Results 11,821-11,840 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I do understand these things. The Deputy does not need to lecture me. The Deputy is correct - it is income inequality in take home pay after transfers are taken into account.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It points out also that in terms of income inequality, it has been broadly stable for a very long time in Ireland. Therefore, the narrative that inequality is widening and that poverty is getting worse in Ireland is not correct. The TASC report, CSO data and EUROSTAT data all bear that out. It points out, as Deputy Burton rightly pointed out, that the tax and welfare systems are highly...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is done on the basis of recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission. The United Kingdom already has a living wage, but it is actually lower than the minimum wage here.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The key is not what one calls it, be it a "minimum wage" or a "living wage", because that is not-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: What is important is how one calculates it. I firmly believe that if one calculates it, one has to take into account the views of trade unions that represent working people and those of the public, but one also needs to take into account the views of employers and small business owners. One of the problems with the living wage as it is calculated in Ireland is that employers are excluded...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On the last question Deputy Martin asked, there is a tracker on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website which tracks all the projects, the timelines, when they are happening, which ones are running ahead of schedule and which ones are running behind and are not. The Deputy made a valid point in that construction inflation will not just affect the national children's...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will know by now that it is not my practice to organise meetings in the Chamber. Anyone who wants to meet me can seek a meeting in the normal way and it will be considered in the normal way. Talks were held last Friday in Belfast. All the major parties attended. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was there, as was the Tánaiste. I was not present but the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 to 24, inclusive, together. The economic division in my Department assists me and the Government in developing and implementing policy to deliver sustainable and regionally balanced economic growth and quality jobs, as well as to promote effective planning and delivery of infrastructural developments, including housing. The Cabinet committees and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----when other countries that do the same things are not criticised. What is different or unique about Israel that it is single out for criticism when other countries that do the same things are not mentioned, are absolved or are even supported?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 20, inclusive, together. I travelled to Belfast on Friday, 8 February for a series of meetings with each of the five main political parties in Northern Ireland. I met with the DUP leader, Ms Arlene Foster, the vice president of Sinn Féin, Ms Michelle O'Neill, the UUP leader, Mr. Robin Swann, the Alliance Party leader, Ms Naomi Long, and Mr....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On Brexit, I assure the House that the Government is working towards securing the ratification of the withdrawal agreement including the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and the backstop. I think that is achievable. It may not be achievable in the next few weeks but it is achievable and we are working towards that. On what may happen if there is no deal on 29 March, we must always...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am going through them. That was not the Deputy's first question. In respect of no deal, we are making preparations at the ports and airports. We have control of land that we need at Rosslare and Dublin. We have control of Dublin Airport and will be able to enforce the acquisif we need to at the ports and airports. In respect of land borders, I have said many times in this House that we...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot say before reading the statement and the judgment and I have read neither yet. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Bruton, to provide the Deputy with a fuller reply as soon as he can.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that there are very long delays for people who want to take their driver test in many parts of the country. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Road Safety Authority are working on reducing the waiting time for tests to less than 12 weeks. It is important to say again that the concept of the provisional licence was abolished a very long time ago. There are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 14, inclusive, and No. 110 together. I met with Prime Minister May over dinner in Farmleigh House on 8 February when we briefed each other on our respective engagements in Belfast and Brussels that week. We discussed developments in Northern Ireland and our shared interest in seeing the devolved institutions restored. We also discussed possible...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Having been in Cabinet all morning and in the Chamber all afternoon, I have not had a chance to read the judgment or to hear the statement made by EirGrid, so I am afraid I am not in a position to comment on it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. It is very relevant, as we head into Brexit, that we do all that we can to assist the beef industry to diversify into other markets, including France and the mainland market in the EU. I am aware of the problems in Cherbourg. I will certainly tell the Minister, Deputy Creed, that it was raised here and I will have the opportunity to meet with...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Breathnach probably knows that the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, chairs the task force which was set up to improve mobile and broadband speeds and connectivity around the country. That was discussed at Cabinet this morning. The Minister of State should be in a position tomorrow to publish the report of the mobile phone task force, which will detail some of the actions taking...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Two separate pieces of work are being done on the matter. The tribunal which will be an alternative to court for women who wish to claim medical negligence is being established on foot of the recommendations of Mr. Justice Meenan. It is one of only six items of legislation prioritised for this session. Work on it is progressing well and we anticipate that it will be brought before the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2019)

Leo Varadkar: As Deputies will know, this is not a political decision; it is made in line with a statutory process under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. I understand that the committee met to consider a number of new medicines, including Kuvan, Spinraza and Translarna. The committee must consider the evidence as to whether a drug is effective; if so, how effective; and whether...