Results 16,641-16,660 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: ----- than it was previously. I myself signed that order 18 months ago. The kind of GP that my father would have been was willing to get up and go out on house calls every night, would come home to find my mother would have a message for him to go out again, and would work every weekend. The world has changed and lifestyles have changed. Also, the nature of general practice has changed...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps this question would be best addressed to Dublin City Council or to the members of the largest party on Dublin City Council-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----which is, of course, the Sinn Féin Party, who are doing a terrible job for our city and who are much more interested in having votes about what flags they will fly-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----than dealing with the concerns of people in Ballymun and Finglas.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I am not familiar with the particular statutory instrument. My understanding is that, under the rules of the House, the House can rescind a statutory instrument within a certain number of days.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure whether it is 21 days or 21 sitting days. I am also unsure about the mechanism by which that is done because it is not in my purview to control the business of the House.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That provision, which is being brought forward as an amendment to the Road Traffic Act, was approved by the Cabinet yesterday. I draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that 13 people with learner permits, mainly young men and women, have died on our roads so far this year and of these, 11 were driving unaccompanied. Perhaps if they had complied with the law and had been accompanied, they...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The scheduling of the business of the House is a matter for the Business Committee. On the road traffic law consolidation legislation, this is, it is fair to say, a longstanding project in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I am not sure how much progress has been made on the legislation as yet.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: A consolidated Bill would be a very good step forward. We have consolidated corporate law and taxation legislation. Road traffic law is heavily litigated and the fact that there are so many Acts amending and overlapping other Acts makes it even easier for solicitors to get their clients off when they should not get off. I will discuss the matter with the Minister as I would like to see it...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There will be no Government mission to North Korea. Having said that, Members of the House are free to travel anywhere they like in their own capacity and at their own expense.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question would be best addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills. I will, however, share one thought with him. The number of teachers being hired is increasing every year. We hired 2,000 extra teachers this year and 2,000 last year. We are not having a significant difficulty hiring teachers. However, it may be that because we are hiring teachers and so many of them...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the decision was made by the Citizens Information Board and is not one for the Minister or House. I reassure the Deputy, however, that there are no plans to close any of the local Citizens Information Board centres or MABS offices. What is happening is the regionalisation of the board structures for reasons of good corporate governance. However, the local MABS offices and...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the Bill is on Report Stage. I cannot say when it will be completed as that is obviously a matter for Members and dependent on the number of amendments tabled and the outcome of votes. The Government is keen to have the Bill completed by the end of the year.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick for raising this important matter and extend again my condolences to Mr. Goss's family in County Louth. Yesterday, the Cabinet discussed the response to Storm Ophelia. Although I believe that, in the round, people accept the storm was well managed, there are always lessons that can be learned and lessons can be learned from the deaths that occurred. A report will...

Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: To the best of my knowledge, "No". I do not know, but I do not think so.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: October certainly was a bad month in terms of overcrowding in our hospitals. It is important to examine the statistics produced by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation to see the extraordinary variance that arises among hospitals. Deputy Martin mentioned a number in which the figures were very bad, including the hospitals in Limerick and Kilkenny. These hospitals have new emergency...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not believe any legislation is promised on that matter, but I will ask the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Murphy, to correspond with the Deputy directly.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The legislation is done, as the Deputy acknowledges, and it is something I strongly support. It will be beneficial to have a system by which deposits are held by a third party and not by the landlord for many reasons that people in the House will understand. I understand there have been some difficulties in getting the system set up. However, I do not have up-to-date information on it. I...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No legislation is proposed.

Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will not discuss specific individual allegations in this House. It is very important that all allegations are taken seriously and fully investigated but it is also important that we remember that allegations are allegations and no matter what form of crime or violence is being alleged people do have a right to due process and to have their good name protected. I would encourage the Deputy...