Results 1,381-1,400 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. As the House knows, Ireland is required to transpose the EU directive on adequate minimum wages and collective bargaining. I began the work of doing that during my previous role as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. On the adequate minimum wage side, there is not much that we have to do. Our laws are already up to the European...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Programmes (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Mulvey report, entitled Dublin North East Inner City: Creating a Brighter Future, which was published in February 2017, contains recommendations for the social and economic regeneration of Dublin's north-east inner city. This report has been further supplemented by the north-east inner city strategic plan 2020-23. Implementation of the Mulvey report and the strategic plan is overseen...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Programmes (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Cronin asked about the inner city drugs and alcohol task force. This ceased to function at the end of 2021 due to an impasse concerning the appointment of an independent chairperson and some other issues. The Government remains committed to tackling the drug and alcohol issues affecting the north inner city, in conjunction with community-based service...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies for their questions. I will give the best answers I can but as some of the questions are quite detailed and technical, they would be probably best answered by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, or the Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell. If I do not answer them, I will make sure a more detailed response is provided to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----but in my time in office, we have quadrupled the number of new homes being built and the figure has doubled since I became Taoiseach the first time. We will do a lot more. To take social housing as an example, the Government has often been unfairly criticised for overreliance on the private market. In the past couple of years, we have seen the biggest expansion in social housing since...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No, it does not. That is the whole point and it is why the Deputy's arguments in the past couple of years around the approach taken to social housing by this Government and the party I lead have been so false. Tens of thousands more people are living in social housing than ten years ago and in percentage terms, there has been an increase as well. That is significant and it ought to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I spoke about the mica issue earlier in the Chamber. To add to that, the Act was commenced back in late June and regulations have been signed. The enhanced scheme is now open to new applicants. It provides an evidence-based system for additional counties and parts of counties to be designated as required following a technical assessment by the Housing Agency. The enhanced and current...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing has met eight times in the past 12 months and most recently on 26 June. The next meeting is currently being scheduled. The committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the implementation of Housing for All and the programme for Government commitments regarding housing and related...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023: Financial Resolution (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I move: That provision be made in the Act giving effect to this Resolution, in the manner and to the extent specified in that Act, for the charging of a levy, to be known as the temporary solidarity contribution, in accordance with section 4 of the Act.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am very sorry to hear about that gentleman's experience and I hope he makes a good and full recovery. We are continuously investing in and expanding our ambulance service. The Deputy mentioned that the man was airlifted to a hospital. Twelve years ago, there was no helicopter ambulance service whatsoever. Now, we have two, and we are continuing to invest in first responders, ambulances,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate the fact that we are running into some real difficulties with the DTSS, with many dentists pulling out of the scheme and concentrating solely on private practice. It is worth pointing out that the number of registered dentists in Ireland is at its highest ever level, at 3,472 in total. That is 153 more dentists than this time last year. Regarding DTSS access in County Mayo,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I have not seen either of these reports so I cannot make a commitment on the hoof here in the House. However, I imagine that the parents of the children concerned and the patients themselves would be very keen to see those reports. I will certainly let the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, know it was raised in the Chamber and get back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not want to comment on the individual case because I do not know all the information. However, we have a serious issue because thousands of people living in direct provision who have status are working and not paying any rent. That is not a tenable situation because we need those spaces for people who are new applicants for international protection. Single people, in particular, have...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, to answer the question on horse control. The scoping exercise and pandemic inquiry has now advanced. I have not seen it yet, but I am told it is close to conclusion and after that, we will have engagement with stakeholders and the Opposition on the terms of reference. I should say that the purpose of the pandemic...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Griffin for raising this important issue and for the very effective work he has been doing on the joint committee recently in relation to this matter. I am sure all of us are now receiving correspondence from former staff members of RTÉ or people who had interactions with RTÉ in the past. As is always the case with matters such as this, when people are making...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. I think all of us, across our constituencies, are running into the same difficulties and doing the best that we can to help parents and families who are facing unacceptable delays for assessments of needs and for therapies thereafter. The Government is fully behind the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, in her efforts to improve the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly speak to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, about it. If we can help, we will. The Deputy mentioned a number of items. I will get my office to liaise with her and with the Minister of State about the case she has raised.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill again and for very much keeping it on the agenda of the Government and this House. The Government has consistently said that this Bill is not fit for purpose in its entirety. We remain deeply concerned about the shutting down of all other avenues to truth and justice, including inquests,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It does not. I spoke with the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, and the Tánaiste this morning and I read part of her statement into the record of the House so it does not change the position.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that going back to school is an enormous cost for parents and families and Government is acting on that. In June, we had the special child benefit payment for all families of an extra €100 per child. We have increased the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, which is targeted at low-income families and parents. From September we are bringing in free school...