Results 17,201-17,220 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Information Service (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together. Communications is an essential part of effectiveness of any modern organisation. That is particularly true of Departments and public service bodies in all countries, given the impact of their activities on the lives of citizens. That is why communications should be treated as a strategic, whole-of-government activity which...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Information Service (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy can rest assured that there will not be anything like that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Information Service (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I think I have seen her on a bus though.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy very much.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I should point out that most of these were not issues that were discussed at Cabinet Committee E but I will try to answer some of them if I can. The medical cannabis regulation Bill was not discussed at the committee. The Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, formerly known as the Irish Medicines Board, has access to experts in pharmacology, medical staff and medical advice and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----as relates to section 39, I understand it relates to bodies that are funded in the main, although not entirely, by Government, in which staff are not considered to be public servants. As a result of that, these bodies were given a block budget from which to pay their staff salaries but also to pay for other things and are not therefore bound by FEMPI, either on the way up or on the way down.

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that it is expected to publish this legislation this session, so before Christmas. The legislation is being piloted by the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy.

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is expected that the legislation in question will be published in the next session.

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister provided an answer in respect of a question on that issue some moments ago. I do not remember the exact detail of his answer, but it was comprehensive.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. Cabinet committee E met on 12 September. A date for the next meeting is not yet confirmed. Cabinet committee E covers issues relating to the health service. As well as addressing current issues and challenges faced by the health service, the Cabinet committee will oversee the development of the Government's response to the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's questions would be more appropriately addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Cabinet considered and accepted the report yesterday and the Minister for Justice and Equality has been authorised to prepare legislation to allow the Garda representative associations to access the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court. It is already the case that the Garda...

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The heads of the Bill have been agreed and it is intended that they will go to pre-legislative scrutiny in committee during this session. While I cannot predetermine the outcome of the committee's deliberations, the legislation will go to committee for consideration in this session.

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: This is not a matter for the Government. I assure the Deputy and any conspiracy theorists online that I had no knowledge of and no hand, act or part in this. This is entirely a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission.

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The commitment is to continue to create an environment in which jobs are created and unemployment falls. That is happening. Unemployment continues to fall and is close to 6% at present. Long-term unemployment is approximately 3%. I doubt anybody thought five or six years ago that we would get long-term unemployment as low as 3% to 3.5%. Over 70% of jobs being created are outside Dublin,...

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There has been an increase of 6% in employment within the county. I am also advised by the Minister, Deputy Naughten, that in the past ten days six investors have visited Roscommon with a view to considering the county as a place to locate further employment. That is very welcome.

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I understand this was discussed at the Business Committee during the week. It agreed that it would go back to the sponsors. The sponsor would have to make contact with the Bills Office to have the Bill ordered. I am not sure if the Deputy has had a chance to get back to the Bills Office yet, but that is the plan. The Deputy is quite correct that the change of government happened in...

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Vacant homes and properties can be CPOed. We have had confirmation from the Attorney General that this can be done. 1 o’clock In fact, County Louth has led the way in compulsorily purchasing a number of vacant homes and putting them back into use to house people who need them. However, I agree with Deputy Danny Healy-Rae that it would not be appropriate to compulsorily purchase...

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot provide the House with any specific budgetary commitments today and, for reasons Members understand, will be unable to do so until the Estimates and budget are published. Health budget priorities are, ultimately, not decisions for the Department of Finance. They are decisions for the Department of Health and the HSE, which have the largest budget in the history of the State for...

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is very encouraging that we have seen a fall in unemployment and an increase in the number of jobs in every county in the past couple of years. Obviously, it is happening at a different pace in Sligo. Job creation was only at approximately 2% between 2011 and 2016, which is a much lower rate than in other places. Leitrim did a little bit better at about 6%. Some Border areas saw...

Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There are ongoing discussions between the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the cost of introducing a new scheme. I have politely encouraged both Departments and their respective Ministers to progress this matter with a view to having legislation enacted next year.