Results 12,801-12,820 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I think the Deputy protests too much.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Sláintecare implementation office has been established, the director has been appointed, the implementation framework has been published and the action plan will be published before the end of the year. A decision on time to debate any matter in the Dáil is a matter for the Business Committee but I am sure we would be happy to facilitate that. There is a perception, which I am...

Death of Former Members: Expressions of Sympathy (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am grateful for the opportunity to pay tribute to Seán Ardagh, a distinguished former Member of this House. Seán was loved by all sides in this Chamber, and was respected by all and could work with all. I was fortunate to serve with him on the Joint Committee for Economic Regulatory Affairs during my first term in the Dáil and benefitted a lot from his kindness and advice....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot see the newspaper the Deputy held up from here. He is making the assumption that all of the properties in question are vacant. That may not be the case. Those properties might be fully or partially occupied and I am sure the Deputy is not suggesting that the people in those apartments should be evicted to make way for others.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is not the case that they are public property. NAMA owns the loans not the properties and it is disingenuous to make out that a property which is held as collateral against a loan owned by NAMA is public property, something I have seen a few times. That is not the case. In the past week or two, some of the Deputy's fellow travellers in his party had to admit that a property was not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is not semantics, it is the difference between facts and disingenuity because it does not suit the Deputy's argument.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Government wants a post office network which is extensive enough that everyone will be within reasonable distance of a post office, which we believe can be achieved. However, the network must also be viable. The best way to ensure that it is extensive and remains so is that it is viable. The Government does not close post offices. In most cases, postmasters are retiring and are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think that the Deputy is quite correct about the appeals mechanism. I will check but I am pretty sure I read in recent days that a number of appeals had been upheld. I may be wrong about that so I will double-check.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We want an extensive post office network which means a post office for any community with a population of more than 500 and ensuring that everyone is within 15 km of a post office. We must also ensure that any island with a significant population has its own post office. There is scope for additional services and this is happening. The Deputy will be aware that post offices are now...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As I said, I encourage people to look at the existing alternatives. Low-cost loans are available from the credit union through the It Makes Sense scheme. I appreciate it is not available in every credit union, but one need not go to the closest credit union nor be a member of a particular credit union to avail of that loan. For people who qualify, there is the possibility of getting an...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps it is the case that we must restrict people's freedom and choice on occasion to protect them from being exploited.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We need to ensure we get the balance right.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge that Christmas is, and can be, a stressful time for some families, particularly those who are living in emergency accommodation or looking for a new place to rent. I can imagine the concerns parents must have in the run-up to Christmas when they are asked by kids how Santa will visit if the hotel room does not have a chimney, or where the Christmas tree will be put. I totally...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----about the tender processes relating to or consortiums involved in those projects.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It raises a question for me, namely, what are the motivations of the Opposition.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Are they trying to undermine this process?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Are they trying to make comments under the protection of privilege-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----which others may use to undermine the national broadband project?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Is their plan to try to scupper this project so that people in rural Ireland-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----will be denied the infrastructure they need?