Results 12,121-12,140 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, briefed me on the meeting in Belfast last weekend. I know that it was very well attended and it seems to have been a very successful event. I hope if there is a follow-up event at some point in the future that I will be able to attend in person and continue to engage with that important body of Northern Ireland society. Regarding...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----have on a country. Venezuela is experiencing increases in maternal mortality and neonatal deaths, a refugee crisis, abject poverty and the removal of people's democratic freedoms. A number of European countries are taking a stronger stand on this and are calling for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela and for free and fair elections. We want people in that country to have...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps he should travel.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I have no plans at present but a lot could happen between now and September.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Obviously, with regard to the DUP, we listen to and respect its views but generally we have an exchange of views with that party. We do not see eye to eye on these matters. On the future of Europe, I would very much welcome a Dáil debate. I do not know the current position with regard to the statement and will have to check with the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee. She did a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Sure. I agree with the Deputies that Cabinet committees serve a purpose, but my preference is to use the Cabinet itself as much as possible to discuss matters of major importance. Meetings are longer and more frequent than they would have been in the past. We regularly have two meetings in a week, which allows us to be focused and not to have to come out tired and looking grey, which I...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet briefings are done by me, or the Tánaiste, or in some cases depending on the issue by other Ministers or the Secretary General to the Government. However, there are other briefings. Ministers will regularly receive briefings from officials in the EU section in my Department. Sometimes we will do that in the Sycamore Room, but it is exactly that - a briefing. It is not a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: However, we can prepare for different scenarios and eventualities, which is exactly what we are doing. I was asked if I had spoken to other the EU Heads of State and Government. In Davos last week I spoke to about seven in person, anticipating the events. We are all ad idemthat the withdrawal agreement is not up for renegotiation and cannot be reopened. I obviously spoke by phone to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That is a kind of hypothetical question, is it not?

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together. The international, EU and Northern Ireland division of my Department covers work on all international, EU and British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs within the Department, including Brexit issues. The division assists me in my international role, including as a member of the European Council, and in my other EU and international...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am, of course, very aware of the votes which took place in the House of Commons last night and I will speak to Prime Minister May by phone again this afternoon. We scheduled a call yesterday and that call will take place this afternoon in light of the position the UK Government took yesterday to support the Graham Brady amendment and in light of the two votes which occurred last night...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: That, of course, may change. People in Northern Ireland who have Irish passports and are Irish citizens will continue to have the rights that EU citizens have, that is the right to travel freely and to reside and work in any part of the European Union. That is something that, unfortunately, UK citizens may not have in a few weeks' time. EU citizens and Irish citizens in Northern Ireland...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together. The remit of Cabinet committee C covers EU and international issues, including Brexit, and assists my participation as a member of the European Council. It last met on Thursday, 21 June 2018, in advance of the European Council meeting on 28 and 29 June 2018. It was the third such meeting of this Cabinet committee. The next...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There has been a substantial increase in funding for home care packages for 2019. Unfortunately, I am unable to answer Deputy Crowe's question in any other way. If, however, he would like to provide me or perhaps the Minister for Health with more details, I am sure we could give him a better answer.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. I last met the DUP leader, Ms Arlene Foster, on 15 October, when we discussed a range of issues, including the current political situation in Northern Ireland and Brexit. At our meeting I emphasised the Government's full commitment to all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement and our continuing determination to secure the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I understood that there were still paper forms available for people applying for a medical card or its renewal. I will double-check that and correspond with the Deputy on it, by paper.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The recruitment of additional testers will happen and that will reduce the waiting times for a driver test. However, there are many cancellations around the country every day and if somebody has a pressing need, especially if he or she needs a full licence for work, he or she can contact the Road Safety Authority and those cancellations can be made available.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The budget for roads is increasing considerably this year. However, it is also open to local authorities to use their income from rates, property tax and other sources to fund projects. I do not have any information to hand regarding the Bandon bypass. If the Deputy wants to raise it either when questions are being taken by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport or as a Topical...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are a number of different instruments that we can use should we have to and should we end up in a no-deal hard Brexit scenario. For example, for farmers in the agrifood sector, the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, already provides the common organisation of the markets, CMO, regulation, which allows for emergency aid for farmers if their markets are cut off. For example, when the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jan 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I know the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, is working very hard on that particular matter with the intention of finding core funding for the Irish Deaf Society to make sure it can continue its work. He will meet with and regularly meets with Down Syndrome Ireland to discuss its concerns.