Results 13,181-13,200 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That legislation is listed for the current parliamentary session.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We chose to link Cork and Limerick along the N20 because it is the most direct route. Not only that but it also bypasses towns including Charleville, and helps bypass Adare and Buttevant. All the people in Cork and Limerick, not only in the cities but in the counties, will support that decision.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On Tipperary town, it is not possible to draw down funding from the rural fund for road projects, however the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has a very large capital budget for the next couple of years and a bypass could certainly be considered in that context.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am very sorry to hear about the long wait being suffered by the Deputy's constituent. It is not possible for me to comment on individual cases, I do not have access to individual patient information, nor should I, however more generally we are making a lot of progress in reducing waiting times for people waiting for operations and procedures in our hospitals. They have been falling...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The number of people waiting on hip and knee replacements last summer was 2,400 and is now 1,717. The number waiting for tests, such as angiograms, which was 1,940 waiting for more than three months last July is now down to 920. There will always be many people waiting less than three months, such as four, six or 12 weeks, however those waiting more than three months for a procedure or...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: First, I offer my condolences once again to the family and friends of Ms Emma Mhic Mhathúna at what is a difficult time for them, and also to the families of other women who lost their lives to cervical cancer. I assure everyone in this House that Government is deeply committed to ensuring cervical screening continues and provides Irish women with a high-quality service in which they...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I may be a little out of date and out of practice, but the last time I checked the best scientific evidence was that extending cervical screening to women under the age of 25 would not be beneficial. In regard to screening, one must always bear in mind the whole problem of false negatives, with which people are now familiar and which can cause false reassurance. False positives can also be...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am mindful of the concerns and worries of the families affected, one of whom I had the opportunity to meet with a week or two ago on a visit to another part of the country. It is important to reiterate that the Oireachtas decided that decisions on which drugs are reimbursed should not be made by politicians. The European Medicines Agency and the Health Products Regulatory Authority decide...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Government, through the work of the Minister, Deputy Zappone, sought a higher contribution and a percentage contribution but this is what is forthcoming. The Deputy will know the Bon Secours Sisters are not under any obligation to make a contribution but they are making a contribution of €2.5 million. We are treating it as a contribution. I want to make it very clear to everyone...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The blasphemy referendum will happen on Friday at the same time as the presidential election. The Government is asking people to vote "Yes" in that referendum. We see it as part of an ongoing drive to modernise our Constitution to make it a 21st century Constitution for a 21st century republic following on from the decision to remove the constitutional ban on divorce,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly give consideration to what the Deputy has to say on our incitement to hatred laws but we always need to be careful to get the balance right. I know the Deputy would want that too. In bringing in laws that restrict what people can say, we must ensure they do not go so far as to trammel free speech and that is a balance we always need to get right. I am at a slight...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of this particular structural issue, as opposed to-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----the fire issue, I am advised that 40 schools are involved in total. A separate issue has been going on for quite some time in respect of fire safety. This relates to structural issues. Obviously everything will be done to find alternative accommodation for schools but it is going to be difficult. It is not easy to find 25 classrooms. I know people have talked about sports clubs and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I join with the Deputy is recognising the work of Catherine Corless, the local historian whose painstaking research over a number of years helped to bring many of the issues at Tuam to the attention of the Government and the public. I also recognise the various campaigners involved. I thank the Deputy for commending the Minister, Deputy Zappone, and the Government on the decision we made...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Many terrible things may have happened in those institutions. I know that some people may take the view that we should treat this as something in the past and not dredge up old issues. Some people have told me to let sleeping dogs lie. We have decided that is not the right approach. We need to understand our past, to know what happened, to come to terms with it, and to try to put things...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this very important issue, which I know is of great concern to parents in various parts of Dublin at the moment. Unfortunately, up to 40 schools around the country, and not just in Dublin, could be affected. The safety of students and staff has to be our paramount consideration and I know that everyone in this House will agree. We are also deeply...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The number of schools that need to be checked is 40. All of the principals in those schools have been informed. The principals will inform the parents in the normal way that schools inform parents. About 40 schools will be affected and they are all schools that were constructed by Western Building Systems.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Operations (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The International, EU and Northern Ireland Division of my Department works on all international, EU and British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs within the Department, including Brexit. The Division assistsme in my international role including as a member of the European Council, and in my other EU and international engagements. The Division also provides advice and assistance to me...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Operations (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Economic Division in my Department assists me and the Government in developing and implementing policy: - to deliver sustainable and regionally balanced economic growth and quality jobs, and - to promote effective planning and delivery of infrastructural developments, including housing. The Cabinet Committees and associated Senior Officials Groups backed by the Division help to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I meet and speak regularly with my EU counterparts, bilaterally, and at formal and informal meetings of the European Council. I had a bilateral meeting with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, in Brussels on 4 October. We discussed progress in the Brexit negotiations and other issues on the EU agenda in advance of the October European Council. President Tusk re-iterated his...