Results 11,761-11,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Without a doubt, being the Minister for Health is one of the toughest jobs in government.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is also one of the most important jobs in the country because it affects so many lives. It is also good experience for higher office. It helps one to understand what a crisis is and what it is not and how to deal with many at the same time.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is noteworthy that three of the four main party leaders in the Dáil are former Ministers for Health. The other Member who is proposing this motion has never held ministerial office and has no real understanding of the day-to-day dilemmas faced by Ministers-----

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----whether it is being pressurised to act before one has full and accurate information, or being expected to make decisions before one has the time to consider all the options, and having to choose between two or three imperfect choices, knowing full well that no choice will satisfy the critics. 5 o’clock If the Deputies in Sinn Féin had any real experience of running a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am glad that Deputy Micheál Martin took the time to study the website and spreadsheets. I have not done it myself for some time. It is clear that they are out of date and need to be updated and I will see to it that is done.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Obviously I was wrong. I should have checked them. We will get them updated; they should be updated. In respect of the impact Project Ireland 2040 and the national development plan, NDP, will have on climate change we estimate that implementing the NDP will get us approximately one third of the way to meeting our climate change targets. The rest will have to be met through measures...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Yes of course there are people who will argue that some aspects of the national development plan will contribute to climate change such as, for example, the expansion under way at our regional airports and at Dublin Airport, and the roads programme such as the construction of the motorway between Cork and Limerick. I would argue that we need to balance economic development and social need...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, together. Cabinet committee D works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the delivery and ongoing development of policy on infrastructure investment and delivery, housing and climate action. The committee last met on 31 January and the date for the next meeting is to be scheduled. Significant work is under way across each of the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I agree with Deputy Micheál Martin's comments about the vital role that the clergy, the Catholic Church and other churches played in helping to bring about the peace process in Northern Ireland. I believe they still have a role to play in that regard in the future. If we end up with a no-deal scenario in a few weeks' time - that is, no-deal without an extension, which I assume is...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. On 25 August 2018 I met Pope Francis during his visit to Dublin Castle. The meeting provided an opportunity for us to discuss several issues. On 22 January, I met representatives of the Church of Ireland and the Presbyterian and Methodist churches in a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process between church and State....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On the initial question Deputy Howlin asked on health, I have not seen any of the emails he mentioned. I presume they are emails between officials rather than emails to which I was a party-----

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----so I am unable to comment on their content. However, the monitoring of the capital plan, the national development plan and the implementation and delivery of Project Ireland 2040 is done by both the line Department or agency that is responsible for a project and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which has overall oversight of the delivery of the capital programme. It is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I record my congratulations to Philip Lane on his pending appointment as chief economist at the European Central Bank.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is a very important role and Mr. Lane will be one of only six people on the executive board. It is good to have an Irish person among the six key decision makers at the European Central Bank. He was a very good appointment to the Central Bank of Ireland a number of years ago. We have not yet had a chance to decide what procedure will be used to select a new Governor of the Central Bank....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The role of the social policy and public service reform division is to assist me as Taoiseach and the Government in delivering on the programme for Government objective of public policies and services which drive a socially inclusive and fair society and to assist in renewing and transforming the public service. The division...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I did not hear the Minister's remarks so I cannot really comment on them. None of those projects is being deferred or delayed as a result of the consequences of the escalating costs of the national children's hospital. They may well be delayed for other reasons but not one euro has been taken from the budget for community nursing units for the children's hospital.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that the heads of Bill are currently being drafted but they will have to be sent to the Mental Health Commission, which will be consulted. This may cause a delay.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am not responsible for the price of beef but I do know that the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, will be in Kerry on Monday and he will meet with the farm organisations on these issues.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The number of patients on trolleys this morning was 326. That is a 20% reduction on this time last year. We know from January that the numbers were at their lowest for maybe three years. It looks like it may be the same for February's figures. Due to the actions taken by Government overcrowding is, thankfully, going down although nobody is denying for a second that it is far too high....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, is working on that legislation and we expect to have it published this year.