Results 10,701-10,720 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 12, inclusive, together. On Wednesday, 5 June, I was pleased to welcome to Ireland the US President, Mr. Donald Trump, and the US First Lady. The US President and I had a substantive bilateral meeting. It was an important opportunity to enhance further the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the United States - a relationship that is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland's position is that there is no basis for excluding Irish fishing vessels from the Rockall waters. They are EU waters and therefore, Irish fishermen are legitimately pursuing EU fishing opportunities and have done so unhindered for decades. Any concern should be handled through dialogue rather than universal enforcement action. The House will be aware that the Tánaiste...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There is no legislation promised on this and I do not think there is a programme for Government commitment on it. I acknowledge, however, that it is an important issue. The Minister for Education and Skills is not here to answer the question but I will ask him to provide the Deputy with a reply.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. I met First Minister Sturgeon over a working lunch in Farmleigh on Monday, 27 May when we considered how best to maintain and further develop the strong bilateral relations between Ireland and Scotland. We also discussed the latest political developments in the wake of the recent European Parliament and local elections, as...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The heads of the Bill were cleared by the Cabinet last week. The Bill proposes to amend the fair deal scheme to make it fairer for farmers and business owners. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, is now working on the detail of the Bill. I do not have a date yet for it but the Bill is very much a priority.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to offer the Deputy an assurance in this regard. It is not the policy of Government to force people out of private cars. It is the policy of Government to move away from petrol and diesel cars-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I would like to tell the Deputy what the policy of Government is because it is not what he thinks it is. It is the policy of Government not to force people out of their private cars but rather to move from petrol and diesel cars to hybrids and electric vehicles over the course of the next decade. That can be done. People in rural areas can use hybrids and increasingly will be able to use...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I think I answered Deputy Healy-Rae's question before the Minister, Deputy Bruton, had a chance to answer Deputy Brassil's question.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I do not have the information to hand. I think it is a matter for the Minister for Finance. I will ask him to reply to the Deputy directly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I feel Deputy Gino Kenny may have-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid there is not any legislation promised nor any specific programme for Government-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----commitment in respect of that issue. It is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills but I will inform him that Deputy Mattie McGrath raised it and ask him to reply directly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this very difficult issue. Again, there is no legislation promised on this matter nor is there-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----a commitment in respect of it in the programme for Government. However, I discussed it with the Minister for Health this morning and I understand that progress is being made on setting up an external inquiry to establish all of the facts.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised that the laboratory has indicated that it would appeal this case in open court some weeks ago. That was reported in the newspapers at the time. State counsel contacted counsel for Ruth Morrissey last Thursday and Friday, which was before the story appeared in the newspapers and contact has been ongoing since then. That contact should happen in private, not here in the Chamber....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On the appeal itself, it is important to say that because the laboratories have decided to appeal, an appeal is inevitable. No matter what the State does, there will be an appeal.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The State's only interest in this is to protect the financial award made to the Morrissey family-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and to seek clarification on some important points of law-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----the most important of those being the whole issue and test of absolute confidence. Doctors, scientists and cancer specialists have come to us saying that they have real concerns about the test of absolute confidence. They are saying it could undermine our screening programmes and could lead to more false positives and unnecessary biopsies, perhaps even unnecessary hysterectomies and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate the difficulties in this individual case and I am sorry to hear the story the Deputy shared with us. As he will be aware, however, I cannot comment on individual cases because I do not have access to all of the facts. No Minister has the authority to intervene or direct the HSE in individual cases either. The latest update on the medicinal cannabis access programme, dated...