Results 14,301-14,320 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: He is. He has a relationship with the Ministers, Deputies Naughten and Zappone-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----as part of that arrangement.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In regard to the size of the committee, I note that it has a maximum membership of 26 but it only has 22 people nominated to it. It does seem like a lot, and it is a lot, but it is actually not much greater than the number of people sitting around the Cabinet table. It may not be as huge as it seems to people, but it is a large number. The reason for that is twofold. First, every group...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps for next year's budget, we could just give the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission its budget, and give it delegated sanction-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----to decide whether to have fewer people at a higher grade or more people at a lower grade as it sees fit. Yes, I will certainly do that. I will convene the party leaders over the next couple of weeks to discuss all those reform issues.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together. My Department, as outlined in the strategy statement, provides support services for the Taoiseach and the Government, including the independent Members of Government, through the Government secretariat, the parliamentary liaison unit, the programme for Government office and the Cabinet committee structure to ensure that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to our economic and social policies more generally, the Government really works under six main principles. The first is managing our public finances prudently, having got into a situation where the budget is balanced and running surpluses on occasion, and paying down the national debt. The second principle is full employment and we will reach our targets in that regard...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Spokespeople are also creating plenty of argument. It misses the point, quite frankly. We have asked the CSO to do some work on tracking accurately the number of new homes being built, because that is unclear at the moment. Some people base their figures on ESB connections, which is fairly accurate because it includes new homes and homes that have been off the grid for two years, which is...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Rosslare currently has no development plan in place. We contacted the owner, Irish Rail, specifically to ask if there were any plans to upgrade that port, and unfortunately there are none. We may need to work on that. The fact that it is owned and controlled by Irish Rail is a difficulty because Irish Rail tends to see it as a port that generates revenue for that company, rather than a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have established an implementation group on Seanad reform, having consulted with other party leaders, to consider the Manning report and develop specific proposals to legislate for Seanad Reform. The implementation group comprises Members of the Oireachtas with the assistance of outside experts, as appropriate. The group held its first meeting on 9 May 2018 and is due to report back in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Operations (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The economic division in my Department supports 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 senior officials groups,...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Neville offers a very good argument and makes a compelling case. I will make sure the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, is aware of it and replies to the Deputy.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thought I heard the Deputy say yesterday that he would be in favour of decriminalising abortion pills. If that is not what he said, I am happy to acknowledge that it is not his view and to stand corrected.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I just did so. I accept that the Deputy did not say he would be in favour of decriminalising abortion pills. If there is a "No" vote on Friday, it will still be a criminal offence. I find it bizarre, however, that the Deputy believes this should be a criminal offence that is not enforced. Why would one keep something as a crime if one does not think it should be enforced? I find that...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The commitment does not quite extend to all carers but to anyone in receipt of carers allowance, carers benefit or half-carers allowance. It was announced in the budget and requires primary legislation, which we expect to have before the recess so that we can implement it in the autumn.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is a matter for the Business Committee but I do think one reaches a certain point at which the value of additional debate starts to run out. I hope the Business Committee will give consideration to invoking the necessary measures to allow that Bill to be brought to conclusion.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I do not have information to hand on that matter but I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, to provide an update to the Deputy by correspondence.

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As Deputies have acknowledged, funding for home help has increased and is increasing, year on year. However, I also acknowledge that the demand is increasing and that demand currently exceeds supply, both financially and, sometimes, when it comes to finding staff to provide the service, even when the finance is available. 1 o’clock Our plan of action is to develop a fair deal-type...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Like the Deputy, I was not able to attend that presentation, but Deputy Neville attended and is preparing a report on it for me, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, and the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten. We had a conference on the issue a few weeks ago, led by the Minister, Deputy Naughten. I acknowledge that the issue of...

Questions on Promised Legislation (23 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have looked into this matter. As there are legal issues, the sequencing will be as follows. The European Council will take a decision at the end of June to assign an additional two seats to Ireland. Assuming that happens in June - I have no reason to believe it will not - we will then set up the constituency commission immediately afterwards with a view to reporting on the new...