Results 14,521-14,540 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Order of Business (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: This matter is being managed by the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jim Daly, and during the six-month period the court has given us we intend to legislate. We will introduce an amendment to the Mental Health Act 2001 to allow for tribunals to sit on a 12-monthly basis.

Order of Business (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The intention of the scoping inquiry report is to report to the Department of Health as the commissioning Department but perhaps it may make sense-----

Order of Business (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----for it to report to the Government.

Order of Business (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We have no wish to do anything other than publish it as soon as we have seen it and read it. I will give-----

Order of Business (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----that consideration over the next day or two. On the other point, I understand that an executive search or some headhunting has begun already. The delay in placing the advertisement was related to the fact that the Department of Health wanted to define the role. There is a reform programme underway - it was set out in the Sláintecare report - to restore a HSE board and to retain...

Order of Business (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is intended that there will be a gap. Inevitably, by the time the advertisement is placed, applications are made and interviews take place, there will be a gap in that period. The Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, will appoint an interim director general from among the directorate.

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The whole point of this, in many ways, is that we have not yet got to the truth and the Deputy is coming to particular conclusions without knowing all the facts. What we want is to get to the truth, and that is why we have established this inquiry and why it is a specific term of reference that the inquiry will examine the issues the Deputy raises. I ask her and all Members of this House to...

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am very sorry to hear about Anna and very sorry to hear of her case, which the Deputy has shared with the Dáil. I am very sorry to hear what she has been through. I am glad she is now in remission but obviously the consequences of her cancer will be with her for the rest of her life. The Deputy is correct in saying that we here cannot adjudicate on the issues she has put forward....

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I again want to put on the record that we have no evidence that our cervical screening programme is below international standards in any way. We do not have any reason to believe that our cervical screening programme is any less accurate or is poorer that any cervical screening programme, but it does have limitations. Let us not forget that in the past ten years, 50,000 women have had...

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: First, in regard to CervicalCheck, a daily report and update is being provided by CervicalCheck on its website. That comes out at about 5 p.m. every day. If the Deputy goes to the CervicalCheck website, he will see it gives detailed guidance for GPs and smear takers as to what is happening and it gives them advice and guidance as to how they should communicate with patients who come to see...

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I assure the House that the Government and everyone on these benches is putting the interests of the women affected and their families first. That is what has been foremost in our minds in dealing with this matter over the past week or so. It is not right for any politician or any leader of a political party to seek to appoint herself or himself as a spokesperson for all the women and...

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We have heard Deputies McDonald and Micheál Martin recount some of their stories. I have also spoken to people who have been affected. It is not right for Deputy McDonald - or any other politician - to appoint herself as the spokesperson for a diverse group of women and families. That is really wrong. In the context of what the Government is doing today, it is establishing a...

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: First, I thank Deputy McDonald for her very warm tribute to our deceased colleague, Monica Barnes. The Deputy is indeed right. Monica Barnes often did not come off as a typical Fine Gaeler, perhaps in the same way that Deputy McDonald does not always come across as a typical Sinn Féiner.

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We will put these down as-----

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----compliments in both directions. I have read and heard about Irene and Stephen Teap and their family. It is a very sad story and one which has affected everyone in the country. Indeed the Tánaiste met with and spoke to Mr. Teap over the weekend to hear about his concerns, to talk to him and to hear what he has to say. Many of us saw the photograph on the front page of The Sunday...

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The offer of repeat smear tests was a response to concerns expressed by women. A large number of women who contacted the helpline wanted to have a repeat test and the Minister for Health responded to that by making it available. The possibility of a look-back is under consideration but that would be based on a smear that may have been taken six months, a year or maybe two years ago or...

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy must have spoken to a very strong, very brave and very sensible woman who is clearly somewhat forgiving of the mistakes that were made in her case. He is right that at the forefront of our minds at all times must be our concern and regard for the women who have been affected and also the many others who are not affected but who are understandably concerned because of the fact that...

Leaders' Questions (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I can accept some of the criticism the Deputy puts forward. If we had been in a position to plan for this, we would have planned for it and would have had all these things in place. However, the Minister for Health, the Government and all the people working around us had to respond to this very quickly and to put things together in a matter of days. In normal circumstances, we would have...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As Taoiseach and as leader of Fine Gael, I wish to offer my condolences to the family and friends of Monica Barnes, a woman I met many times and greatly admired for her courage, integrity and determination. In a fitting description, Monica was once described as the woman who saved the conscience of Fine Gael. In her championing of women's rights and in the care and compassion she showed for...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Training (8 May 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There has been no expenditure by my Department in respect of attendance at social media training conferences or events. My Department did, however, recently run a training session on Mobile Journalism which was attended by officials from other Government Departments. Company Details Amount Glen Mulcahy T/A Titanium Media Mobile Journalism Training (January 2018) €2,000.00