Results 17,581-17,600 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I very much agree with the Deputy's sentiment. In Ireland, labour and employers support free trade. Left, right and centre support free trade. It was not always so and I am glad that it is one of the areas in which that argument has been won in the past couple of decades. We have a vast political consensus in Ireland in favour of free trade and its benefits to business, individuals and...

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----is reducing the tariff barriers. Obviously, if the Deputy wants to have that, it could be discussed with the Business Committee or perhaps be done in his party's time.

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I was here when the Deputy introduced the Bill. I have not had the chance to read it yet. We will certainly consider it when it is brought to the floor of the House. I think Deputy Ryan will agree with what we are trying to achieve here. First, we want to reward people who recycle, reuse, compost and reduce their waste. It is not right that somebody who does not do those things should...

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We will all agree that the provision of SNAs for children with special educational needs is essential. We want all children to be able to avail themselves fully of the educational opportunities that are made available to them in our schools. The Government is absolutely committed to that. We have shown proof of that in recent years. There are now approximately 13,000 SNAs. There are more...

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: They will hear this week. As I said, there will be an additional 975 SNAs in place for September. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, will give the detail in a statement this week. Therefore, everyone will know this week where they stand for September. In future years, the decision will be made much earlier because it will be part of the normal Estimates process, which is in October. There will...

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not want to comment in detail on yesterday’s raids because they form part of an ongoing investigation by European authorities. Nobody in this House wants to say anything that could prejudice that investigation. However, the whole issue of rising insurance costs is a big one and is severely impacting on individuals, families and businesses. It is not just the rising cost of...

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: However, what we want to see is a significant improvement in insurance costs, not just moderation. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission advised the Department of Finance that the raids in question were not connected to its current investigation of the motor industry. In addition, a press release from the European Commission stated:The European Commission can confirm that [on 4...

Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The actions that occurred yesterday, the actions taken by the Competition Authority in the past and by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in recent times, show real evidence that action is being taken to enforce competition law and ensure no collusion or cartels exist among businesses seeking to fix prices. We all acknowledge in this House that insurance costs have increased...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: To answer some of the questions, it is my intention to chair the Cabinet committees myself but clearly on occasion the Tánaiste may chair some of them in my absence. Cabinet subcommittees are useful in general. They allow the Taoiseach and other Ministers to be across what is happening in a lot of different Departments and they can be useful in troubleshooting issues before they get...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On occasion, yes. One could have the Taoiseach, Ministers, Ministers of State, their senior officials and their advisers. It would not be unusual for 25 people, 30 people or so to attend Cabinet subcommittees. That is not the best way of doing things.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I intend to change it. I expect there will be fewer Cabinet subcommittees, probably, approximately five. There will be an economic focused one, one focused on public services and social policy, another on EU affairs and international affairs, another on infrastructure and housing, and probably, we will retain a dedicated one on health given the high priority that will be attached to that....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Referendum Campaigns (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is a number of matters to speak to there. Everyone in this House has been involved in a number of referendums and we all know what is required to have a referendum. First, there needs to be wording, even if that wording is as simple as "delete the following sentence", so that has to be agreed with regard to all of these referendums. Secondly, there needs to be legislation. While it...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Referendum Campaigns (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The presidential election which may or may not happen, depending on whether there is an election, is in November 2018, and the European and local elections are the year after. People are going to the polls anyway in November 2018 and again June 2019, so there are potential dates.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Referendum Campaigns (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am very interested in hearing people's views on it. There is no proposal to have a referendum on CETA.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 10, inclusive, together. All Cabinet committees stand dissolved at the very end of every Government's term in office. I expect that the Government will shortly establish a small number of Cabinet committees to deal with specific aspects of policy, which I will chair.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to fisheries, to the best of my knowledge, we were not given any prior notice of the UK Government's notification that it intends to withdraw from the London Fisheries Convention. As I mentioned earlier, it has no immediate effect as withdrawal takes about two years. In reality, it will get tied up with the Brexit negotiations, which of course involve the UK leaving the Common...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to debates, I am scheduling them as a matter for the Business Committee, but Sinn Féin is free to use its time to discuss fisheries or marine matters at any time it so wishes. When it comes to committees, invitations are issued by the committees and not by me. We have of course discussed issues relating to fisheries and the reform of the CAP with both Commissioner Hogan and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----as to whether he believes the south east should be left out as we focus on development in other regions such as the mid-west, the south and the west, which he mentioned. Two things are in development that I believe will have a big impact on rebalancing our country and ensuring there are alternative poles of development to Dublin. One of those is Ireland 2040, the spatial plan that is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Referendum Campaigns (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 7, inclusive, together. Under the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government is committed to holding constitutional referenda on the following matters: Article 41.2.1, regarding a woman's life within the home; Article 40.6.1, on the offence of blasphemy; giving the office of Ceann Comhairle constitutional standing; and Ireland's...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet committee on regional and rural affairs last met on 9 May 2017. The Government will shortly make a decision to re-establish more streamlined Cabinet committee structures. The Cabinet committee on regional and rural affairs was established to co-ordinate the work of Departments that affect rural Ireland. Its main focus has been on the preparation and implementation of the action...