Results 16,561-16,580 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On PESCO, we have not yet made a decision, either as a Government and as a country, regarding whether we want to participate. We want to see the full details before we make that decision. It will require a decision at Cabinet followed by a decision of the Dáil, so there will certainly be consultation with the major Opposition parties before a decision is made. We are favourably...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Howlin asked what will happen if the DUP and Sinn Féin fail to form an Executive. I am loath to answer a hypothetical question.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Government cannot support a return to the kind of direct rule that existed 20 years ago prior to the Good Friday Agreement. With the agreement of the UK Government, some of the provisions of the Agreement, such as those relating to the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and the North-South Ministerial Council, could be brought into operation or back into operation. However, that...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not want Ministers from this Government meeting Northern Ireland Office Ministers. I would rather see Ministers from this Government meeting Ministers elected by the people of Northern Ireland to discuss these matters. To respond to the first group of questions asked by Deputy Pearse Doherty, I absolutely agree that this Government is neither an observer nor a commentator. It is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 17, inclusive, together. I had a constructive meeting with President Macron in Paris on 24 October last. Our exchanges covered bilateral relations, the Brexit negotiations and the future of Europe. We were each accompanied by a small team of officials and advisers. The meeting provided a welcome opportunity to review the strong bilateral relations...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Martin's analysis of the situation is largely accurate. In terms of our conversations with the UK Government, to the extent we have spoken about special arrangements they are in the context of the paper agreed by the EU 27. That paper attempts to make real the promises made to us. We have all heard the language of the past 18 months, that there should be no hard border, no return to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We spoke about housing and homelessness earlier on Leaders' Questions and I do not wish to repeat anything I said. I simply draw Deputies' attention to my remarks at the time. International statistics always come with a health warning and different countries collect statistics in different ways and have different definitions, whether for unemployment, GDP and pretty much everything. Some...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The question was about statistics. I am interested in talking about solutions. The leader of the Opposition has been in correspondence with my Secretary General about communications and I believe the latter has written a reply on the matter. I have not been party to that correspondence, which is from a unit in the Department, but I am sure Mr. Fraser has replied in full. The unit will...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is not true. I have read this story in the newspapers but as is often the case, such as it was with the "bonkers" assertion of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, just because it is in the newspapers again and again does not mean it is factually correct. I made no such order.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am indeed. I may yet be Europe's last optimist. This might be a good thing as Deputy Howlin is so glum.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 10, inclusive, together. I had telephone calls with the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, on 16 October and on 1 November. In our conversation on 16 October, we discussed the latest developments in Northern Ireland at that time and urged a rapid resumption of talks, with a view to restoration of the Northern Ireland institutions urgently in the...

Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2017: First Stage (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. My Department's primary role is to support me, as Taoiseach, and the Government in delivering on our programme. During the next three months, my Department will therefore support delivery of significant Government policy objectives, including the development of a ten-year capital investment plan alongside the national planning framework;...

Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The new scheme requires primary legislation and it is anticipated that the primary legislation will be put before the House next year.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Not to my knowledge. Perhaps a parliamentary question to the Minister for Finance would be more appropriate.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That is not promised legislation but I am sure the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade would be happy to answer in the form of a parliamentary question.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Being able to set aside €5 billion for research and development, particularly in light of the enormous demands that we face in housing, health care and other areas, is going to take some time.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is correct that unemployment is down and employment is up in every county and region. However, progress in this regard is uneven and Sligo has not performed as well as other counties. It will be a priority of Government in the months and years ahead to ensure that those parts of the country where the recovery has been slow will experience an acceleration in their recovery. A big...

Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I queried that but have not received a reply. I will follow up on it now that the Deputy has reminded me.

Order of Business (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That is not a bad suggestion. The legislation will be before the House shortly. The Deputy will have the opportunity to speak on it and, perhaps, table an amendment to that effect should he so wish. We should not, however, forget that 13 young people with learner permits, 11 of whom were unaccompanied, have died on our roads while driving this year. That puts the matter into perspective....