Results 17,541-17,560 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps we should not separate the request if circumstances are much the same. We are providing €1.4 million in funding through the emigrant support programme and some of that is being used to assist people with immigration law problems in the United States. For example, additional funding is now being made available to the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers to produce a fact...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 10, inclusive, together. I spoke by phone with Prime Minister May on 27 June, when we discussed the ongoing talks process in Northern Ireland and our strong commitment to supporting the peace process as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. We agreed to continue to work together to support the parties in reaching agreement to allow the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 7, inclusive, together. I spoke to President Trump by telephone last week. It was a short call, similar to a number of calls I have had in recent days. The President asked about Brexit and its impact on Ireland, as well as the peace process and the ongoing efforts to reinstate power-sharing in Northern Ireland. I outlined the current situation,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am fascinated to hear that President Trump attended a Sinn Féin fundraiser.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is new information for me and very curious. I can confirm that he has not attended any Fine Gael fundraiser, to my knowledge. I have appointed Deputy John Deasy as a Government envoy to the US Congress, particularly to deal with issues around migration and the undocumented Irish. It does not supersede anyone else's role. It does not supersede the role of the Minister for Foreign...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is an extra person.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have answered those questions in the past. I did so in front of a television camera and what I said is there for anyone to see.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not wish to withdraw or repeat it because we have a relationship that we must build and maintain between our two countries. It is a very important relationship, one that will last longer than any President or Taoiseach or Administration or Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I said before and will say again that in meetings and engagements with the US Administration we will not hesitate to share our views with it on issues such as human rights and climate change and areas of foreign policy where we disagree. Countries that are friends - America is a friend of Ireland's - should be able to speak the truth to each other and we will do so.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----and clinical leadership make a huge change.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet this morning approved the establishment of new Cabinet committees. There will be five Cabinet committees, lettered A, B, C, D and E, one covering broadly economic policy; one covering broadly public services and social policy, one dealing with Brexit and European affairs, one dealing principally with infrastructure and housing and a fifth one dealing principally with health. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The strategy statement will be a strategy statement for the Department of the Taoiseach. As there is a new Minister in the Custom House, there will also need to be a new strategy statement for the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. I imagine that will be the statement which will deal with and answer some of the questions the Deputy has raised. The Rebuilding...

Planning and Development (Rapid Broadband) Bill 2017: First Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. In accordance with the Public Service Management Act 1997 a new three-year statement of strategy will be prepared by my Department within six months. The current Statement of Strategy 2016 - 2019 reflects the role of the Department which is, to support the Taoiseach and the Government, to develop a sustainable economy and a successful...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have not received the advice yet but I also have not followed up on the matter. I will do that because I would like the matter concluded before the House rises. A new strategy statement is required because the Public Service Management Act requires that any time there is a change of Taoiseach or a change of Minister in any Department a new strategy statement must be produced within six...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As Taoiseach, I am head of the Government and it is my responsibility to drive the implementation of the programme for Government. The programme for Government includes an extensive section on health. It is my responsibility to work with the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to ensure that it is implemented and that is exactly what I intend to...

Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It will not be possible to bring the legislation through before the recess, but it will be before the autumn.

Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That will obviously be a matter for discussion in the Estimates process in the run-up to the budget. However, as is and has been the case in previous years, I am confident that there will be additional funding for mental health services, on which spending has gone up by almost €100 million in the past five years. However, the needs are great and, as a result, further resources will...

Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the report is with the Attorney General.

Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The current state of play is that the national broadband plan is going ahead. Contrary to some reports, the process has not been paused. It is continuing in parallel with the commercial deployment of high-speed broadband by commercial operators. A total of 52% of premises in Ireland have access to high-speed broadband. With the national broadband plan that figure will rise to at least 77%...