Results 11,001-11,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Church-State Relations (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I very much agree with Deputy Eamon Ryan's initial sentiments on this issue and I will consider whether we should include other thinkers in the dialogue in the meeting that is going to happen in July and whether we should precede that with some sort of debate here in the House as well. When I talk about a new covenant, I suppose what I mean is what I said at the time - a relationship in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Church-State Relations (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Sorry - 2019, this year. Given the number of parties and sites involved, it is not possible at this stage to give a definitive answer on some of the key issues, but the school board of management and the Minister of State have asked to meet the building unit in the next two weeks. The building unit has confirmed that this meeting will take place. On the issue of divestment, I am advised...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Digital Strategy Implementation (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 10, inclusive, together. Ireland and the world are undergoing profound change due to the increasing power and rapid diffusion of digital technologies. All areas of our lives are being transformed as these technologies become embedded in daily life, supporting greater connectivity and more personalised products and services. Technologies like...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Howlin gave examples of some progressive legislation introduced by the previous Government - often by himself as Minister - relating to FOI, protected disclosures and the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. In time, people will see how progressive that legislation was, and many people now look to us as an example or world leader when it comes to some of that legislation, particularly...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Church-State Relations (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. As I mentioned during the papal visit last year, I feel it is now time for us to build a new relationship between church and State in Ireland, one in which religion is no longer at the centre of our society but in which it can still play an important part. However, while I say things need to change, I would not like to see...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. In 2018, my Department received 490 freedom of information, FOI, requests. Of these, 111 were granted, 243 were part granted, 46 were refused and no records were held in respect of 70 of the requests. A total of 20 requests were either transferred, withdrawn or handled outside of the Freedom of Information Act. From January...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid that the Minster of State with responsibility for disability is not present to respond to the Deputy’s query, but I will certainly inform him that the issue was raised.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: My heart goes out to the couple affected by these events. It is important to restate on the floor of the House that this is an individual matter. These matters are deeply personal and should be confidential. Although the Deputy may have access to individual medical or other information regarding a particular patient, I certainly do not have access to such information and will not discuss------

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Whether it was reported in The Irish Timesis beside the point. These are personal, private and confidential matters and it is not appropriate for us to discuss them in this Chamber.I am advised by the Minister for Health that steps are being taken to carry out an independent review of the case. Clinical guidelines are normally drawn up by doctors and their professional bodies. I will ask...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There has been a significant increase in funding for health and disability organisations in recent years and an increase of almost €1 billion in the past year. Notwithstanding that, some organisations that provide health and social care services and provide services to people with disabilities have deficits from time to time. A meeting is happening today that will address the Rehab...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid that the Minister for Education and Skills is in the Seanad so I am not able to give the Deputy an update on the actions that are being taken or the progress that is being made in that regard. As the Deputy pointed out, I had the privilege of opening the refurbished Scoil Chríost Rí in Ennis and I am aware that there is a shortage of school places in the Ennis area. I...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We are still finalising the new climate action plan and will publish it in June. As part of our deliberations, it is our intention to agree to carbon neutrality and net zero emissions by 2050. We have a difficulty with signing up to more onerous obligations to be met by 2030 because we do not want to sign up to things that we cannot necessarily achieve. We can do it by 2050. We will...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government joins the Deputy in welcoming the announcement from the Commission that €50 million in exceptional aid is to be provided to beef farmers who very much need it given the collapse in beef prices in recent months. We still have not received the terms and conditions from the Commission and the exact detail of how that scheme will work. We will have to provide matching...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet had a detailed discussion today on foot of a memorandum brought by the Tánaiste on planning for no Brexit deal. I reviewed some of the areas where much progress has been made. The legislation was passed by this House. We now need to put secondary legislation in place in some areas. More work needs to be done on the European health insurance card and Erasmus. We noted...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am disappointed in Deputy Barry's contribution. This is a serious issue. Housing is a very serious issue.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We have a serious housing shortage. We need to deal with that and we are dealing with it. It is very disappointing that the Deputy's only contribution is to engage in personalised attacks, not only on the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, but also on two former Members of this House, one who is not here and one who passed away not that long ago. That is just a cheap shot. It is beneath...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----with which the Deputy and his party take the issue. They only see housing as an opportunity to score points and get votes. I hope they are not rewarded for it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The people will make their decision on who they vote for on Friday. However it turns out, we will all have to take stock of the result. I am quite confident, however, that once again the parties with which the Deputy is associated will get 1%, 2% or 3% of the vote. The Deputy talks a lot about the 1% but he is the 1% when it comes to public opinion in this State.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: To come back to the serious aspect of the Deputy's question, I am very sorry to hear about the case he raised. I do not know the details of it but I am sure what he says is true. I am very sorry to hear about it but I also know that there are many good stories. Some 5,000 families were lifted out of homelessness and provided with secure tenancies in the last year. Some 18,000 families are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----which is a very significant number. About half of those were built by councils and affordable housing bodies and the other half were acquired from developers, leased, or brought back into use having been voids. We need to go higher than that again. We are aiming for 10,000 this year and 11,000 or 12,000 the year after. This is the largest social housing programme that we have had in...