Results 11,601-11,620 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We are doing things in the real world that help people to buy their first homes. We have helped 10,000 people to buy their first home through the help-to-buy scheme.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We have helped 10,000 people. While Deputy Martin was wagging the finger, we actually did it for 10,000 people.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to the Rebuilding Ireland home loan, 575 people have been helped to buy their first home-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and 1,000 more have been approved, many of whom will go on to buy a home.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: They have six months before the loan approval expires.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: When the Rebuilding Ireland home loan was announced, we said that the scheme would be capped at €200 million and would run for three years.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Notwithstanding the fact that the Opposition has falsely claimed that it has failed, it has actually been a real success. There has been enormous uptake-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and we now need to do two things. First, we must consider whether we can lift the €200 million cap. We must find the finance for that, by the way.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The money will have to be found, as is always the case. Second, we must consult the Central Bank.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. This is a Government that believes in the view that everyone has the right to shelter and everyone should be able to aspire to buy his or her own home.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We are a Government that is very committed to home ownership and that has taken many actions in recent years to assist people to buy their own homes.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Take, for example, the help-to-buy scheme, whereby people can get some of their income taxes back to help fund a deposit. So far, 10,000 people have used the help-to-buy scheme to help them get a deposit to buy their first homes. Ten thousand people today are living in homes that they were helped to buy by the help-to-buy scheme.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme is another way in which we are assisting people to buy their first homes. It is open to-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----single people with an income of €50,000 or less and couples with an income of €75,000 or less where they have been refused a mortgage from the bank but could pay that mortgage back with this product because it is at a fixed low rate. It has been very popular. So far, 575 people have been helped with buying their first home with a Rebuilding Ireland home loan and a further...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seanad Reform (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Seanad Reform Implementation Group chaired by Senator McDowell submitted its report to me on 20 December 2018. The Report was also published online and copies of the report were distributed to all members of the Oireachtas. The Report will be considered by Government shortly.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Mayoral Election (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have proposed that a Dublin Citizens’ Assembly be specifically convened to consider the issue of directly elected mayors for Dublin and the form that this should take. This would be part of a comprehensive local Government Reform report brought to Government by the Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government, Deputy John Paul Phelan. Work is currently underway in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Economic Policy (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The annual European Semester cycle is the framework to enhance economic and fiscal policy coordination at EU Level. As part of the Semester programme, Member States submit a National Reform Programme (NRP) to the European Commission by mid-April each year. This report covers progress in response to the country-specific recommendations received in the previous year’s semester, as well...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Negotiations (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I last met with Prime Minister May on the margins of the EU-Arab League summit in Egypt on Monday 25 February, where we discussed the recent developments on Brexit. We did not specifically discuss the possibility of a second referendum on Brexit in the UK. I also used the opportunity in Sharm el Sheikh to speak informally to Presidents Tusk and Juncker, as well as to a number of my EU...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Transport (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The helipad on Government Buildings has not been used since the 1990s. There are no plans to use the helipad in the near future. There have been no maintenance costs incurred in relation to the helipad while not in use. There has been no assessment undertaken on the suitability of the helipad for use by modern aircraft.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: International Summits (5 Mar 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the first ever Summit-level meeting between the EU and the League of Arab States, which took place in Sharm El Sheik on 24 and 25 February. At the meeting, leaders agreed to deepen Arab-European ties to enhance the stability, prosperity, and well-being of the two regions. We also agreed that stronger regional cooperation is important if we are to find solutions to common...