Results 15,281-15,300 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think I could possibly agree to that.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked for a debate to take place today. As I hope Deputies are aware, I do not control the House or set the times for debates in it.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is a matter for the Business Committee and has been for almost two years at this stage. I understand Deputy Imelda Munster's Bill has been introduced but that it has not yet been taken on Second Stage. The best way for it to be taken on Second Stage would be for Sinn Féin to use its Private Members' time to prioritise it.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My empire goes well beyond the cineplex, all the way to the outskirts of Clonee village, as Deputy Cassells is aware.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is a pleasure to be able to represent a constituency that borders on Meath. The Minister of State with responsibility for local government, Deputy John Paul Phelan, will bring a memo to Cabinet in the coming weeks but I have not seen it yet. Once it goes to Cabinet we will be happy to advise the Deputy as to what is in it.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: But I do not know what is in it, because I have not seen it yet. I point out that at a time when people love to talk about how much money is being spent on other things that we have estimated the cost of restoring town councils at €40 million a year.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, to reply to the Deputy directly.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: This is time for questions on promised legislation and the programme for Government.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We are due to have Questions to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, at 3.30 p.m. I understand the figures have only just been published so I have not seen them. I am told that they show an increase but the level of family homelessness, notwithstanding the increase, is still not higher than it was in November.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot answer that in eight minutes.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will send the Sinn Féin Members a copy of Rebuilding Ireland, which is our policy on the matter.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am unaware of the matter to which the Deputy refers.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Nothing has yet been brought to the Government in that regard but the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Phelan, is preparing a memo which he intends to bring to Cabinet in the next couple of weeks. We would be happy to consult the Opposition on the matter at that point.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am glad the Deputy acknowledges the independence of the editors of our local newspapers, unlike other Members who have sought to cast aspersions on them of late.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot-----

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, to provide the Deputy with an up-to-date note on those houses in Kells.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: However, I can say that the Government-----

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----has committed to 110,000 new social homes being built over the course of the ten-year plan.

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The fuel allowance is being paid to 338,000 households to a value of €200 million. We have already made two changes to the scheme. This year, for the first time, people can be paid a lump sum. There is a total lump sum of €607.50 which can be paid in two payments as opposed to a weekly allowance. As I mentioned, we had already taken the decision to extend the fuel season by...

Order of Business (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The first is the exceptional needs payment which is means-tested. The second is the urgent needs payment which is not means-tested and is open to everyone. No Government can offer a blank cheque to everyone-----