Results 11,401-11,420 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Public Consultation Process (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Public Consultation Process (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I disagree with Deputy Burton's criticism of the National Transport Authority's public consultation on BusConnects and the MetroLink. On MetroLink, the NTA has demonstrated how public consultations can take the views of the public on board-----

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Public Consultation Process (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The original MetroLink proposal has been changed because of very strong representations on behalf of Na Fianna from not just me but other political leaders. Accommodations have been made with regard to Ballymun Kickhams and changes have been made in respect of Ranelagh. That is an example of public consultation that was genuine. The NTA went to the public with the plan, listened to people...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Public Consultation Process (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Regarding public consultation on the role of local government, it is something we can certainly consider. We are proposing a major reform of local government, which is the direct election of executive mayors, and people can vote on it on 24 May.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 18, inclusive, together. I had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister May on the margins of the European Council on 21 March at which we discussed the current state of play with Brexit. The Prime Minister outlined the approach she planned to take at the European Council meeting. Prime Minister May explained that she was seeking an extension of the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): EU Summits (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is always good to clean one's own house as well as someone else's.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): EU Summits (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am not condoning anti-Semitism or turning a blind eye to it.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): EU Summits (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I was asked about it.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): EU Summits (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Those were the terms of the question.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): EU Summits (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I was specifically asked by Deputy Micheál Martin whether I met him at the Arab League summit.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): EU Summits (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We did not have a meeting but I did meet him.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Public Consultation Process (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, together. There is only one public consultation currently planned by my Department in 2019 and it relates to the Government's annual national risk assessment. Given that my Department is largely concerned with co-ordination across Departments, it does not generally hold a significant number of public consultations on specific policy...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): EU Summits (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I will do my best. With regard to the EU-Arab summit, migration was of course discussed but it was not the focus of the summit. We were very keen that the relationship between the EU and the countries of the Arab League should not all be about migration. A decision was taken to focus on other issues also. Land aid was not discussed but there was very strong recognition from Arab states...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): EU Summits (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. I attended the summit between the European Union and the League of Arab States on 24 and 25 February in Sharm El-Sheikh. The purpose of the summit was to deepen and extend the partnership between the European Union and Arab countries, enabling us to tackle our many shared challenges more effectively. The summit was the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure there are 479 vacant posts. The Deputy will be aware the when the Public Service Pay Commission examined these issues, it was not able to authenticate claims made either by the unions or the HSE as to how many consultant posts there are, but that is a problem in itself when we do not how many vacancies there are really.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We will talk about that another time. To answer the Deputy Butler's question, from the patient point of view, which is what really matters, we have made considerable progress in reducing waiting times for operations and procedures. We lost some ground as a consequence of the nurses' strike, but the number of people waiting more than 12 weeks for an operation or procedure has been falling...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have any knowledge of this but I will certainly inform the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, and the Minister, Deputy Ross, that the Deputy raised it. I am sure it would be possible to have the travel pass recognised on the LocalLink but it would want a fee for that which would be entirely reasonable. I will certainly inform both the Minister for Transport and the Minister of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That is a roundabout way of asking a question that I get asked almost every day at the moment. That is really going to depend on what happens in the next few weeks, whether we have a deal, and if we do not have a deal, what shape that takes. We are increasing the size of the Garda force, which is now more than 14,000. Civilians are being brought in to free up gardaí, and we are taking...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I do not have the details of the situation in Fethard, but I am sure the Minister for Education and Skills does and would be able to give the Deputy a more detailed reply. We have done a considerable amount of work in the past few years in accommodating and supporting children with special needs. We have more special needs assistants and more special classes than ever before....