Results 11,721-11,740 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is absolutely committed to providing a second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford. As Deputy Cullinane rightly points out, the decision was made some time ago and the money is in the Estimates. The design team should be appointed and I am exasperated to hear one excuse after another as to why it cannot be done. It should go ahead and do it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Appointments to State Boards (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The council analyses and reports on strategic policy matters relevant to Ireland's economic, social, environmental and sustainable development. In accordance with the National Economic and Social...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The truth is we do not have a single major trauma hospital in Ireland at present. We have our resources spread across 26 different hospitals and the victims of major trauma do not get the service that they should. For example, cardiothoracic surgery is done in the Mater and head surgery - neurosurgery - is done in Beaumont. If a person has both injuries, clearly he or she cannot separate...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that legislation is still being worked on by the Department. I am afraid I do not have a date for publication.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: To the best of my recollection, there was an increase in the number of working hours allowed for school principals. However, I may be wrong. I will ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide the Deputy with a written reply. There was some improvement and there may be a further one planned but I could be wrong.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: First, I am very sorry to hear that Philomena Canning is so unwell. The information I have been given is that a settlement has been offered and the matter is between the solicitors for the HSE and Ms Canning's solicitor. It is not possible for me to intervene in a legal case of this nature but the information I have is that a settlement was offered.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I can only give the Deputies the reply I gave earlier. This is a matter for the Revenue to determine. The Revenue Commissioners are independent and any decision on a deferral is also be a decision for Revenue and not for Government. The VAT rate in Ireland for recognised oral medicines, such as folic acid, is 0% but, for processed foods, VAT applies.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy knows, we have opened the markets to China and Japan. The European Union has just signed a trade deal with Japan so new opportunities and markets are being opened to Irish beef all the time. At the moment, we do not have plans to reopen the embassy in Tehran. This year, we will open embassies and consulates in Mumbai, Los Angeles, Oman, Santiago, Bogotá, Vancouver and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure An Bord Bia will be able to use those resources to promote all of our products, including food products.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know how many times I have to answer the question on which projects have been deferred or re-profiled. I have answered it every Tuesday for the past two weeks, if not three. I do not know whether the Deputy cares what the answer is. I have no doubt that the Deputy and other Deputies will continue to allege that every project that is delayed, for any reason, is delayed because of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I spoke to the Minister for Finance about this last Thursday on foot of the Deputy raising it in the Chamber. The Minister has engaged with the Revenue Commissioners on this but they are very adamant that this is a determination for them to make. It is their decision.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I suggest that the Deputy and I agree a truce for the rest of this session: let neither of us try to score party-political or petty points on any issue, whether it is housing, climate change or transport. I would be happy to agree to that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We will see from the next question asked by Deputy Eamon Ryan whether he is willing to rise to that challenge. I am entirely agnostic regarding a debate on transport in Dublin. While a debate on it in the House would be welcome, I am not sure it would be particularly productive as, to the best of my knowledge, no Deputy is a transport engineer or an expert in this field. Perhaps the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: When the Deputy was in government, the grand plan was Transport 21. We were going to have the metro north, the Luas cross-city, the DART underground and the electrification of the Maynooth and Kildare lines all at the same time.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: A fortune was spent but not one of those projects was delivered. The Deputy will acknowledge, therefore, that his party has a really poor record on transport in Dublin. It promised four major projects, spent a fortune on them and delivered none. The approach we have taken has been much more incremental. The Phoenix Park tunnel is complete and the Luas lines are connected and extended....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----and out to Kildare, which is also not in Dublin.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There is also BusConnects and the metro. None of these projects can be done quickly and we must ensure that we sequence them right and get them right. A public consultation is under way on BusConnects and the metro link. I do not think we in the House have the competency to design the metro link. I know the Deputy has made submissions and the NTA will take them into account. I have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The right thing to do is-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The right thing to do is to listen to people's concerns-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----take into account what communities have to say, amend those plans, as appropriate, and then go ahead and get them done.