Results 121-140 of 2,667 for long speaker:Leo Varadkar

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...Waterford as a regional growth centre for that critical mass of population and investment. I know Senator Cummins is determined to make sure that happens. Senator Kyne again reminded me of the long-overdue project that is needed in Galway, which is the new emergency department, as well as paediatric and maternity. I will take that issue up with Bernard Gloster, who is the new CEO of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...concerns. Ireland condemns the military escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh. We are closely monitoring developments. The actions come on top of an already dire humanitarian situation following a months-long blockade that has prevented essential supplies from reaching the local population. We welcome the news of a ceasefire and we back EU calls for restraint on all sides. We hope the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...rate of income tax in Ireland. One hits the highest rate of tax at a much lower level than would be the case in the majority of our competitor countries. We have raised that threshold. Not so long ago it was €33,000 a year and it is now €40,000. We want to raise it further in forthcoming budgets. We will do as much as we can afford to do within the budgetary constraints...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...Council in acquiring 99 houses from landlords under the tenant in situscheme. It is a very good scheme. It means people who perhaps have been on HAP or the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, for a long period of time can become regular social housing tenants. I am glad that is really taking off, not just in south Dublin but throughout the country.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ..., in the Cabinet reshuffle back in December was that enhanced role of NDP delivery, making sure that projects happen and happen more quickly. I am very frustrated, and everyone in the House is frustrated, by how long it takes some projects to get done. We need to improve that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...50,000 to bring vacant properties back into use and €70,000 for derelict properties. As well as these schemes, a major emphasis for the remainder of the year and into 2024 will be on measures to improve the long-term sustainability of the sector, including through the adoption of modern methods of construction and enhanced capacity. The planning and development Bill will also be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...any suggestions that people have in respect of the review. It is important we get it right. If we were to extend the review to deal with all surgery happening at all three sites, it would take a very long time. We are talking appendixes and minor surgery. I am not sure if that is the right approach. This is about spinal surgery and, as far as we know, one surgeon. If we were to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...about how much money we will spend on various priorities. She might let us know at some point whether Sinn Féin is signing up to the Government's decision, made for good, logical and important long-term economic reasons, not to increase spending by more than 6.2% next year.

European Council Meeting: Statements, Questions and Answers (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...a result of Russian aggression in Ukraine and recognised its commitment to EU accession. We noted the steps taken by Georgia on its European path. We took stock of the progress being made on enhancing Europe’s long-term competitiveness. The economic outlook is characterised by significant uncertainty about the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The most recent flash...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...when the opportunity arises. Our colleagues in the UK and the European Union take the same view. I hope the war ends soon but what is certain is that there will be people injured by the weapons long after the war has ended, as we saw in Vietnam, Bosnia and other places. I have seen demining operations in Colombia. It is a profoundly wrong decision to provide those weapons. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...of the 11th sanctions package; and reviewed efforts to further weaken Russia’s war on Ukraine. Leaders discussed the current economic situation, including economic security issues, and Europe’s long-term competitiveness. We called for an independent report on the future development of the Single Market to be published by 2024. On migration, leaders were unified in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...affects lots of people in lots of different ways, whether it is people who are struggling to pay the rent, people who cannot find their first home to buy or people who have been living at home too long. I know this and I get it. I deal with this every day in my constituency service in trying to help people, as I am sure the Deputy does. The Deputy wants to do something very...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (11 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...the matter Deputy Brendan Smith raised about a tourist exemption, we are pursuing that with the UK authorities and the British Government. When I was in Jersey at the British-Irish Council not too long ago, I discovered that there is an exemption for people making day trips from France to Jersey, so there must be some degree of flexibility around this. Could people coming to visit this...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...Taoiseach and as a former Minister for Health, I have had the benefit of visiting hospitals regularly. It is something I make a point of doing. I visited Castlebar recently and Waterford not too long ago. I have been to Limerick many times. Almost every hospital or region makes the case that they are the most underfunded. They cannot all be right.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...investment in the south east. There is the motorway to Waterford, the New Ross road, the Enniscorthy bypass, the Viking Triangle and the Waterford greenway, also know as the Déise greenway. The long-promised South East Technological University is now a reality. There have been major port investments in Belview and a major one about to happen in Rosslare. Money was offered to the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...schools but it is far too early for that at this stage. We are also expanding the free school meals programme, particularly for hot school meals. This Government, more than any government in a long time, has shown that it is serious about helping families with the cost of going back to school. We showed yesterday with our agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation that the vast...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ..., single-handed general practice. My mum was the practice nurse, manager, accountant and secretary. Patients came to the extension of our house. That is where patients were seen. For a very long time, my dad got up every single night to do house calls. Every single night the phone would go off at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. and he would go out and do house calls. I remember how hard it was,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...to how it can be changed or how it can be improved. We are not going to dismiss them, but the most important thing now is to have this scheme up and running. It has been going on for far too long and I know the Deputy will agree with that. I want to see not dozens but hundreds of houses under repair and reconstruction next year. That is what we expect to see. We want this scheme up...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...achieving that rather than moving further away. Waiting times in Ireland are considerably lower than they are in Britain, for example, or in Northern Ireland or many other places. However, we are a long way off where we need to be, with about 400,000 people still waiting more than ten to 12 weeks. I do not know about the individual circumstances of the case the Deputy raised but it is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Communications (4 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: ...response and other responses, to see what was done right and wrong, what could have been done better, and to learn for future pandemics. I do not know whether it would be appropriate to examine long Covid as part of that. It is a condition that is diagnosed as a post-viral syndrome but whether a commission of inquiry is the right way to look at that-----