Results 17,781-17,800 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: These are really matters for the Business Committee rather than matters to be resolved in this forum. The Ceann Comhairle is correct in saying that the reason the debate cannot happen on Wednesday or Thursday morning is because the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, along with a number of other Ministers, will be attending the national economic and social dialogue in Dublin Castle. That dialogue...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have not seen the report. It has not gone to Cabinet and has not been published yet. I understand parts of it may have appeared in a newspaper, but I do not know to what extent they are the truth or the full truth. The report has not gone to the Attorney General who has to consider whether it needs to be redacted because individuals are named in the report and they may need to have their...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have an answer to that question. I have not yet had any dealings with the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement so I cannot say it has misled me. I certainly have not had any dealings with it in the past 11 days, as Taoiseach, or in my previous briefs. I do not believe it misled me, but if the Deputy has a question to ask of a line Minister, I imagine she will do that in...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As I said, I have only become aware of this case in the last couple of hours. I would like to be able to give the Deputy more definitive answers than I can at present. It may well be the case that the people who were the decision makers in this case followed the rules to the letter and did not allow for a degree of compassion and humanity. There is anad misericordiamprinciple that exists...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: To pick up on some of Deputy Howlin's remarks, I am sure he is aware from his constituency work that the waiting times for home care packages have considerably improved in recent months due to the additional resources that have been provided by Government, with the largest health budget now in the history of the State. When it comes to additional fees for nursing homes, the Minister is...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot tell the Deputy who made the individual decision in this particular case, because I do not know, but I can tell her how the system works or does not. The first step in the application process is a care needs assessment to identify whether an applicant needs long-term nursing home care. This is carried out by a health care professional appointed by the HSE by means of a common...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Absolutely.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I want first to clarify slightly my answer earlier that the Bill is of course open to amendments. We will of course have to consider amendments case by case.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of the case Deputy McDonald raises, I read the media reports on the case this morning. It is something that should not have happened. I am very upset to hear that an elderly couple in their final years could be separated in this way. I think this decision was devoid of common sense and humanity. My heart goes out to them for what they have endured at the hands of our bureaucracy...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have immense respect for the current Chief Justice, whom I have known since I was a teenager, and also the office of the Chief Justice. It is not the case in either England or Scotland that the chief justice in those jurisdictions chairs their judicial appointments committee, so I do not see that as a denigration of anyone's office. It is very much the precedent in our neighbouring...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to take advice as to whether I can publish that letter. There is no objection to the proposed legislation in the letter that has not already been flagged or appeared in the newspapers. There was a meeting some months ago involving the Chief Justice, the Taoiseach at the time and the Tánaiste, Deputy Fitzgerald, to discuss the Government proposals. There has been engagement...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Those things will not change. They are in the Constitution. This legislation is about the process by which three names are put to the Government. The judicial appointments will put three names to the Government. From those three names, the Government will choose a judge. The legislation will also prevent canvassing. It will require that merit be the criterion for the appointment of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 18, inclusive, together. The Cabinet Committee on Health last met on 30 May. A date for the next meeting is not yet confirmed. I have said that I intend to reconfigure the Cabinet Committees into a smaller number. I expect to do this shortly.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Advisers Appointments (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 to 22, inclusive, together. Having appointed Ministers and Ministers of State to their various portfolios across Government, I will reflect on how my Department can best support the important work ahead for the Government. I will continue to meet officials in the Department and decide over the coming weeks what changes might be required. I am also...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The European Council took place on 22 and 23 June. The agenda dealt with: security and defence; external relations; the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; jobs, growth and competitiveness; Digital Europe; and migration. I spoke with most of the other leaders over the course of the two days. In my conversations, I reiterated my strong commitment to keeping Ireland at the heart of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Following my election as Taoiseach, I spoke by phone with both Chancellor Merkel and President Macron. I updated both leaders on developments in Northern Ireland, and we agreed to work closely together to address the challenges facing the Union, including Brexit. On Monday 19 June, I met with Prime Minister May in London. We discussed Northern Ireland and the need to re-establish devolved...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The European Council took place on 22 and 23 June. The agenda dealt with: security and defence; external relations; the Paris Agreement on Climate Change; jobs, growth and competitiveness; Digital Europe; and migration. I spoke with most of the other leaders over the course of the two days. In my conversations, I reiterated my strong commitment to keeping Ireland at the heart of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together. The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, Environment and Climate Action last met on Monday 15 May 2017. Consideration is currently being given to streamlining the Cabinet Committee structures.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together. The Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform last met on 7 March 2017. The date of its next meeting has not yet been confirmed. Consideration is currently being given to streamlining Cabinet Committee structures.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on Regional & Rural Affairs last met on the 9th of May 2017.