. I am usually shouted down within 20 seconds of getting on my feet.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is the norm for the leaders of Opposition parties to go minutes over time and nobody interrupts them or even asks them to respect Standing Orders or to respect other Members of this House.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is disappointing. Regarding the Deputy's question, to the extent that there was one, I have no doubt that those on strike appreciate the Deputy's support and solidarity. She supports every cause, every week, and then moves onto the next one.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We should always recall that the objective is to provide high-speed broadband to more than half a million homes, farms and businesses in rural Ireland at the same speed and cost as for people in urban Ireland. That is an objective that all of us in this House share. We should not forget that Eir took part in the process and made an initial bid for €2.7 billion, which was higher...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (26 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet Committee E last met on 22 November 2018. A date for the next meeting has not yet been scheduled. In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and of Cabinet Committees, I often meet with Ministers on an individual basis to focus on particular issues. In this regard, I meet regularly with Minister Harris to discuss issues relating to our health service. This year will see the...