Results 61-80 of 40,263 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Referendum Campaigns (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The unauthorised disclosure of the Attorney General’s legal advice referred to in the Deputy’s question was unfortunate and inappropriate. The Attorney General provides legal advice to the Government and this advice is subject to legal professional privilege, in the same way as the legal advice provided to a private client by any solicitor or barrister. The proper operation...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Private Partnerships (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of the Department - do not currently oversee any PPP projects. The Department has no capital expenditure subhead in its Estimates.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (6 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the 60th meeting of the Munich Security Conference, a leading forum for the discussion of security and defence issues, from 16 – 17 February. I participated in a panel discussion on neutrality where I set out the value of Ireland’s military neutrality in a world of increased geo-political insecurity, including new cyber and hybrid threats. I also highlighted the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: All lump sum payments to civil servants retiring from the Department of the Taoiseach are paid from Vote 12 Superannuation and Retired Allowances overseen by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform subject to normal eligibility requirements. No discretionary exit payments have been made to staff in the Department or the National Economic and Social Development Office...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: All lump sum payments to civil servants retiring from the Department of the Taoiseach are paid from Vote 12 Superannuation and Retired Allowances overseen by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform subject to normal eligibility requirements. No discretionary exit payments have been made to staff in the Department or the National Economic and Social Development Office...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: All lump sum payments to civil servants retiring from the Department of the Taoiseach are paid from Vote 12 Superannuation and Retired Allowances overseen by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform subject to normal eligibility requirements. No discretionary exit payments have been made to staff in the Department. Ministerial personal staff employed on temporary...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I am conscious that quite a number of Deputies raised CAMHS and also CDNTs. I do not information broken down to local or county level. CAMHS receives dedicated funding of approximately €146 million annually, and €110 million of that has been provided to community-based mental health organisations and NGOs this year. A further €10 million was announced in January for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: On the issue of childcare fees, providers that are in the scheme have reduced their fees by approximately 25% and will reduce them by a further 25% in September. Providers that are outside the scheme are different because we do not control their fees. Even if we had a fully State-run system, I imagine there would still be private crèches and private childcare providers, unless one made...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 21, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on health last met on 12 February 2024 and is due to meet again shortly. Déanann an coiste comh-aireachta ar shláinte maoirseacht ar ghealltanais i gclár an Rialtais a bhaineann le sláinte agus faigheann sé tuarascálacha mionsonraithe ar réimsí beartais aitheanta....

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy Ó Murchú raised the issue of climate action. We are making measurable progress on climate. Emissions are falling and we expect them to fall again this year. This is against the backdrop of a growing economy and increasing population. Our per capita emissions have fallen considerably in the last 20 years, but they are still...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Deputy Ó Murchú raised the issue of Mr. John Molloy in Dunleer. A decision was made by Government today to increase the retirement age for those in uniformed services to 62 but I am not 100% sure if that will apply in this gentleman's case or whether it will kick in in time for him. If the Deputy wants to pass me on some details, I can...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Ba mhaith liom Ceisteanna Uimh. 9 go 15, go huile, a thógáil le chéile. Tugann an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Eacnamaíoch agus Shóisialta comhairle dom ar shaincheisteanna beartais straitéisigh a bhaineann le forbairt inbhuanaithe eacnamaíoch shóisialta agus chomhshaoil in Éirinn. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, advises me...

Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2024: Motion (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2024, copies of which have been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 1st March, 2024.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 1 go 8, go huile, le chéile. Déanann an coiste comh-aireachta um ghnóthaí sóisialta agus seirbhísí poiblí maoirsiú ar chur i bhfeidhm ghealltanais chlár an Rialtais i réimsí an bheartais shóisialaí agus seirbhísí poiblí. Clúdaíonn an coiste raon ábhar...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Regarding the issues Deputy Paul Murphy raised around animal welfare and conditions in pig farms, I would certainly encourage anyone who has evidence of animals being mistreated to pass the evidence on to the relevant authorities and that they should of course investigate them. On Deputy Verona Murphy's question, I absolutely acknowledge we have a real problem and a real deficiency in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Ellis for raising this important issue. I know the school, although I do not know the particular school project. I will have to inquire with the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and ask her to come back to the Deputy with some more detail. We have a very significant budget for school buildings this year, but many projects are falling behind. We need to make sure that we...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: This is something on which we are working. As the Deputy knows, I represent Dublin West, which is a rapidly growing area, as is the Deputy’s constituency now as well. There has been a big increase in population, and we have a huge school building programme across the country at the moment at primary and second level. There is a pipeline, and sometimes it moves very well and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I have been to Mallow many times. I agree that it needs its relief road. An allocation has been made for this year to progress the project. TII has the capacity, if it makes savings and underspends in other areas, to transfer funds to that project too. However, €300,000 will be adequate to progress the project. That is the important thing for the town.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The HSE has advised that the results of the review and the details of the individual cases were discussed and shared with the families involved in November and December 2023. That would cover the issue of open disclosure. I am advised the decision to publish the report widely rests with the Saolta University Health Care Group, but I see no reason why it could not published -in anonymised...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I will look into that. There is always a process to be followed with referendums. I have been involved in many of them, including those relating to marriage equality and repealing the eighth amendment to the Constitution. The Government would always take on board what a citizens' assembly or convention has to say. It would also look at what an all-party committee would have to say. We...