Results 14,721-14,740 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We have also expanded-----

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----the school meals programme considerably in recent years, extending it to all DEIS schools and, for the first time, beyond them. The latter is because we know that 50% of children who are disadvantaged do not attend DEIS schools. We have also done other things such as subsidising childcare, bringing in a second year of preschool and ensuring that everyone gets the two full years of...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am amused once again. When it comes to Question Time, it is always permitted for Opposition leaders to make political points-----

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----but it is never permitted for me to do so.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I was drawing a contrast-----

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I was drawing a contrast between the Labour Party's alternative budgets and those it actually introduced. There was a considerable difference between them.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Again, we heard one thing that was not quite correct. The cuts in weekly social welfare payments to lone parents, the disabled, carers, the blind, widows and jobseekers were all made by the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government. Restoration of those weekly payments only started when Fine Gael, the Independent Alliance and Independent Members took over Government two years ago.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Getting to the substance of the question, we now spend €10 billion a year on education. That is more than ever before. It is €1 billion more than was being spent when this Government came to office. How have we spent that money? One cannot do everything one wants to in one year so one has to prioritise. We spent the money on new school buildings all over the country, 6,000...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am not in a position to make commitments about the forthcoming budget at this time. What I can say is that we have increased education spending by €1 billion over the past two years. We will continue to increase education spending into the next budget but it is not always possible to do everything in the one year. There only is a certain amount of money available.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that the sentences handed down in this case were concurrent sentences of seven and a half years and six and a half years, with 12 months suspended. That was on foot of several grave and egregious offences committed against these women. The Government's view on sentencing is that the best way is not through mandatory sentencing, and we are agreed on that, but through...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I certainly accept the principle. I have not seen the detail.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the enormous costs which arise for parents in preparing children for school, whether it is the cost of clothes, sports gear, books and all the other things that children require to participate fully in school life. Part of the Government's role is to assist parents with those costs through measures such as child benefit and increases in family income supplement and the working...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Like everyone in this House, I abhor crimes of this nature. Sexual crimes are among the worst that can be perpetrated against anyone. Crimes against children are also among the worst that can be committed. On sentencing, it is important to acknowledge that there is a separation of powers between the Dáil, the Government and the Judiciary. Ultimately, it is judges and juries who...

Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: With respect, the Deputy is selectively quoting the response of the Minister, Deputy Naughten, which is not the right approach to take. When he took this unsolicited phone call, the matter was not before him. It was the lobbyist who informed him that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission had made its decision and the matter was not before him. By the time it arose in the...

Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will start by joining the Leader of the Opposition in expressing my condolences to Canada and the Canadian people on what was an appalling attack in Toronto yesterday. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has been in touch with the Canadian authorities to pass on the regrets of the Government. I would like to use this opportunity to express solidarity with the...

Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister has stated that he regrets taking the telephone call and regards it as a political mistake on his behalf and has apologised for it today. He accepts it was a political mistake which he regrets and for which he has apologised today.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Urban Renewal Schemes (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I launched the North East Inner City 2017 Progress Report when I visited the area with Minister Donohoe on Monday, 26 February. The Report sets out the work of the Programme Implementation Board since it was established last June and outlines the progress made under the four priority areas of crime and drugs; education, training and employment opportunities; services for families and young...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is not possible to provide a complete breakdown of this expenditure at this point as invoices in relation to this expenditure are still being collected. The breakdown will be provided when this process is complete.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department did not engage the services of the company in question in the years 2007 to 2017 and, therefore, has not received any invoices.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That may well be the case.