Results 1,641-1,660 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: It is true. I am sorry. I know I will be criticised for explaining these things but sometimes when things are factually untrue, it is legitimate to point out what is actually meant by average and median for people who may not fully understand it. The €3.5 billion budget for housing is the biggest budget ever. If there is any reason that we are struggling to spend it, it is...

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

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge that we have a very significant shortage and deficit of housing in Ireland and that the country is experiencing a very deep housing crisis that affects people in many ways, whether high rents, rising homelessness or the difficulty many people face in being able to buy their first home. The housing crisis is a reality for many reasons. These are a rapidly rising population,...

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

Leo Varadkar: The new national children's hospital will transform healthcare for children on our island. Elements of it are already open, including the ambulatory care centres in Blanchardstown and Tallaght. People who have taken their kids there will know quite how good healthcare can be when we have modern facilities. The main building has been under construction for quite some time, next to St....

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

Leo Varadkar: I do not know if a validation exercise was carried out in March, but I do know that snagging and checking-----

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

Leo Varadkar: -----is par for the course in any construction project.

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

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has not told me who the independent experts are. If she would give me the copy of the report, I would welcome that. Like I say, this is-----

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

Leo Varadkar: -----something that we have only heard about, as a Government, today.

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

Leo Varadkar: If the Deputy has this independent expert report, I would be happy to receive a copy so that we can verify whether the claims she is making, here in the Dáil, are true. There is no point in being facile about these things. An operating theatre is a room. In the US they call them operating rooms and emergency rooms. Let us be a bit grown up about these things.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together. The Cabinet Committee on the Economy and Investment was re-established in January 2023 and met on 25 May. The next meeting of the Committee is not yet scheduled.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Bodies (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: In line with its obligations under Circular 25/2016, the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of my Department, has the following dedicated email address for Oireachtas members: Oireachtas@nesdo.ie. This mailbox is monitored to ensure full compliance with target deadlines and standards in terms of acknowledgements and substantive responses to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Policies (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The priorities set out in the Department's Statement of Strategy 2021 - 2023, reflect the role of the Department to assist me as Taoiseach and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland’s interests abroad, to implement the Government’s Programme, and to build a better future for Ireland and all its citizens. The Shared Island...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Bodies (20 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: In Spring 2023, a Child Poverty and Well-Being Programme Office was established in the Department of the Taoiseach. Government decided that the Programme Office will focus on six priority areas. These are: 1. Income assistance and joblessness 2. Early learning and childcare 3. Reducing the cost of education 4. Family homelessness 5. Consolidating and integrating public health, family...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. The number of people sleeping rough was in or around 100, or just below that at last count. I do not know what the discrepancy is between the Simon Community count and the DRHE count. I will ask that question. It might relate to the time of night at which it is done. It might also relate to whether it is done on a single night or over an average...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies again for their questions. Deputy Hourigan raised the issue of the north inner city drugs and alcohol task force. I am afraid I do not have my file on the north east inner city with me but there is a report and an update on it. I do not have it to hand but I will certainly make sure the Deputy gets a reply later in the week on it. I will send it to other Deputies from...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There is €30 million for 2022, so the full amount allocated in that year was not spent. I was not aware of that. I am not sure it is correct but I will double-check because my impression had been the opposite in that any time any additional funding was provided for new medicines it was not enough. If that is the case, there is a problem so I will definitely check up on that this...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Question Nos. 21 to 26, inclusive, together. Cabinet committees meet as appropriate according to their work schedules. In addition to meetings of Cabinet committees, I often meet with Ministers on an individual basis to focus on particular issues, which are also regularly discussed at full Government meetings. From June to December 2022, the Cabinet committees on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (14 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy McDonald spoke about her visit to Letterkenny and her engagement with the chamber of commerce there. I have had the chance to visit the county on many occasions, including in recent months. I visited Tata Consultancy Services, TCS, a multinational company employing over 1,000 people now in Letterkenny, which is great to see. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 10 go 20 le chéile. The Cabinet Committee on Health met on 29 May and is due to meet again on 19 June. In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and of Cabinet committees, I meet Ministers on an individual basis to focus on different issues. I meet regularly with the Minister for Health to discuss progress and challenges in the area...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (14 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, together. The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, NCPC, published its annual competitiveness challenge report in September 2022. It makes recommendations to the Government across a range of policy areas. On 29 November 2022, the Government published a formal response to the council's recommendations. This is the third...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I again say that my thoughts are very much with the 650 people who have been put on temporary layoff. I understand this will have an impact on thousands of people, not just family members but also other people in Navan and Meath who will be impacted by this. Government will offer support in the form of income support, advice on job searching and options for the employees. However, our main...