Results 13,741-13,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. I met Mr. Tim Cook, chief executive of Apple, on 18 June in Dublin. Apple is a major investor in the country and employs more than 5,000 people in Ireland, mostly in Cork. I regularly meet companies with a presence in Ireland and it is right for me to do so. During our meeting Mr. Cook highlighted Apple's continued investment in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am not into the practice of keeping scorecards on ministerial accountability but I certainly keep close note of whether Ministers are achieving the objectives set for them in the programme for Government and in bilateral meetings. I am happy with the work of my Ministers but of course there are always issues of concern. Where there is concern, it is shared concern and my job as Taoiseach...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Am I over time?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am only on the first page.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to continue but it is in the hands of the Members.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I was asked about the Working Group of Committee Chairmen. I have met that group once in the past year, not twice, but I would be happy to meet them again. All Ministers of State have assigned responsibilities. They do not all have a delegation order, however, as delegation orders only apply if statutory functions are being transferred to Ministers and Minister of State. That would be...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: She was not a Minister though. I am sorry the opportunity was not taken when Deputy Burton-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I think the super-junior is not being counted either. Aside from Deputy Burton herself, the only other full Minister who was appointed to Cabinet was Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, if I remember correctly. The opportunity was lost on that occasion for gender parity, but I anticipate the opportunity will arise in the future for others; I hope it does anyway. I strongly agree with what Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Every Deputy's mandate is equal, whether he or she is elected by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour Party, Sinn Féin or any other party. I believe the larger parties are discriminated against in terms of speaking time. As Deputy Heydon has pointed out, there are as many Fine Gael backbenchers as there are Sinn Féin Deputies, so surely Fine Gael backbenchers should have the same...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I believe it allows 20 and we have 19. I will check that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We have it here. It has not yet been published, admittedly.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: May I see it?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Government recently approved the annual report setting out progress on the programme for Government. It sets out detailed progress since May 2017 on commitments being implemented across government. It will be published shortly and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. In addition to delegation orders that assign...

Order of Business (Resumed) (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Electricity prices are regulated. They are regulated by what used to be the Commission for Energy Regulation but is now the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. We have increased the fuel allowance. We did that already this year and we will certainly consider doing it again next year. However, it is a simple fact that electricity prices are largely linked to the cost of fossils fuels,...

Order of Business (Resumed) (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I refer to climate change.

Order of Business (Resumed) (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The anti-poverty strategy is encompassed in the social inclusion policy and also the action plan for jobs. As the Deputy knows, the phrase "below the poverty line" does not mean that a person is living in poverty. It includes people who are at risk of poverty but who are not in poverty, as well as those who are in poverty. The figure provided by the Deputy of the number of people who are...

Order of Business (Resumed) (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The social inclusion policy is the strategy the Deputy is referring to.

Order of Business (Resumed) (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It was published two years ago.

Order of Business (Resumed) (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not issue instructions to Minister Ross, but I will certainly ask him-----