Results 1,621-1,640 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: This is now a matter for the committee and I cannot speak on behalf of its chair or its members. They will have to make a decision on timelines. The Deputy asked me whether there would be a free vote here in the Chamber and there was. There will also be a free vote on Committee Stage.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There has been a reduction in fees and an extension of services over recent years. With regard to the particular services in Sligo and Roscommon that the Deputy has mentioned, I do not know the details or the reason the bus did not stop in Boyle but I will certainly let the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, know the matter was raised here and ask him to come back to the Deputy directly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am familiar with Cancer Connect. I know it provides a lifeline and a really important service to people, allowing them to get to CUH in Cork city for their treatment. There are a number of possible funding options. The HSE is one option. Other options might include the dormant account funds. Certainly, if I can be of any help, I am happy to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I read about the tragedy that happened in the Mediterranean and saw the pictures. Everyone is horrified by what occurred in the Mediterranean in that people have lost their lives at sea. My condolences go to the families of those who were lost. It is not fair to simply blame European governments and the EU. The people who are most responsible for these deaths are the human traffickers -...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Garda Commissioner is responsible for recruitment but the Minister for Justice keeps in regular contact with him about this important matter. Funding has been provided for 1,000 new Garda recruits this year. That remains our target for the year. We are confident that the number of new recruits this year will exceed the number of retirements and resignations. In addition, we are...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. As I said earlier at a different event, I think the figures produced by Women's Aid are very concerning. Just this year so far, five women have been killed as a consequence of domestic and gender-based violence. It is something the Government is acting on and is very concerned about. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, is taking the lead in implementing the strategy in that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The Government is committed to making childcare more affordable and more available, and to improving the quality of childcare and early education available to children and parents. I am happy to confirm there will be a further reduction in the cost of childcare for all parents next year. That will be in addition to the 25% average reduction that occurred last year. As...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----disingenuous.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The Government is doing everything it can to increase the supply of housing and to make it more affordable. More than 30,000 new homes were built last year. We expect a similar number to be built this year. There is a rent credit to help with the cost of renting and loads of schemes to help people to buy. We are seeing them make a difference. There are now 300 or 400...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is a forum, so people will be able to participate. That is the whole idea of it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I would have no difficulty - nor would the Tánaiste - in the report being debated in the House. I think that is a good idea, and I think that would be entirely appropriate. I just want to confirm that representatives of all EU member states have been invited to attend the forum.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: That includes Austria, Malta and Cyprus; and representatives from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland, which is neutral, have been invited to speak as panellists.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: To conclude, the aim of the forum is to hear from a variety of partners about their foreign and security policy choices. It will be an interactive forum.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: People will be invited to speak and make their contributions. Finally, on the issue of data centres, I have no difficulty having a debate about our policy on data centres but I suggest that Opposition time be used for that. We have a lot of legislation and we need to get it through by the recess. I suggest that Opposition time be used.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I should point out that the increase in the defence budget last year was €70 million. This is a Government that is committed to investing in our Defence Forces and making sure that they have better equipment. We have seen a significant improvement in pay in recent years and it now compares very favourably with other jurisdictions like the UK and the US, for example. To the best of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. His experience will be similar to that of many in this House who have been talking to parents, teachers, doctors and psychologists and who will be aware of the increasing demands on young people's mental health, in part due to the pandemic and in part due to other challenges and pressures they face. That is why we are investing very...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I assure the Deputy that we will take the INTO submission very seriously. We certainly have done so down the years. The ideas and advice it gives to the Government have very often been taken up by the Government. It is not always possible to do everything we want to do in any one given year but we can certainly do more over the years ahead. Again, I know the Minister, Deputy Foley, is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There is no hidden agenda here. I have told the Deputy exactly what we intend to do. We intend to increase and improve our Defence Forces and defence capability. We are founder members of PESCO, which is European foreign and security structured co-operation. For more than 20 years, we have been part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace. Interoperability is there to protect our troops...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm once again that Ireland will remain militarily neutral. We are not going to apply for NATO membership, or membership of any military alliance, nor will we sign up to any mutual defence pact or clause. The Tánaiste has made that very clear on a number of occasions, as have I. However, the security threats facing our country have changed. There are cybersecurity threats,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I heard the Deputy say that single first-time buyers have to earn €67,000 to buy their first home. The Deputy may have misread it or there may have been a different interpretation. I think the figure is that the median or average income of people buying their first home is €67,000. That, by definition, means that at least half of the people who bought their first home earn...