Results 1-20 of 603 for land speaker:Leo Varadkar

Did you mean: and speaker:267?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: ...more trucks through, and that is being done. The US also has proposals to build a temporary jetty or port to allow more aid to get through. I think we all agree that it needs to go through by land, however; there is only so much that can be done by port and air. We have had conversations with Jordan about how we might be able to help in a practical way, but the main way we can help is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: ...tríd an chreidmheas cánach cíosa - €750 do dhaoine aonair, €1,500 do lánúin nó os cionn €2,000 do thriúr ag roinnt. We are putting a month's rent back in people's pockets through the rent tax credit, which is €750 for an individual, €1,500 for a couple and more than €2,000 for three people who are sharing. The...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: ...town to migrants. It is a town that has its troubles, but one which we have put a lot of investment into in recent years for new roads, new housing and major improvements at the hospital and IDA lands purchased to drive job creation. Many good things are happening in Drogheda. Certainly, the situation around criminal activity in gangs has improved considerably as well. I thank the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: ...clear. On Deputy Conway-Walsh's question on forestry, I am not familiar with the Craggagh proposal but I will bring it to the attention of the two Ministers. I agree we should support farmers, landowners and Coillte to plant trees on our lands for forestry, timber and recreation, but I do not believe we should lock out or exclude private finance. There is a role for all.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: ...this Government and previous Governments in the past ten years have been to social housing. We are also trying to reduce the cost of building homes by waiving development levies, servicing more land, reducing the cost of finance and focusing on vacancy and help to buy. Let us never forget what help to buy is. This is tax that people have already paid. It is their own tax they are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: ...We are also seeing the benefit of recent measures to bring vacant and derelict homes back into use, with just over 3,000 applications approved for the vacant property refurbishment grant. On State lands, building started on a number of sites during the final months of 2023. This includes almost 2,000 new homes in the Dublin City Council area and over 200 new social and affordable homes...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...to 22, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social, and environmental development in Ireland. NESC was established in 1973 and celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. I spoke at a conference last week to mark this occasion, which demonstrated NESC's history and role in providing...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...first-time mortgage approvals exceeded 30,000, well over 500 per week. In many cases, these were helped by the first home and help-to-buy schemes, which the Opposition wants to abolish. On State lands, building is under way on sites in Cork and Dublin which, between them, will provide over 850 homes and the Land Development Agency, LDA, now has planning permission for over 2,500...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...that the Government is not trying to go to battle with anyone. We are just trying to build a North-South interconnector, which is important for energy security, the environment, North-South co-operation and the all-Ireland electricity market. I cannot answer any questions about purchases EirGrid has or has not made but I will pass the question on to it for reply. In reply to Deputy...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: .... Perhaps it needs a specific provision in the Planning and Development Act. I know the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is willing to examine that and to work with the Opposition on it. The Land Development Agency, LDA, is ramping up the construction of new homes, in particular, affordable housing. The LDA currently has access to €1.25 billion of capital from the Ireland...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...flow entirely when there are hundreds of millions of people on the move in the world. Within weeks of a Government being elected in Italy very much the basis of on an anti-migration platform, more people landed on the island of Lampedusa than live there. We saw the attempts of former President Trump in the US. Huge numbers of people arrived throughout his presidency. We also know what...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (22 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...pace than at any point in over a decade. In the 12 months to September, first-time mortgage approvals exceeded 30,000, helped in many cases by the first home and help to buy schemes. On State lands, building is underway on sites in Cork and Dublin which between them will provide over 850 homes, and the LDA now has planning permission for over 2,500 additional homes. This is on top of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (21 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: What is clear is that what the Palestinian people have faced for 75 years is dispossession, the loss of their lands and being made into refugees. They have not got the level of support that they should have from the international community to date. The most important thing now is that we secure a ceasefire so that the violence and killing stops, aid can get into Gaza and hostages can get...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...vote for it on the second vote. In relation to Shannon Airport, under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly and land in the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This is subject to strict conditions with full respect to Ireland's policy of military neutrality, including...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (8 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...new reconstitution and underplanting scheme, RUS, was introduced in 2020. As of 4 October, the native tree area scheme is open for applications. It will allow farmers to plant up to 1 ha of native woodland without the need for a licence or up to 2 ha if they have a suitable watercourse. Farmers will be paid €2,000 per hectare tax free each year for ten years under the scheme. It...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Nov 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...control its borders but it is seeing record numbers of people arriving now on boats. Italy elected a Government that promised to crack down on immigration but in the past few weeks more people landed on Lampedusa than live on the island. It is not realistic to think it is possible to put a cap on the number of people who might arrive in one's country seeking international protection,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to double-check with the Minister of State during the course of the day. My understanding is there is contact between the Government and the landowner. Whether this constitutes negotiations or not, I do not know, but there is certainly contact. I will ask the Minister of State to speak to the north Kildare Deputies about it. My understanding is the Government is willing to pay...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...of time and are often challenged and opposed at An Bord Pleanála and in court. We have 50 done and they have worked. There are 90 in the pipeline. We are getting these done. I agree with the Deputy that we need a land use plan for Ireland. We are working on that at the moment. It is being led by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...we have about 90 more in train. I agree with the Deputy’s basic point. We have to look at this in the round. It is not just about flood barriers. We have to consider the impact inappropriate land use can have on flooding and drainage, as well as coastal protections. A memo went to Government yesterday from the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, around how we will manage the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Oct 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...on how much it is costed at and how much the insurance will cover. However, the same principles we applied in Donegal we will apply in Cork and we will get the club back up and running. On the land itself, my understanding is that it is FAI-controlled or FAI-leased land; I cannot remember the exact details of it. I am not sure if we can apply pressure on a third party in such a way...