Results 12,821-12,840 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is correct. It is now less than a month from Christmas, which is a wonderful time for families and children. It is a time for excitement, friends and celebration, but it can also be a very stressful time, particularly when it comes to getting the house ready, buying presents and finding the money to do all of that. I absolutely acknowledge that. To assist people and families,...

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter, the issue of broadband and the national broadband plan in particular. I restate in the House my commitment to ensure that the national broadband plan happens. We have gone from a position two years ago when this Government of Fine Gael and Independents came into office where only about half the premises in Ireland had access to...

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

Leo Varadkar: We are now at 75% and I want us to get to 100% as soon as possible. I appreciate that 500,000 homes, businesses and farms throughout the country do not currently have access to high-speed broadband. There are 1 million people living in those homes and the more people who get connected, the more frustrated the people who are being left out become. I am determined to ensure we get this done...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Independent, no doubt, is staffed by very professional journalists who write their own stories; they do not need me to write them for them.

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

Leo Varadkar: To answer the Deputy's question again, I cannot stand over the veracity of that story. A final bid, a final tender, has been received by the Department. The Department is now evaluating that with the help of KPMG and some other external experts. We anticipate that the Government will be able to make a decision in the coming weeks as to whether we can accept that tender. I have seen...

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

Leo Varadkar: -----and from time to time its leader may change, but they are still the same Fianna Fáil.

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

Leo Varadkar: It is not a new consortium. The leadership has changed and the composition has changed, but it is not a new consortium.

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

Leo Varadkar: What is unusual is that we are in this House discussing a tender process and evaluation that is under way. We have had big projects like this in the past. They may not have been as big as this one but they were big. I refer to the projects relating to the new national children's hospital, the major inter-urban motorways or the schools bundle. I do not recall having a debate-----

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (28 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I travelled to Helsinki earlier this month, where I had bilateral meetings with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, and the Prime Minister of Finland, Juha Sipilä. Finland and Ireland are like-minded on many issues, and both bilateral meetings were very warm and constructive. In my meeting with Prime Minister Sipila we discussed a range of issues across the EU agenda...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We might compare figures afterwards and see what is the gap. Either way, it is a large figure. No other issues were identified in the process with the community employment sector regarding the scoping of the costs of different options to address the matter. I outlined in my reply to the Deputy what work the forum did and the costs relating to it. Regarding Deputy Burton's comments, I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is greatly concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen. The crisis unfolding before our eyes is deeply troubling, particularly the horrendous impact on civilians, including children. Ireland, together with the EU, fully supports the UN special envoy in his efforts to ensure that all parties respect international humanitarian law, and that humanitarian...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Digital Strategy (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: First, with regard to digital skills, we believe it involves a number of approaches. Obviously there is upskilling of people already in the workplace. That is important to ensure they can continue to have jobs into the future and that companies embrace the digital economy. That is done through a number of existing mechanisms. Sometimes it is fully funded by the Government and sometimes...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together. I attended the 12th ASEM summit, or Asia-Europe meeting, on 18 and 19 October in Brussels. The summit, which takes place every two years, provides an opportunity for Asian and European leaders to discuss how to enhance co-operation in tackling regional and global challenges and deepening economic, social and cultural links...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The focus of this particular visit to Cavan and Monaghan was very much on education, disability and childcare as well as a visit to Cavan County Museum. I engage with business groups and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions regularly but not every day. It is good on occasion to have days where we focus just on education, childcare, disability, health or housing. The particular focus of this...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Digital Strategy (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, together. The Government is developing a new national digital strategy to help Ireland maximise the economic and societal benefits from digitalisation. This is a commitment in the Action Plan for Jobs 2018. The strategy is being led as a shared effort by the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Communications, Climate Action...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We are keen to make those changes in order to make the fair deal fairer for farmers and people who own small businesses. We anticipate that legislation will be brought forward in the next session.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That legislation is still on Committee Stage in the Seanad.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have no information on contracts and no involvement in the matter. If the Minister for Health does, I will ask him to provide a reply to the Deputy. Contractual matters are generally not dealt with at ministerial level.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. I visited counties Cavan and Monaghan on Friday, 12 October, where I had several engagements. In the morning, I visited the Cavan County Museum in Ballyjamesduff, which is really worth a visit and I would recommend it to anyone. I also visited the new autism unit in Bailieborough community school and Bailieborough courthouse. In the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is no legislation promised on this matter but I will ask the Minister for Educate and Skills to provide-----