Results 17,641-17,660 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----were previously made by the HSE board and would subsequently be made by the Director General of the health service, and not by the line Minister of the time. That is and has been the case for the last ten years. Indeed, the HSE, which was established by Deputy Martin-----

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----was established in part for that purpose in order to take clinical decisions and decisions such as that away from the Minister for Health or other politicians.

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There are two other points that I believe are worth making. The Deputy seems to be conflating the issue of a second cath lab with 24-7 services. One can have two cath labs and not have a 24-7 service. As was-----

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----the case in St. Vincent's University Hospital for quite some time, a single cath lab ran a 24-7 service. Therefore, I believe there is an error in understanding there. We could have a single cath lab running a 24-7 service-----

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----and one can have two cath labs not running a 24-7 service. I believe it is important not to conflate the two issues. The Deputy also knows from his own time as Minister for Health that if it were possible to provide 24-7 emergency services of all sorts, not just cardiology, in every county or town, we would of course do so.

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: However, it is not possible to do so. The reasons for that are that in order to make it sustainable, one needs to be able to staff it adequately. One also needs to have an adequate number of patient throughput for staff to retain their skills. That is why there is only a small number of these centres in the country. In Scotland, for example, which is a similar size country, there are only two.

Leaders' Questions (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Once again, on behalf of the Government, I convey my sincere condolences to the family of Thomas Power on their very sad loss. As the Deputy knows, I cannot comment on individual cases. However, I stress the importance of patient confidentiality and patient privacy. The Minister for Health expects, as I do, that all proper procedures will take place with regard to the examination of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Housing Data (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Census of Population 2016 publications include a comprehensive report titled Profile 1 - Housing in Ireland which was published on the Central Statistics Office website on 20 April 2017. There are five electoral divisions in the Bray area and the following statistics on vacant properties are available. Electoral Division Housing Stock Total Occupied Temporarily Absent Vacant houses...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Government Information Service (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As I stated in my reply of 20 June, 2017, the Government Information Service is comprised of: - Government Press Secretary; - Deputy Government Press Secretary; - Assistant Government Press Secretary (Vacant); - Two Assistant Principal Officers, one of whom is assigned to MerrionStreet.ie; - Four Press Officers (Higher Executive Officer equivalent) - there are currently vacancies in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s position in relation to the border with Northern Ireland in the context of Brexit is very clear. Continued freedom of movement, absence of an economic border, and protection of the Good Friday Agreement are key objectives for the Irish Government. We want to see the closest possible future relationship between the EU and the UK. We want to maintain the reciprocity...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Dáil Reform (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to Dáil Reform, this Government continues to build on the Oireachtas reform packages introduced by the last Government. Implementation of the Programme for a Partnership Government requires a new relationship between the Government and Oireachtas. This is reflected in significant Dáil reforms which are being implemented, providing a significantly greater role for...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Data (4 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Brexit is treated as a crucial cross-cutting issue by my Department, through the International, EU and Northern Ireland Division, under a Second Secretary General who also acts as the Irish Sherpa in EU matters, including Brexit. While the Division handles a range of responsibilities across international, EU and British and Northern Ireland relations, Brexit is the dominant issue at...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (29 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Malaria is a serious disease and is a threat to any military force operating in areas where the disease is prevalent. There are three anti-malarial drugs in use by the Irish Defence Forces, namely Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline. The choice of medication for overseas deployment, including the use of Lariam, is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (28 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As we are speaking about engagements with foreign leaders, I take the opportunity to inform the House that the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Justin Trudeau, will visit Ireland next Tuesday with his family. I look forward very much to his visit and to renewing the long-standing bonds of friendship that exist between Canada and Ireland. As countries, we have a great deal in common given our...

European Council: Statements (28 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Last Thursday and Friday, I travelled to Brussels for a meeting of the European Council where I joined with other leaders to discuss a range of important issues facing the Union. This was my first meeting of the European Council since being elected Taoiseach and it was a very useful opportunity to meet all my EU counterparts. In addition to informal exchanges in the margins of the meeting,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council Meetings (28 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 15, inclusive, together. I travelled to Brussels on 22 and 23 June to attend a meeting of the European Council. As I reported to the House last week, the agenda dealt with security and defence; external relations; the Paris Agreement on climate change; jobs, growth and competitiveness; digital Europe; and migration. There was also a presentation by...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (28 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have not figured out the composition of my advisory team yet. I want to have a working understanding of my new role before I form a full working team and I also want to have a better understanding of what good expertise exists in the Department already and which I will avail of fully. Where there are gaps I will try to fill those with my advisory team. I will of course endeavour to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (28 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot clear up that particular issue because I am not sure what it refers to. It may refer to a story I saw in the Sunday Mail, which certainly was not quoting me and did not claim to quote me. It claimed to quote some anonymous source, and as is always the case from things I see from anonymous sources in the newspapers, I may have my suspicions as to who said it. These things are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (28 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is absolutely not my thinking. On the issue of gender balance within my ministerial team, as the Deputy knows we select our Ministers from Parliament. It is different in other countries, where Ministers may be selected from outside Parliament. Of the 12 female Deputies who support this Government, seven are Ministers, including the Tánaiste and five women who sit at the Cabinet...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (28 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On the issue of Brexit, as Taoiseach I will be attending the European Council. The treaties and the rules are clear as to who can attend the European Council and who cannot. I will be attending the European Council and dealing with European affairs and Brexit at that level, that is, at the level of Prime Minister, the Commission and the Council. I am ably supported by a team lead by Mr....