Results 17,761-17,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I intend to raise that the European Council met Thursday and Friday last and I and the other 27 European leaders present reaffirmed our commitment to the Paris climate change agreement. This will be the first time for me to speak to anybody representing the US Administration since my election as Taoiseach and I do not know how many issues I will have a chance to raise. To date, tax policy...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No legislation is pending on that but I will ask the Minister, Deputy Creed, to contact the Deputies directly to answer their questions.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I read the agreement yesterday and I am due to speak to the Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May, later this evening about this matter and the ongoing talks in Belfast. The agreement states the British Government's ongoing commitment to the Belfast Agreement but also states that the British Conservative Party is a unionist party, as if anyone did not know already. Just as that party asserts its...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick for raising this important issue. I agree that local authorities require greater flexibility in how they apply commercial rates. Perhaps a rates break could be given to new businesses. Distinctions could be made between different types of businesses on our main streets. Many such provisions are provided for in the commercial rates Bill, the heads of which were...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: A number of other Bills are going through the Oireachtas at present. For example, Order for Second Stage and Second Stage of the Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill 2017 will be taken this week. In addition, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, will have the social welfare reform Bill ready and we hope to get that through before the recess. We are working on getting the Public...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: What?

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I left the Bill in the Seanad over a year ago and it has not moved from there since.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I think it is time for progress to be made on it. The Technological Universities Bill has been delayed. Following negotiations with the TUI - the union that represents the lecturers - it seems that 70 or 80 amendments need to be made to the Bill as a consequence of the agreement that has been reached. I am not sure if the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, wants to add...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Based on the recent numbers we have seen, rent caps appear to be working. Rent increases have moderated in the areas of rent pressure zones to which the rent caps apply, and the extension to new areas is based on the criteria as set out in the legislation. It does not apply to new landlords. If a person decides to let out his or her place or to buy somewhere with a view to renting it out,...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We have no legislation on the books, or planned at present. The new Minister of State with special responsibility for local government and electoral reform, Deputy John Paul Phelan, will respond to the Deputy before 30 June, as committed to before. During the debate on the matter at the time, we discussed the difficulty in having a Dublin super mayor over the four local authorities. What...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We do provide some financial support, through the tax system, for example, where 20% of the cost of IVF services is tax deductible. Many of the medicines that are required for the process are made available on the drugs payment scheme and on the General Medical Services scheme. There is some financial support, but it is much less than what is provided in other countries. My view is that as...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware, debate on the Bill starts in the Dáil this evening. Nine and a half hours are being provided for Second Stage of the Bill, which is quite a lot. If it is possible for everyone to have his or her say in nine and a half hours, the Bill can then proceed to Committee Stage next Thursday and Report Stage the following Thursday.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: So, yes it is realistic that we can get the legislation at least through this House and into the Seanad before the recess. I am mindful of the comments of others. I do not want to see the legislation rushed through. If people want to have a third debate on it and to have amendments debated that should be allowed as well, but I believe it is within the capacity of this House to meet those...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid the Deputy will have to raise that directly with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. I am in general agreement with the Deputy that we should have such a protection scheme in place. It is very important that the deposits which tenants pay are held by an independent body, not by a landlord. That should be the case for all sorts of obvious reasons....

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will direct the question to the Minister for Education and Skills.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is statements.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There are no votes on statements.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I imagine this is an item on which the Business Committee would have decided. I do not have a problem having a vote on it but I imagine it was something decided by the Business Committee.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The proposal is as agreed by the Business Committee. It is for statements, not a motion. I imagine this could go back to the Business Committee next week and somebody could table a motion or put it down as a Private Members' motion.

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Adoption (Amendment) Bill has been through the Seanad and Dáil, and the amendments now need to be taken back to the Upper House. That is listed to be done on 13 July. Last week, I spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, about the gambling control Bill, which is now very advanced. We hope to have that in the next session. As the Deputy says, having proper regulation in...