Results 11,261-11,280 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That still means that without Government intervention, approximately 540,000 homes, farms and businesses will not have access to high-speed broadband. That is why Government intervention is required. It is not a small number of people and it is not a small number of homes. It is 540,000 homes, farms and businesses and over 1 million people and it will require the laying of 100,000 km of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We are broadly in agreement on this matter. I completely agree that Sports Ireland needs to carry out an investigation in the form of a robust, independent audit of the FAI's finances in recent years. As Deputy Micheál Martin knows, the term "forensic" has two meanings. It can mean in depth and in detail, and I agree with the Deputy if that is what he means by a forensic audit....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I also offer my sympathies to the people of Paris and of France and indeed to all Catholics around the world following the devastating fire which destroyed Notre-Dame Cathedral yesterday. For almost 700 years the iconic cathedral has survived war, rebellions and revolutions, and it will survive this, but the Irish people and the wider Catholic community are heartbroken by the events of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 108 together. I last saw Prime Minister May on the margins of the Special European Council meeting on 10 April. At that meeting, PM May presented her case for a further extension of the Article 50 deadline. The House will be aware that the European Council agreed to an extension of the deadline to 31 October 2019, provided that the UK participates in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has not awarded any contracts to the company in question over the past seven years.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Disability Act Employment Targets (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together. As at 31 December 2017, 4.6% of the staff of my Department and 5.9% of the staff of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) voluntarily and confidentially disclosed a disability. This exceeds the current minimum requirement of 3% for public sector organisations set down in the Disability Act, 2005. Under the Act...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I travelled to the United States last month for the annual St. Patrick's Day visit to Washington D.C., 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, Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressmen Richie Neal and Peter...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Preparations (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: My Department works closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which has overall responsibility for Brexit. A comprehensive set of Government structures has been put in place to ensure that all Departments and their agencies are engaged in detailed preparedness and contingency activities. Within my Department, staff across several divisions contribute to the work on...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Preparations (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I last saw Prime Minister May on the margins of the Special European Council meeting on 10 April. I had spoken to Prime Minister May by phone on the evening of 8 April, when we discussed her letter to Donald Tusk seeking an extension of the Article 50 deadline, and preparations for the European Council Summit on Wednesday 10 April. I repeated to PM May my openness to an extension of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Digital Strategy (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is currently at an advanced stage in the development of a new National Digital Strategy, to help Ireland maximise the economic and societal benefits from digitalisation and its transformative effects. The Strategy is being led as a shared effort by the Department of the Taoiseach; the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; the Department of Business,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Committee last met on 1st April 2019 and was attended by Ministers and Senior Officials from the Departments of Finance; Public Expenditure and Reform; Foreign Affairs and Trade; Justice and Equality; Health; Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Transport, Tourism and Sport; Housing, Planning and Local Government; Defence; An Garda Siochána and Defence Forces. The...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (9 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We might endorse somebody. You never know.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (9 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is following the DeSouza case very closely. I have not raised it personally with the Prime Minister, but I believe the Tánaiste has raised it with his counterparts in discussions. As far as the Government is concerned, the Good Friday Agreement is explicit on this matter. People have the right to be British or Irish or both and to be accepted as such. That applies, and...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (9 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Tomorrow I will attend a special meeting of the European Council in Brussels. This meeting, which will take place in Article 50 format, was convened by President Donald Tusk following the rejection of the withdrawal agreement by the UK Parliament on 29 March. At the last European Council, on 21 March, we agreed to extend the Article 50 deadline until 22 May, provided the withdrawal...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (9 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Picking up on some of the questions I missed earlier, Deputy Boyd Barrett mentioned that the leader of the UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, wants to see dynamic alignment between the UK and the EU when it comes to workers' rights and environmental standards. That is something we would welcome and support too. Part of what the European Union is all about is preventing a race to the bottom....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (9 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 26, inclusive, together. I travelled to Belfast on 1 March to deliver a keynote address at the Alliance Party conference dinner. I emphasised the Government's commitment to being fair and impartial in working with all parties in Northern Ireland and particularly with individuals, groups, civic society, civic nationalism and civic unionism. I met...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (9 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 17, inclusive, together. I was pleased to welcome Chancellor Merkel to Dublin on Thursday, 4 April. We had a very constructive and friendly meeting at Farmleigh House and our discussions focused mainly on Brexit, looking ahead to tomorrow's special European Council meeting. Chancellor Merkel has been a strong and consistent ally of Ireland throughout...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (9 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy McDonald asked me about President Macron's disposition towards an extension. I am always reluctant in this House to act as a spokesperson for a Head of Government or, as in this case, Head of State, of another country. I do not want to misquote or misrepresent him in any way but I think it is fair to say he is certainly open to it. I have no reason to believe, despite some...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (9 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together. I met Donald Tusk in Dublin on 19 March. The focus of our discussions was on Brexit, ahead of the European Council which took place in Brussels later that week, on 21 and 22 March. We exchanged views on political developments in the United Kingdom. We agreed that the best way to ensure an orderly withdrawal and protect the Good...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Education and Skills is currently in the Seanad but I am advised by Deputy Heydon, who is very much across this issue and has been very much engaged with the Minister for Education and Skills on this issue, that those responsible expect to go to pre-qualification of tender very soon.