Results 13,841-13,860 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar
- Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I did not pick up the second part. There is not any legislation proposed to increase the licence fee. I am not sure if any party in this House is proposing there should be, but there is not any at the moment.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: Anybody can distort the news. It is not just social media that distorts news.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: There are many people who are well capable of distorting the news. I do not consider anybody to be above criticism or beyond reproach. Nobody likes to be criticised. I do not like it. Deputy Martin is very sensitive about it in particular when it happens.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: If one is willing to offer criticism it is just part of democracy in many ways.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: With regard to the actions we have taken to support media, we estimate that the 9% VAT rate has been worth some €100 million to the print news industry since we reduced it. We are currently bringing in amendments to the Broadcasting Act, which will reduce the broadcasting levy on independent broadcasters by up to 50%. We have also announced a new funding scheme to provide bursaries...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I think I answered that question already. The event was a private lunch. It was an over and back conversation. As I have said, there is a particular context to this and I was not quoted in full. I have given an example of some of the other things I said about the media, which were positive. My only reference to RTÉ was about one particular programme which was an example of how...
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: We know of many examples of big investments happening in the country. They include, for example, Abbott in Donegal town and Pramerica in Letterkenny which at this stage must employ more than 1,000 people. We will see more of such investments. Project Ireland 2040 and the national planning framework, which is associated with it provide for population growth of 75% outside the greater Dublin...
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: As I said previously, the priority in the budget will be to increase spending on public services and infrastructure. These are areas in which everyone can benefit. Everyone in society, no matter who he or she is, will benefit from greater investment in infrastructure, whether it be housing, healthcare, schools, broadband or actions against climate change. They will also benefit from...
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: The short answer to the Deputy's question is yes. Part of my mission in politics is to make sure everyone will experience an increase in his or her standard of living. In that context, we should not forget all those who receive very little by way of support from the State. I refer to people who pay a lot of tax but do not qualify for any or many of the benefits the State provides because...
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I was there so I am in a position to tell the Deputy what transpired.
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: Deputy McDonald is free to make up and imagine anything she likes but I can say what transpired because I was there. The only reference to RTÉ was in relation to the "Mission to Prey" programme, and a lot of people around the table were not aware of it. Perhaps some of them believed that investigative reporting was always true so I gave an example of a case where it was not, and where...
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that unemployment falls for many different reasons but I do not think it is correct to say unemployment is down in Donegal as a consequence of emigration because, based on the census, the population in Donegal is up. If I can dig the figures out from the folder showing the number of people in employment in Donegal, I will give them to the Deputy. I am sure the number of people...
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I am glad the Deputy acknowledges that Fine Gael is the party of small business because it is. I welcome that acknowledgment. I can guarantee the Deputy that public representatives listen to those engaged in business all the time. There is not a single Deputy or Senator in the Houses who has not spent time or does not engage, perhaps several times a year, with his or her local chamber of...
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: Let us leave aside announcements for the moment and let us-----
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: This morning I came off a plane from New York at 1.30, so that is where I was.
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: Unfortunately the Government jet does not cross the Atlantic. It was Norwegian Air, but to answer the question, let us leave aside the announcement for the moment, let us leave aside the spin, let us leave aside the Deputies railing against that-----
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: -----and let us talk about delivery and the facts. The facts say that 2,000 people were taken out of hotels last year. These were parents and families. In fact, 2,000 families were taken out of hotels-----
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: It is always the facts that get shouted down in this House. Some 2,000 families were taken out of hotel accommodation in the past year and most of them were brought into houses and apartments. A total of 14,046 new dwellings were completed last year, a 50% increase on the year before and a 75% increase on-----
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: -----the year before that, 7,000 new homes were added to our social housing stock, the biggest in a long time, 2,600 homes that were out of use and vacant were reconnected to the ESB grid, and 1,000 unfinished houses, the ghost estates that Fianna Fáil left behind, were completed and made available for people to buy and live in.
- Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2018)
Leo Varadkar: It is great to be back and I thank the Deputy for giving me an opportunity to clarify this matter. I strongly believe that the free press is essential for democracy to function. It is-----