Results 13,081-13,100 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am very sorry to hear that lady's operation was cancelled. It must be particularly distressing if a patient is travelling a long distance or if he or she has been psyched up for a procedure or has to fast for a prolonged period. What the Deputy mentioned does happen. Operations are regularly cancelled, unfortunately, where overcrowding occurs in hospitals. That is done for good reasons....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----and also moving more procedures to quieter periods, such as weekends, when hospitals are less likely to be overcrowded.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Finance Bill proposes tax breaks for all workers - 1.5 million of them - as did the previous Finance Bill and the one before it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: For the average household, that has resulted in a reduced universal social charge and reduced income tax of approximately €1,500 per year. That is the equivalent of a monthly rent or mortgage payment for most individuals in our society.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Mary Lou McDonald's proposal is to give a tax break only to renters. She proposes to do nothing for people struggling with mortgages or people who are living with their parents and struggling to raise money for a deposit. She proposes nothing for people who perhaps own a home already but who are struggling with other bills, such as bills for childcare. That is the difference. The...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We want to do it for everyone.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is important to record what this Oireachtas has done. In the past couple of months, we have passed and enacted new domestic violence legislation and gender-based violence legislation. That will enable us to sign the Istanbul Convention on domestic violence and gender-based violence. In terms of services for the Rape Crisis Network, as the Deputy will be aware, Tusla is the funder of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not care whether the Government Bill or the Labour Party Bill goes first or who gets credit for it. However, the Government has some difficulties with the Labour Party Bill as it empowers the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to draw up a gender pay gap reporting scheme but leaves the decision on whether to do so at its discretion.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Labour Party Bill would require many amendments to make it acceptable to the Government, including amendments to the Long and Short Titles. For those reasons, we would rather proceed with the Government Bill.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am not interested in a contest with the Labour Party over the credit for bringing forward the legislation which will be before the joint Oireachtas committee in eight days' time. Let us get it done.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue which is of enormous concern to the Irish public, both men and women. Let there be no doubt that nobody asks to be raped and it is never the fault of the victim. It does not matter what one wears, where one went, whom one went with or whether one took drugs or alcohol. Nobody who is a victim of sexual violence or rape is ever to blame for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Government accepts that the gender pay gap of 14% is unacceptable, unfair and a hallmark of gender inequality in our society. The Deputy will also be aware that such pay gaps are not unique to Ireland and exist across the developed world, including, even, very progressive Nordic countries which have larger gender pay gaps than Ireland. However, that does not make it in any way...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I was not attempting to offer an excuse. While we have a long way to go, no one can dispute the Government's good record. It has done a great deal in respect of gender equality and advancing the rights and freedoms of women in our society. I mentioned it simply to point out the complexity of the issue. It surprises people to hear that some of the Nordic countries with subsidised childcare...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Until we receive the legal advice from the Attorney General and others, I cannot answer the question. I would like to be able to answer it as soon as possible. I do not want to have the Government take action without knowing what we can do legally. We do not want to find ourselves costing the taxpayer even more money by making a decision that might appear to be the right one but without...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: First, once again, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge Maurice McCabe, the enormous service he has done to this country and his honesty and decency. As I said in the past, I believe he is and was a distinguished member of the Garda and a good example of the kind of person we want to have in our police force. When it comes to what we do next, I believe the most important thing...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is welcome that we have a WRC agreement on pay. Negotiations ran for many months and we should welcome that thanks to the commission's work, with the co-operation of the unions and the Government's work, that there is now an agreement that provides for pay restoration for staff in section 39 bodies.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That should not be dismissed out of hand. It was welcome. I am not interested in platitudes either. I do not have the figures before me but I will dig them out.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The increase in budgets for section 39 organisations compared to the HSE organisations has been greater over the past three years. I will produce those figures.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy always interrupts when he hears the facts. I may be totally wrong, but I am not aware of any section 39 body that has asked to be taken over by the HSE and to be nationalised. If there are any that are willing to do that, we are willing to consider it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: However, it must be done properly. We cannot have a repeat of what happened with the voluntary bodies. If they want to be taken over, the ownership and the assets must be handed over as well.