Results 11,201-11,220 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: To which page is the Deputy referring?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It does not state that in the recommendations.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Unless it is stated in black and white, I do not see it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to climate change, as Deputies will be aware, the US Federal Government has decided to withdraw from the Paris accords but has not actually withdrawn yet. There are a number of years that it has to wait before it can withdraw, and it may not actually withdraw until after the next US presidential elections. The US has to give notice and the withdrawal only applies-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----in 2021 or 2022, but it has withdrawn in spirit, as Deputy Martin rightly says. Notwithstanding that, many states and many cities in the United States are continuing to take climate action, and have taken the view that not only is this the right thing to do in terms of preventing climate chaos, but they also think it makes sense in terms of long-term economic policies, with future jobs...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We did not have an opportunity to discuss Palestine or Israel on this occasion, but we did last time, specifically in relation to the status of Jerusalem. The Tánaiste, however, is very engaged on this issue. Deputy Boyd Barrett will know that, a few months ago, he organised a retreat in Farmleigh, which was attended by Arab foreign Ministers and EU foreign Ministers. I think he has...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We very much welcome exploratory US efforts to relaunch a process to reach a comprehensive peace agreement. We will be interested to see the proposals when they emerge. We have had no sight of them. We have already said to the US that any proposal must meet the needs of both peoples and not be one-sided. We have also urged President Abbas and the PLO to keep an open mind on these...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together. Cabinet committee E last met on 22 November 2018. A date for the next meeting has not yet been scheduled. However, I met trilaterally with the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to discuss health issues last week. In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and Cabinet...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. I travelled to the United States last month for the annual St. Patrick's Day visit to Washington DC, following which I also visited Chicago. In Washington D.C. I had a series of political discussions and meetings, including with President Trump, Vice President Pence, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputies will know, new bed blocks are under construction-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----in Clonmel and Limerick. These will provide additional capacity for those hospitals. We know from experience, however, that additional beds alone do not make much of a difference. Other actions are also required: better use of smaller hospitals such as that in Nenagh, for example, as Deputy Cahill mentioned; greater efficiency in how beds are used in order that patients do not wait...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Deputy Bruton, is finalising his all-of-Government climate action plan, which will be very much informed by the findings of the all-party Joint Committee on Climate Action. He anticipates bringing the plan to Government in May. Obviously, the most important thing then will be to get on with implementing it rather than just having plans. I am pleased that just in recent days...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I do not have a date for that legislation. The Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Attorney General are working on it but we are running into real difficulties in the context of restricting peaceful protest and free speech. While we all abhor and disagree with the protests being engaged in - at least, most of us do - we enter a difficult space in a democracy when we decide that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: They absolutely do-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and if one is going to restrict free speech and the right to protest in a democracy, one needs to be on very solid ground.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The budget for the fair deal nursing home support scheme for this year is €985.8 million, an increase of more than €20 million on last year. I guarantee the Deputy that it has not all been used up.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot answer questions on letters to individuals that I have not seen.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The funds have not been used up.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: So far this year, 23 new medicines have been approved for reimbursement by the HSE. In 2013, the House concluded that decisions on which drugs should be approved should not be political decisions. Such decisions are, therefore, not made based on political considerations but on medical evidence and the necessity, for all sorts of reasons, to ensure that we pay a fair price. If we pay an...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are no current plans to do as the Deputy suggests. However, it is a helpful suggestion and may be a good idea. After the Grenfell Tower fire, we carried out an analysis to see if we would be equipped to deal with a similar fire. I suppose the same issue arises in respect of some of our heritage properties that may be vulnerable to fire. I will take the issue up with the Minister for...