Results 61-80 of 8,669 for speaker:Leo Varadkar in 'Dáil debates'

Unemployment Levels. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 76: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he will take to tackle the projected rise in unemployment in 2008; his views on the ESRI forecast in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25673/07]

Unemployment Levels. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I am prepared to deal with the questions out of sequence.

Unemployment Levels. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Another Minister had a similar problem last week. However, I understand Amgen is now making a tablet to help people overcome these difficulties.

Unemployment Levels. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I was shocked by the statistics contained in the pre-budget outlook and the ESRI report. Unemployment has risen from 3.7% in 2001 when it bottomed out to 4.7% today. The Government seems to have thrown in the towel when it comes to employment and has clearly admitted that unemployment will rise to 5.5% next year. The latter will mean that there will be in the region of 200,000 on the live...

Unemployment Levels. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister's words are very nice and if I did not know better, I would be re-assured by them. However, like everything else, it is lip-service. The Minister suggests the economy is robust and the Minister for Finance suggests that it has not been stronger for ten years. In reality, we see that the Minister's own Government accepts that unemployment is going to increase, tax receipts are...

Unemployment Levels. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I accept that France, which is a country with a long history of structural socialism, and we all know what that does, has a higher rate of unemployment. I will cite some other examples. Does the Minister accept that the UK has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, the US has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, Australia has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, South Korea has an unemployment rate of 3.7% and...

Unemployment Levels. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, but the Minister is accepting that we are going to overtake all those countries next year. That is a serious problem.

Departmental Agencies. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 78: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to increase funding and resources for the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25674/07]

Departmental Agencies. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: My question particularly related to recent court decisions in the Airspace versus Powertech case and the Panabridge case where essentially Ms Justice Laffoy, in her wisdom, decided perhaps that it is no longer appropriate for companies to seek actions, under sections 150 and 160 of the Companies Act, to have a company reinstated. The effect of that decision is that it falls entirely on the...

Departmental Agencies. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Initially I had included another line in the question I tabled.

Departmental Agencies. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I accept that.

Departmental Agencies. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: In that regard, is the Minister aware of those judgments and of the fact that the courts are taking the view that it is the role of the Director of Corporate Enforcement to pursue the thousands of companies that were involuntarily struck off the register? Is it the Minister's view that the Director of Corporate Enforcement should take on that role? If so, should he be resourced to do so and...

Job Creation. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I have two questions. I preface my remarks by saying that nobody holds the Minister responsible for the problems that Amgen may have getting Arnest recognised by the FDA. In the period between April and June, did the Minister or IDA Ireland receive any early warning, were there suggestions the project could be scuppered or was the company put on a hot list? In regard to ownership of the...

Public Holidays. (24 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I share the Minister's scepticism in this regard. I would be interested to know if the Department has ever carried out an assessment in respect of the cost to business and the public sector pay bill of an additional public holiday.

National Stadium. (25 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 57: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the position regarding the Government's plans to develop a national sports campus in Abbotstown, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15; and when he expects to lodge a planning application with Fingal County Council with regard to the same. [22329/07]

Agreements with Members. (31 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach if he will put on the record of the Dáil the agreement made between the Government and various Independent Deputies to secure their support for the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17517/07]

Order of Business (31 Oct 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I refer to the programme for Government commitment to reduce PRSI from 4% to 2% and I note, in particular, the recent ESRI study showing that the PRSI fund will go into deficit within six years. Can the Taoiseach inform us when he intends to introduce legislation to give effect to this commitment, if he still intends to bankrupt and raid the Social Insurance Fund in the way he has proposed,...

Schools Building Projects. (1 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise in the Dáil this issue which is obviously causing a great deal of confusion in my constituency and in the constituencies of Dublin North and Dublin North-East. As the Minister may be aware, an announcement was made by Fingal County Council to the effect that somewhere between 13 and 17 school sites would be acquired in a very...

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing time to discuss the important unfolding political crisis in Pakistan. Pakistan and Ireland are connected through bonds of history. Both countries once formed part of the British Empire, both were born out of partition, both made a rapid transition from dominion status to a republic, both have struggled to escape from the uncomfortable embrace of a...

Cancer Services: Statements (Resumed). (7 Nov 2007)

Leo Varadkar: Your son or your daughter.