Results 10,741-10,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----which is, on the one hand, criticising the Government for not containing spending and, on the other - which he does every week - backing the causes of every group.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Those groups cannot trust him or believe him. He cannot be call for spending increases for everyone, every week.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am saying that the matter should go to the Labour Court.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government very much acknowledges the essential work of support staff in hospitals to allow them to operate. As somebody who worked for four or five years in the public hospital system, I know the value of their work. Whether they are healthcare assistants, maternity assistants, porters, laboratory aides or people working in central sterile services departments or as instrument staff or...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy asked that I send a signal, which I am doing now. The dispute should and can be resolved, the strike on Thursday can be avoided and the disruption to patients does not have to happen. The matter can be resolved by referral to the Labour Court, where a decision on the issue can be taken. That is how it can best be resolved. The Deputy asked that I send a signal and I am doing so....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens Assembly (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government recently agreed that a Citizens’ Assembly be convened to bring forward proposals to advance gender equality that: - challenge the remaining barriers, social norms and attitudes that facilitate gender discrimination towards girls and boys, women and men; - in particular, seek to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Rockall Island Ownership (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together. I met with 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 recent latest political developments in the wake of the recent European Parliament and local elections as well as...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Properties (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No land is owned, rented or leased by my Department or bodies under the aegis of my Department now or at any time in the past five years.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Properties (18 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No property is owned, rented or leased by my Department or bodies under the aegis of my Department. The properties occupied by my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office are provided and managed by the Office of Public Works.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is very much on the way. The Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme is continuing to accept applicants. People are drawing down the money, and it is not all drawn down yet.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I think I picked up Deputy Howlin as saying that I criticised the Opposition without discernment, but if he looks back over the record, he will find that I actually was discerning. I specifically mentioned Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin but not the Labour Party, which I acknowledge has a good record in Government in terms of managing the public finances. This was the case not only...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is actually, so Deputy Martin should check it.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: More and more people end up paying the higher rate of tax and that is not fair or right. It is costed at approximately €500 million per year to do that for the tax bands.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am coming to that. It is the norm in other countries. It is the policy default position in many countries. Those countries index tax bands and tax credits. This is something that has been recommended by the ESRI. The ESRI has a report out on the issue today.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: How is it done? According to the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, the fiscal space this year is in the region of €3 billion. In future years it could be higher or lower depending on what happens with Brexit. A total of €500 million out of €3 billion fiscal space is approximately 20%. I was asked whether I would prioritise public services and infrastructure over tax...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I should say again that what I suggested and proposed as policy was to be done over the period of a five-year Government and not in this budget or necessarily in any one budget. I stand over the Government's record when it comes to reducing income tax and USC. We have done both in the past three budgets and I make no apologies for that whatsoever. We have reduced the USC to take more...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That is something I want to change.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will outline what we have done in the past three years, if we add it all up. Income tax and USC reductions have been worth approximately €1,500 per year to the average household. That was a good thing to do. It might not be a vast amount of money, but for a large number of people it is the equivalent of a monthly mortgage repayment, a month's childcare or a month's rent. That...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Functions (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As I mentioned before when referring to housing, approximately 18,000 new homes were built in Ireland last year, including houses and apartments. We expect 22,000 or more to be built this year, and many of those new homes and apartments are affordable. They are not designated as such under an affordable scheme, but they are affordable. There are counties in Ireland, particularly outside of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Programmes (12 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It recommended that we index tax bands and credits and that we index social welfare payments. That would cost more than what I proposed in my policy. The ESRI recommends what I proposed and IFAC did not criticise my proposals on tax. IFAC criticised the Government on spending, which increased by approximately 6% last year, when we should have kept it down to 4% or 5%. This is where the...