Results 10,841-10,860 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Seanad Reform (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The legislation has been published and it is open to anyone to bring it forward in Private Members' time if he or she so wishes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----on that would be very wise. Deputy Haughey asked about balance. It is essential that we have gender balance, political balance among the groups, geographical balance and balance between big and small as well as between new and old member states. It is very hard to have that level of balance when there are only four jobs but we need to achieve it. President Macron and I are very...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Indeed.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Seanad Reform (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together. The report of the Seanad reform implementation group was noted and discussed by the Government at its meeting on 30 April 2019. The Government also noted that the report includes four statements from various groups outlining why their position was not in line with the recommendations of the report, including Fine Gael, Sinn Féin...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Seanad Reform (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Our intention is to hold the referendum on extending the presidential franchise to Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland and around the world later this year, most likely concurrent with the four by-elections, the writ for which must be moved within six months of the vacancies arising. If four constituencies are going to the polls anyway, it makes sense to have the referendum at that...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Seanad Reform (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----led by a judge. There were also campaigns on the ground and it was passed in one city. Limerick city and county voted in favour of having a directly elected mayor and will now have one. That will act as a demonstration project and other parts of the country will see how successful it is and in time, they will want the same. I would like Dublin and Galway to vote on the matter in 2021...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As Deputy Howlin probably picked up from my remarks on the previous group of questions, my assessment of the characteristics of the new President of the ECB is very similar to the Deputy's assessment. I agree that Mario Draghi has done a very good job in saving the euro and keeping interest rates low. He pursued a policy of quantitative easing when it was necessary. It is still necessary...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps the Deputy asked his question twice because he did not hear what I said earlier. I said that Ireland has indicated that it would be willing to increase its direct contribution from its own resources. It will increase anyway because our GDP is increasing. We are willing to increase the percentage as long as the programmes we support continue to be well funded. We are willing to pay...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Had it been different, I would not have changed my position on it and would have been willing to support a candidate from a different group. The way it is going to work is that, because nobody has a clear majority or anything remotely approaching it, there will have to be a coalition involving three or four groups - the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the Alliance of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----alternative solutions. I am happy to hear them.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: What we did agree at our last European Council meeting was that the position of the head of the ECB should not be considered as part of the package. It is different to the other four posts; it is not as political a post. We agreed that that would not be part of any deal, as it were. I have to say that I think Mario Draghi has done a really excellent job as head of the European Central Bank...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 14, inclusive, together. I attended an informal meeting of the EU Heads of State and Government in Brussels on the evening of 28 May. We discussed the outcome of the European Parliament elections and procedures for the important appointments to the European institutions that fall to be made in the period ahead. We mandated President Tusk to start...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The issue of CAP funding and reform, which was raised by Deputy Michael Moynihan, is going to be our top priority when it comes to negotiating the new MFF, which is the next five-year budget for the European Union. There are different views across the European Union. Some countries believe that we should reduce that budget, invest in other areas and tackle other problems, while some believe...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. On 15 May I travelled to Paris for a series of events co-hosted by the French President, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, and the New Zealand Prime Minister, Ms Jacinda Ardern. These events were part of an initiative spearheaded by Prime Minister Ardern in the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attack on the Muslim community in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The matter was not raised at my recent meeting with the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, but it has been discussed by the Tánaiste and his counterpart, and by the Minister, Deputy Creed. The European Commission has been informed of the matter. Rockall is a rock, essentially a sea stack in the middle of the ocean. It is uninhabitable and uninhabited, and it is not something that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot but I will undertake to come back to the Deputy with some more information. On the proposal for the ex gratiascheme, which is a payment given with respect to the non-disclosure approved by Cabinet some time ago, a judge - I think it is Judge Ó Caoimh - has been appointed and has a team supporting him. I will make inquiries but from the Government side all the work is done and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised that the Minister, Deputy Harris, will be away on Thursday, but is happy to come to the House next week to discuss the Scally report directly and other matters related to health. We are making progress on the smear test backlog. A contract has been signed with Quest Diagnostics, which is one of the laboratories, to do the work. In the meantime, MedLab, which no longer does...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: An Independent Deputy is looking for more money for sport. Sinn Féin is looking for more money for home care. This Government is holding the line on spending and it is difficult.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is keeping the barbarians from the gates.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jun 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I assure the Deputy and the House that the Government is investing public money in infrastructure throughout the State, in every county, province and city. As one travels the country, everywhere can be seen new schools, new school buildings and extensions. They are being built in every county. The sports capital programme is specifically designed so that every county gets a fair share of...