Results 16,221-16,240 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Order of Business (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think so.

Order of Business (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I would not support it if it cost €3 billion.

Order of Business (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I would like to lead the House in paying tribute to the former Chief Justice, Thomas Finlay, who died at the weekend and was buried today. Over the course of 50 years he made an extraordinary contribution to the law in Ireland in a life devoted to public service. We should also remember that Mr. Justice Finlay served in the Dáil with great distinction in the 1950s. He was an eloquent...

Order of Business (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps they want our airforce.

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: First, I did not mention the HAP scheme. That is a separate issue. None of the homes to which I referred would be in that space. To answer the Deputy's question, we will give full consideration to the proposal she is making in respect of the lands at Damastown. We will, of course, need to see the proposal, test it and see if the business plan stacks up, particularly the Deputy's claim...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: First, I do not agree with the Deputy about rent pressure zones. They are far from perfect but I believe they are working. Some 60% of people in tenancies are now covered by rent pressure zones and, as a result, they are assured their rent will rise by no more than 4% a year. Therefore, the 60% of people who are renting have that assurance, which is a very big assurance, that their rent...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We operate a particular line of communications. As Deputy Howlin knows, Mr. Barnier heads up the Barnier negotiating task force but that is a creature of the Commission. The Barnier task force reports to the Commission and to the President of the Commission. When I speak to an interlocutor, I speak to the President of the Commission, Mr. Juncker as my counterpart in the set up and also to...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will pick up on one or two points. There was an exchange of text including different options, one being no regulatory divergence and the other being regulatory alignment. On Sunday night, we were satisfied that we could accept either of those sets of words and regulatory alignment was what was accepted by the British negotiators on Monday morning. We have also agreed a mechanism...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: To clarify what I said earlier, what we agreed yesterday was the whole text, not just principles. We agreed principles and a detailed text and we had confirmation of that from President Juncker and President Tusk to whom I spoke last night. The principles and the basic outcome that we want are shared by all parties in this House and I am encouraged by and grateful for the support we have...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The text was agreed by the negotiation teams on both sides yesterday morning and was confirmed to me in telephone calls with the EU Commission President, Mr. Juncker, and the European Council President, Mr. Tusk, during the morning as well. It was only during the lunch that we got information that a problem had arisen. It is always the case with these agreements that nothing is agreed until...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I agree that the absence of an Executive in Northern Ireland has been very unhelpful in the past year when we have been trying to secure a good agreement for Ireland and Northern Ireland. Before the Executive was collapsed there was an outline letter written by First Minister Foster and deputy First Minister McGuinness which set out principles which are not very different to what was agreed...

Leaders' Questions (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the considerable work done in recent weeks, particularly over the weekend, to seek an agreement. I refer to the work done by Ministers, officials and diplomats in Dublin, Brussels and elsewhere. I very much regret that it was not possible to conclude the deal yesterday, as had been envisaged, agreed and sequenced. The Government very much wants to move to phase 2. It does...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The European Council will meet in Brussels on 14 and 15 December. The draft agenda for the main meeting consists of security and defence - including Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) - and social, educational and cultural matters - where we expect a report on the recent Gothenburg Social Summit, and the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Foreign policy issues might...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Funding (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has provided no funding to the groups in question.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I met with President Tusk in Dublin on Friday 1 December, when we discussed progress on the Brexit negotiations. I reiterated the need to ensure sufficient progress on the Irish-specific issues - maintaining the Common Travel Area, protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the gains of the peace process, and avoiding a hard border - before moving to phase two of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Freedom of Information Data (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together. From the beginning of this year to 29 November, my Department received 325 requests under the Freedom of Information Act of which 50 were fully granted, 117 were partially granted, 87 were refused (including 60 where no records were held), 8 were transferred to other public bodies, 10 were withdrawn and 5 were handled outside of FOI....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (5 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Fresh Start Agreement concluded in 2015 between the British and Irish Governments and the main political parties in the North, the Irish Government reaffirmed its existing commitment to providing funding of £50 million for the A5 Western Transport Corridor serving the North West and also committed an additional £25m to the project. A Senior Officials Group was...

Appointment of Tánaiste: Statement by An Taoiseach (30 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to announce for the information of the Dáil that I have nominated the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney of Cork South-Central, to assume the Office of Tánaiste.

Nomination of Member of Government: Motion (30 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I move:That Dáil Éireann approves the nomination by the Taoiseach of Deputy Josepha Madigan for appointment by the President to be a member of the Government. Pursuant to section 4(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1946, I have assigned the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation to Deputy Heather Humphreys of Cavan-Monaghan. I have now moved that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Climate Change Policy (29 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Joan Burton may not have heard the answer to the original question she asked. I am not going to Paris on 12 December. I will not be seeking any handout. I will not even be present; I will be in the House-----