Results 15,901-15,920 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Phase 2 of the Brexit talks is very much happening in the background and behind the scenes at the moment. It will be this way until the end of February or March. We negotiate as the European Union. We were successful in the outcome of the phase 1 talks because we stuck to the position of not negotiating bilaterally but negotiating as part of the EU 27. For that reason, and having assessed...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That quote was Googled so I did not need much money for that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There were some very nice words spoken about al-Assad, but I will read them later.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I did not say it arises now-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I mention it now because the Deputy raised it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It was not an article. It was a report from a press conference. I did not read the reports but I guess, as is often the case with reports on press conferences, they are quite different from an article I might have written. They only take elements of what one says. However, I did not say, and I am sure that was not reported, that it was the largest threat to the economy because that is not...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: However, I believe excessive tax cuts, wage rises and increases in public spending would drive inflation and would be counterproductive. I am determined that this Government should not repeat the mistakes that were made by previous Governments, which operated the inflationary and pro-cyclical economic policies that caused so much damage in years gone by. I said that the Government is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Finally, the other way is through reductions in the cost of living, which is why we introduced the child care subsidies and reduced the prescription charges and are taking action on insurance to reduce its cost.

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 14, inclusive, together. As I outlined in my post-European Council statement to the House on Tuesday, 16 January, the December European Council met in four separate formats over the course of the two days, Thursday, 14 December, and Friday, 15 December. The meeting on Thursday afternoon focused on social, educational and cultural co-operation, as...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will start with the question on employment rights. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, is leading on the legislation to abolish zero-hour contracts in some circumstances and also to give people more generally greater certainty about the hours they work and income earned. The legislation was published in December so perhaps Deputies missed it...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is the answer. The Bill was published in the first half of December. It supersedes the Bill put forward by Deputy Cullinane. I am keen to have it in the House as soon as the Business Committee can provide time for it. When we deal with the legislation, it is important we do not throw the baby out with the bath water. I refer to when provisions in contracts might make sense. For...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will start with the questions on the attendance of Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in Dublin. My Department, through its protocol division, is assisting the church authorities in the organisation and preparations that need to be made for that visit. Even though it is not formally a State visit, the assistance provided to Pope Francis will be the same as if it were. Pope...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together. The economic division of my Department supports me and the Government in developing and implementing economic policy aimed at sustainable and regionally balanced economic growth, well-planned infrastructural development and quality employment. The Cabinet committees and senior officials groups, supported by the division, help...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. On 31 August last, I held a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process with representatives of the Catholic Church, led by Archbishop Eamon Martin. I was accompanied at the meeting by the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and by the Ministers for Education and Skills; Health;...

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps this matter would be best raised with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. As I stated earlier on a previous question, it is only January. The budget has only just been set for the year and we are not in a position at this early stage in the year to reallocate funds within Departments or move funds from one Department to another.

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The North-South interconnector is vital energy infrastructure linking the North to the rest of Ireland in terms of energy infrastructure and networks. We await two reports on this matter which are being undertaken but which are not yet complete. The Minister, Deputy Naughten, will make a statement in due course.

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have an update on the GLAS payments to hand. They will be paid as soon as they can be. On fodder, the Minister, Deputy Creed, is developing a targeted scheme which may assist with the cost of transporting fodder. This is a serious problem in some regions and not in others, and anything that is done will be targeted.

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I reassure the Deputy that the Government has no plans to link the public services card to Internet usage, which I agree would be a restriction on privacy and people's freedom. I have no doubt the Minister of State, Deputy Daly's thoughts and proposals were well-intentioned but it is certainly not something the Government is proposing to do.

Order of Business (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We have no plans to do that. Chiropractors are not registered health care professionals. The only people who can prescribe a patient being exposed to radiation should be doctors or specialist nurses.