Results 14,001-14,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. I visited Northern Ireland on Thursday and Friday, 7 and 8 June. I had a number of different engagements during my recent visit to Northern Ireland. This was part of my own and the Government's continuing commitment to stay engaged with all parts of society in Northern Ireland, notwithstanding the absence of functioning...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I am not sure I agree with the Deputy's analysis. When these matters were solely controlled by local authorities and councils, there was no recycling and everything was dumped in landfills. I know all about it because the biggest dump was in my constituency. The Deputy's ideological analysis does not stand up to reason. The penalties under the Waste Management Act are substantial. There...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I may quote the Deputy on that in the future. I may even include it in my leaflets, particularly those for consumption around the country. The announcement of 1,000 jobs by Amazon in Dublin is extraordinarily welcome. It is a real vote of confidence in the Irish economy. Realistically, jobs like those provided by major tech companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Google and so on will only...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: -----400 by WuXi Biologics in Dundalk, and 600 by Edward Lifesciences in Limerick.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I do not have an example to give the Deputy in Roscommon, but-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: -----we are working on it.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I know the Deputy will want to welcome the fact that unemployment in County Roscommon has fallen from 4,347 to 2,377. That must be welcomed.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I will have to check that for the Deputy. I do not believe that is a legislative issue. If I recall correctly, we passed legislation, either during my time or that of the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, requiring people to bring their licences to court so that they could be taken off them. This is a problem around enforcement. What is required is...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: The legislation to allow Fingal County Council to become the noise regulator at Dublin Airport has been promised and is expected to be published in the autumn session.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: In the meantime, it should not cause the DAA to defer its plans to begin construction on the new north runway, work on which which should begin immediately.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I am not sure if there was a supplementary question there-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: -----but what I can add to my previous reply is that the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, met with the management team of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, CAMHS, covering County Tipperary yesterday and is due to meet them again in two weeks time to see what can be done to improve those mental health services in the south east. Also, the National Educational Psychological...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I recall that Deputy Micheál Martin raised this some months ago and I committed to providing him with an update on the sections of the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act 2004 that have been commenced and those that have not and why that is the case. I apologise if he did not receive that and I will make sure that he gets it.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Howlin for raising the important issue of sexual violence. Although he did not mention it, we are all aware of a recent conviction in the courts and the unspeakable crimes that were committed in the case in question, which highlights the devastating impact of sexual violence. I express my admiration for the victims in reporting the offences to the Garda because many men and...
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I have an open mind as to whether the Rape Crisis Network should be funded by Tusla. I would be interested to find out from the network which body it would prefer to receive funding from and the reasons for its preference. The Deputy raises valid points and I will certainly look into them. I should point out the some of the actions the Government is taking with regard to sexual violence...
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I will conclude by mentioning two other points. I will look into the issues the Deputy raises, both in terms of the quantum of funding and the most appropriate body to fund the rape crisis centres. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, recently announced a full review of the sexual assault and treatment units around the country. These units provide support for victims of sexual...
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I am afraid Deputy Mattie McGrath has me at a disadvantage once again. I have not seen the news report to which he refers-----
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: -----nor have I read the study to which it refers. However, I can perhaps comment on some more general matters. In terms of mental health, I am sure the Deputy will be aware that we spend approximately €900 million per annum on mental health. This is a considerable amount of money, which is well spent, and is an increase of €200 million since 2012. There is, therefore,...
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Finance published the summer economic statement yesterday but I am not sure the Deputy really understands it. Perhaps I can explain.
- Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: The summer economic statement, which presages the budget, provides for an increase in public spending next year of €3.4 billion. That is one of the largest increases in public spending in a very long time. Of that, we have already committed €2.5 billion. We have committed to a €1.5 billion increase in investment in public infrastructure, which includes housing, health...