Results 1,261-1,280 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----by having the groups that are not backing the action doing so? I know the Deputy will ask many questions between now and budget day about how much money we will spend on various priorities. She might let us know at some point whether Sinn Féin is signing up to the Government's decision, made for good, logical and important long-term economic reasons, not to increase spending by...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The threatened strike by section 39 and section 56 organisations is a matter of real concern, especially to the people who need those services daily, to their families and to their carers. The Government is very aware of the potential inconvenience that could be caused should the strike go ahead. I hope it will not. Much of the work done by these bodies is in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As she knows, there is a childcare and early years education strike happening today. Of the 4,000 childcare providers in the State, we understand that 5%, or probably fewer, are participating in the action today. That is important to point out. The action is being supported by only one organisation, the Federation of Early Childhood...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. It remains the Government's objective to reduce the cost of childcare by 50%. We set that out some time ago. We are halfway there already. We also need to invest in capacity because we also need to ensure there are more places available. We also need to invest in quality, and that includes better pay for staff, which of course has to be funded, at least in part, by...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Bodies (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No taxable benefits were paid, during the period 2019 to date, on behalf of the Chief Officer of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only body under the aegis of the Department.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Census of Population (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Child Poverty (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Regulatory and Poverty Impact Assessments (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No Bills relating to this Department have been prepared in the period specified.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Legal Services (20 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Director of Public Prosecutions is independent in the performance of her functions in accordance with Section 2(5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974. This statutory independence is a cornerstone of our criminal justice system. State Solicitors are appointed by and enter into a contract for service with the DPP to provide legal services arising from her functions under the 1974...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Directives (20 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is currently coordinating transposition of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) via Statutory Instrument under the European Communities Act 1972. The EAA will introduce mandatory minimum accessibility requirements for a range of commonly used consumer products and services across various sectors, including digital...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Strategies (20 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach is supporting implementation of the cross-government actions set out in the strategy to promote equality for LGBTI+ people in Ireland. This includes creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all colleagues feel respected, valued and included. The Department is a member of the Civil and Public Service wide LGBT+ Employee and Ally Network and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Reports (20 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to the table below: Details of study/review/research currently underway Date commenced Estimated date of completion Costs Involved Details of person / body conducting the study/review/research Shared Island research programme with Economic and Social Research Institute, 2021 Programme: 4 Projects 2022 Programme: 4...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Arising from the programme for Government, there are commitments to hold constitutional referendums on the following matters: extending the franchise of presidential elections to Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland and overseas; housing; and Article 41.2 of the Constitution, that is, the referendum on the role of women in the home and gender equality. Consideration is also being given...

European Council Meeting: Statements, Questions and Answers (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 29 and 30 June in Brussels. The agenda covered Ukraine, economic issues, security and defence, migration and external relations. The Minister of State, Deputy Burke, will provide further detail on some of the external relations issues discussed, including work towards a new partnership with Tunisia, relations with Türkiye, the ongoing...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On migration, the discussion we had at the June European Council was a follow-on from the detailed conclusions agreed by the Council in February, and much progress has been made since then. We could not agree on conclusions at the most recent meeting in Brussels because of the objections of Poland and Hungary. Sometimes it is better to have no conclusions than a formula of wording to which...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 20, inclusive, together. As I announced in March, the Government intends to hold a referendum in November this year on gender equality, as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality and the special Oireachtas Joint Committee on Gender Quality. The decision to hold one or more referendums on this issue is in line with the commitment in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Advertising (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know as much about this as I used to know when I was the Minister for Health. There are existing restrictions on the advertising of unhealthy foods, for the want of a better term. I acknowledge that not all processed foods are unhealthy, as the Deputy does, but there are rules around advertising at certain times and it being targeted to children. I am not up to date on what those...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 15, inclusive, together. I attended the meeting of the European Council on 29 and 30 June in Brussels and I will report to the House in detail on the meeting later this afternoon. We discussed Ukraine, economic issues, security and defence, migration, and external relations, including with China. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Advertising (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the points raised by Deputy Boyd Barrett, we spend money on public information campaigns around housing and homelessness and are going to spend more on them. There are a lot of Government schemes available to help people with housing but people are not always aware of them. It will not be done through my Department but, rather, is being done through the Department of Housing, Planning...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Advertising (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure we can. Certainly in my constituency service, we try to help people directly-----