Results 1,901-1,920 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do think we will meet those targets. If we miss them, we will not miss them by much. I do not accept we are a laggard in this area. I take the view that we took the decision to prioritise onshore wind. It made sense. It was cheaper to do, easier to do and quicker to do. We prioritised that. Approximately 35% or 40% of our electricity comes from renewables now. That is not bad at all...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We will only take an action like that if we are confident and convinced that it actually will benefit consumers. We have to bear in mind that there is ideology and there is reality. From an ideological point of view, and I appreciate that the Deputy comes from a radical socialist left-wing ideology-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----price controls are always a good thing. We know from real experience that price controls can have negative consequences as well. This is most evident in socialist, state-run, planned economies like the Soviet Union and eastern Europe where they led to shortages, scarcity, rationing and, ultimately, a black market. We have to bear in mind experience from other jurisdictions and also...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: We have powers under the CCPC to carry out investigations into price fixing, price signalling and cartel-like behaviour. If anyone has evidence of that, I encourage them to come forward with it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There are other actions we can take as well. The meeting is happening today. The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, will be very clear in his message to retailers - when their input costs went up they put up prices and if their input costs are coming down now, we expect to see prices come down.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The safety of our skies and the control of our airspace involve a number of things. There are aspects that relate to defence and national security, whether it is incursions by foreign aircraft or the possibility of a hijacking happening over our airspace. Mainly, however, it is a matter of civil aviation and air safety in the way the Deputy explained very eloquently. What are we doing? We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Many of the measures I mentioned are not one-off measures. The reduction in the price of childcare is a permanent measure and we anticipate doing more in the forthcoming budget. The same applies to the reduction in the cost of public transport. I could go on. We have taken 20 or 30 measures and many of them are permanent rather than one-off. It is a tired narrative to say we are not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: When the Deputy misquotes and misrepresents somebody and puts words into their mouth, it just demonstrates the weakness of his argument. That is all it does. I will come back to that in a moment. Everyone accepts that inflation is a reality and that many people and families are struggling to make ends meet as a result of it. There are many factors behind the international inflation and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: It depends on the good or service. What can the Government do about it? First, we tax profits. I have nothing against companies making profits but they should not be making margins that are out of line with those in other jurisdictions. I have said that previously. We tax the profits of companies and will continue to do so. We have a powerful competition and consumer protection...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to do so. As I acknowledged earlier, we are experiencing food inflation. We now expect to see prices moderate or come down in the coming weeks and months, as they have in respect of petrol and diesel. We are doing three things. The Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, is meeting representatives of the Retail Forum today and will say to the retailers very clearly that if their...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: As I acknowledged in my reply to Deputy McDonald – I want to acknowledge it again – the Government understands and knows the price of energy has gone up a lot in the past year, as has the price of groceries. We appreciate that many individuals, families and households are struggling to make ends meet, and that is why we have taken action to increase people's pay, reduce the tax...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I beg your indulgence, a Cheann Comhairle, while I welcome the students from Coláiste Muire and St. Flannan's College in Ennis, who are here in Leinster House today. They are going to do a presentation later on sustainable communities. They are accompanied by Councillor Mary Howard. Deputies Cathal Crowe and Carey also wish to welcome them. They are all very welcome to the Chamber. ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Economic Policy (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Economic Division in my Department supports me and the Government in developing and implementing policy across relevant areas to support sustainable economic development including job creation, infrastructure, housing and climate action, and social dialogue. This work is particularly focused on ensuring a coordinated approach to the delivery of the Programme for Government and issues that...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Consultations (10 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Effective public consultation allows Government to make informed decisions on matters of policy, to improve the delivery of public services, and to improve the accountability of public bodies. As is set out in the guidelines on public consultations produced by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, there are three general principles that should underpin such work: ...

Europe Day: Statements (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Tá tábhacht bhreise ag baint le Lá na hEorpa i mbliana do mhuintir na hÉireann. Táimid ag comóradh 50 bliain mar bhall den Aontas Eorpach. Bhí ról tábhachtach ag ár mballraíocht i bhforbairt na tíre seo ó 1973 i leith. This year's Europe Day has additional significance for the Irish people. We are marking 50 years as a member...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Once again, I thank Deputies for their questions. Deputy Haughey raised the issue of Russian vessels operating off our coast. These vessels are in international waters rather than our territorial waters. They are permitted to be there but they are operating in our exclusive economic zone, which is of particular importance to us. The Naval Service and Air Corps are monitoring them. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Some of the Deputies asked about costs. From the time of its establishment until the end of March, the commission has cost €13.1 million, but this excludes third-party legal costs that have been incurred but not yet paid. These are a matter for the commission to determine. I do not have an estimate on that, unfortunately. Since it was established, the commission spent €6.2...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I apologise to the Deputy. I do not believe I have the answer to that question but I will come back to the Deputy by correspondence on that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Commissions of Investigation (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: There were a number of questions here, the responses for which did not relate to the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation commission of investigation, so I might come back to Deputies by correspondence if that is okay.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (9 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 23, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs was established by the Government on 18 January 2023. Its role is to oversee the implementation of programme for Government commitments relating to the European Union and international issues. The committee generally meets in advance of meetings of the European Council...