Results 1,501-1,520 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The Iceland workers should get the money they are owed. We both agree on that. There are mechanisms to make sure that this happens. Sometimes, these are very slow. I appreciate that if someone is on a low income and does not have savings to dip into, that can be very difficult. I have not had an update from the Minister on how the meeting went, but I will seek one...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the basic point the Deputy started off with, which was how important social connections are. In this very online and digital age, it is still all the more important that we meet each other, see other people, meet, embrace, shake hands and have shared experiences whether that is attending matches, concerts, agricultural shows and other events over the summer. Those things are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that it is an important issue but the Deputy did not put forward a proposal or action the Government should take. In fairness, Deputy Naughten did with regard to his question on disability services as did Deputy Bacik regarding her question on RTÉ. Deputy Pringle has not put forward a solution. The Deputy has been very critical of the Government, hoteliers and everyone...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Naughten for raising this important issue, and I know it is one that we will all be familiar with in our constituencies, where parents come to us and tell us about the challenges they have in securing necessary assessments and treatment for their children. We are committed to finding and implementing real and tangible solutions to enhance services to meet properly the needs of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for his suggestion and I will certainly ask the CEO of the HSE and the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to examine that. Certainly, the Government has no principled objection to part-time contracts. We issue them all the time across the public service. It does not always result in a net increase in the number of people working in these roles, because once...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Bacik. In my view, the people who are perhaps most hurt by all of this are the public, the vast majority of whom dutifully pay their licence fee every year when some people around them do not. Many people who have paid their licence fee every year for ten, 20, 30 or 40 years are extremely annoyed, quite frankly, about what has transpired. I acknowledge, of course, that the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We will certainly give that consideration. As I said, the terms of reference have yet to be agreed by the Government. The more that is included in the terms of reference of any review, the longer the review will take. As I have also said, it is better to do it properly and thoroughly than to do it quickly and not well. Regarding self-employment, which is an area I know well from my roles...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter again. The revelations from RTÉ last week are deeply unsettling and have shaken public trust in what is an important institution. We want to see trust restored quickly because we need to have a strong and effective public service broadcaster for our State. It is important once again to acknowledge that the vast majority of staff in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy very much for his questions. I acknowledge what he is saying about double standards in RTÉ, with people at the top applying one set of rules to some among them and a different set to others in the organisation. I want to point out two relevant facts of importance. From the information we to date, of the top ten or top 20 personalities in RTÉ it appears that...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic. It will include a review of the whole-of-government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar type event were to occur. It will include a consideration of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: British-Irish Co-operation (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Haughey asked whether any progress has been made in recent weeks on the restoration of the institutions in Northern Ireland, the Assembly and the Executive. The truth is that nothing, or very little, progress has been made. Engagement continues between the DUP and the UK Government. The Tánaiste met with the party leaders. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will be in Dublin shortly for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Gould spoke first and raised the issue of domestic and gender-based violence. I once again put on the record of the House that this is a major priority for the Government, and especially for the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, who takes the lead on this and is very passionate about it. What we are doing is reflected in a range of policies and legislation, as well as...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, I can certainly ask for that. We will be doing the end of second quarter report on Housing For All in about two weeks' time. Perhaps we can include it on that. In Fingal, my own county, it is about 200. There is a good chance we will exceed the target of 1,500 for this year. Whether all those purchases are signed and sealed by the end of the year is a different question. It may...

Ceisteanna - Questions: British-Irish Co-operation (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take questions Nos. 13 to 19, inclusive, together. I attended the 38th British-Irish Council summit, hosted by the Government of Jersey on 15 and 16 June. The theme of the summit was Building for the Future: Green and Affordable. I detailed the Government’s work to promote sustainable and affordable housing under Housing For All, including in relation to skills,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take question Nos. 6 to 12, inclusive, together. The Department of the Taoiseach is continuing to help advance the programme for Government commitments. The priorities set out in the Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023 reflect the role of the Department to assist me as Taoiseach and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, pursue...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies. On the addiction sector and services raised by Deputy Gould, I am very familiar with these as well. I have often visited the Coolmine Therapeutic Community which is based in Blanchardstown but now has facilities in other parts of the country as well. I am very aware of the work it does. It is work that can really turn people's lives around. I have had interest in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Certainly, that should be the case. Deputy Murphy raised the issue of RTÉ and climate. RTÉ covers climate a lot. Maybe it does not cover it on “The Late Late Show” but it does so often on the website and on the news and in many programmes dealing with the issue. Coverage is generally by George Lee who covers it very well and passionately. The issue of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. The overall responsibility for the public service modernisation, development and reform functions is vested in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. This has been the case since the transforming public services programme office was moved to that Department from the Department of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think I can instruct the Minister for Transport, either legally or politically, but I know this issue has come up a number of times. My general view when it comes to these matters is that, if someone is fit and healthy enough to work for longer, he or she should be allowed to do so, but I think there may be insurance issues when it comes to bus drivers. I will certainly let the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It must be a very difficult decision to have to make if you are a dual player. Which set of team mates do you disappoint and which set of supporters do you disappoint when games clash like that? Needless to say, as a Government, we are not involved in scheduling any of these matches, but it is a reasonable issue to raise. I will certainly let the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, know it...