Results 1,741-1,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think a unilateral approach from Ireland would work in that regard. What might make more sense would be a tax or a requirement that sustainable aviation fuels be used over time. That might be a more realistic approach than the sledgehammer approach which would probably essentially say that Ireland is closed to investment from major companies into the future. On the energy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I again thank Deputies for their contributions. Deputy Durkan is correct that all Departments have to play a role in climate action, but obviously the ones that have to play the biggest role are the Departments of Transport; Environment, Climate and Communications; Agriculture, Food and the Marine; and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as those represent the areas that account for almost all...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. I join Deputy Bacik in welcoming the decision today to grant the Land Development Agency planning permission to build another 800 homes in Dundrum in south Dublin. This will be in addition to those under construction already by the LDA not too far away in Shanganagh. It will include a mix of social and affordable-for-purchase homes. As I do not...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is important that we build up surpluses in times of plenty.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We are doing exactly that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The approach of Sinn Féin seems to be see a surplus, spend a surplus and there is nothing left when we need it down the line. This is the pathway to a return to austerity. This is what I hear all the time from Sinn Féin. It is the glide path back to austerity.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Spend the surplus now and have nothing left when we need it most.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to Deputy Tóibín's question on a reduction in excise on petrol and diesel, we reduced excise on petrol and diesel by 15 cent to 20 cent at a time when it was 500 cent per litre at the pumps. It has come down considerably now. It is approximately €1.40 or €1.50. He pointed out that we have taken in a lot of revenue from VAT on petrol, diesel, gas and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to Deputy Ó Murchú's question, the duty of care law is now in the Seanad. We expect to have it enacted this year but that is not entirely under our control. Notwithstanding the fact that Beyoncé and Coldplay did not play concerts in Ireland, a large number of concerts are happening all over Ireland this year, including in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Slane. They have...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It is so that people who do not qualify for social housing and who used to qualify for nothing else now qualify for a cost rental. We need to review the limits every year to take into account house prices and earnings. We have increased them and I anticipate we will increase them some more. With regard to investment in the west, enormous investment is happening in the west of Ireland at...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Mark my words and somebody keep this for the future, in the unlikely event they ever form a government. To answer the question asked by Deputies Paul Murphy and Bríd Smith, in my view strikes are best avoided and they are always resolved in the end. They can be resolved bilaterally through talks. They can be resolved at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, or at the Labour Court....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There is always a problem with wording that might have unintended consequences in the Constitution. There is zero chance of it being privatised. It is not a company that turns a profit. I do not quite know who would purchase it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Action Plan (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 14, inclusive, together. The climate action unit in the Department of the Taoiseach seeks to co-ordinate and drive climate action across all Departments by assisting the work of the Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change and associated senior official groups. The Department also provides secretariat to the climate action delivery...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Deputy Tóibín raised the difficulties we have had with so many commissions of investigation taking so long and costing so much. I often meet people who request a commission of investigation into some matter or other. I am often very upfront with them and I say it will take years and could cost many millions of euro and they might not be...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On the immigrant investor programme, to be very clear, it does not involve passports or citizenship whatsoever. It never did. The programme involves a residency permit for a number of years if somebody makes a major investment in the State. Nothing specifically came up that was untoward about it. However, the numbers availing of it are much larger than we expected. Almost all came from...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 9, inclusive, together. The economic division in the Department develops and implements policy to promote sustainable economic development in areas such as job creation, housing, climate action, digital issues and wellbeing. This work is particularly focused on ensuring a co-ordinated approach to implementing the programme for Government and issues...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The only ongoing commission of investigation for which I am the specified Minister is the National Asset Management Agency Commission of Investigation. As with all such commissions, it is fully independent in its work. The NAMA commission was established in June 2017, following consultations with Oireachtas parties, to investigate the sale by NAMA of its Northern Ireland portfolio, known as...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to answer the Deputy Naughten's question at the end. With regard to Deputy Griffin's question, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services, planning delivery and operation. However, my offer made inquiries with Uisce Éireann on this issue today. I am informed there are two separate approved...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We are introducing new legislation and regulations on short-term letting such as Airbnb to restrict it in the cities, in particular. The proposed legislation is currently being reviewed by the European Commission. It is something we want to introduce, in particular in city centres and urban areas where there are such shortages of places to rent. As I said earlier, in response to questions...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have a date, but I am told the proposed legislation is on Committee Stage in the Seanad at the moment and will come back to the House after that. Certainly the intention is for it to come before the House before the summer recess.