Results 61-80 of 16,691 for speaker:Leo Varadkar in 'Dáil debates'

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

Leo Varadkar: I set out in detail the things we are doing in response to a previous question. That question may have been from the Deputy or from someone else. We continue to pursue this issue in the context of the EU-Israel association agreement. We will do so again at the European Council meeting later this month. The Tánaiste in particular is working on the issue of sanctions relating to...

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

Leo Varadkar: On the optional protocol on disability, the previous Government, which I the privilege to lead as Taoiseach, signed the UN convention. The current Government made a commitment to ratify the optional protocol. We will do so. Earlier today, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, received approval from the Cabinet to establish the interdepartmental working group to make that possible. That has been...

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

Leo Varadkar: Deputy McGrath has many years on me and much more experience but, really, with experience should come wisdom. What we heard today is just the latest conspiracy theory. I am not sure who he has involved in it this time. He left out the World Economic Forum on this occasion but I think he had the Irish Independent and the Referendum Commission, which does not even exist any more.

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

Leo Varadkar: I will leave it at that. On the RTÉ issues, the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, answered questions for three and a half hours before the committee last week and made statements here in the Chamber. In regard to the statement of the former chairperson, the Minister has written to the committee about this, provided some phone call and meeting notes, which it requested, and also has...

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. In our engagement with An Garda Síochána, it advised us that the State's amended bail laws have proven to be effective. While there is no immediate proposal to amend the State's bail laws further, we will keep them under review. Certainly, if the Garda advises and asks us to make further reforms to our bail laws, we will give that detailed consideration....

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

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy seems to be a little bit obsessed with the bowl of shamrock, which takes about 20 seconds. The real opportunity is in the sit-down meeting in the Oval Office with President Biden and his team. There is also the opportunity to speak publicly in the White House before guests of the President, as well as some from the Irish embassy. That is the opportunity I will take to reaffirm...

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

Leo Varadkar: -----in Israeli prisons and evidence-----

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

Leo Varadkar: -----of sexual violence against Israeli women on 7 October at the hands of Hamas, to condemn without equivocation the events of 7 October.

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for again raising this important issue in the House. Above all, I want people to be safe and feel safe in their homes and on our streets. We are responding with more gardaí, better equipment for our gardaí and stronger laws, more judges and more places in our prisons. The Garda budget has never been higher, at €2.3 billion a year. That is up 25% in...

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I take this opportunity to reiterate the Government's call for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This will allow the hostages to be released, the killing to stop and much-needed food and medicine to get in to the Gaza Strip, where civilians are in a very desperate and unimaginable situation. We believe that a humanitarian ceasefire for...

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

Leo Varadkar: The context in which we are dealing with the housing crisis is one of a rapidly-rising population and changing demographics. Households are smaller and, as a result, we require more houses and apartments. We are running up an escalator that is coming down at us quite fast, but we are making progress. More than 30,000 new homes were built last year, the highest number since 2008. We will...

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

Leo Varadkar: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a ceist. Housing for All is working. We are building more homes than at any point since 2008 and we are building more social housing than at any point since the 1970s. Tá Tithíocht do Chách ag obair. Tá níos mó tithe á dtógáil againn ná ag aon phointe ó 2008. Tá níos mó tithe...

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

Leo Varadkar: As is ever the case on a Tuesday and Wednesday, Deputy McDonald's questions contain examples of misinformation and then her follow-up contains misrepresentation. That needs to be called out and certainly needs to be-----

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

Leo Varadkar: -----analysed and reported on a little bit more. The problems that are occurring in the emergency department in University Hospital Limerick are very real. Everyone who has visited there knows that. I have been in the old and new emergency departments and have visited the hospital many times, as has every TD and Senator from the region. The Deputy knows that too. It is about capacity,...

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

Leo Varadkar: -----that says it is about more than the hospital itself, as it involves the other hospitals in the region and community services too. What have we done about it? Since this Government was formed, there are 1,000 more staff in UHL, there has been a 45% increase in budget and there are an additional 98 beds. We are currently constructing a new ward block of 96 beds which will be complete by...

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

Leo Varadkar: -----with planning having been granted only at the end of last year. There are also developments in other hospitals, such as the minor injury unit in Ennis. There are developments in Nenagh as well. The building of a private hospital, the Bon Secours hospital, will be of some use as well.

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

Leo Varadkar: First, I want to acknowledge that our hospitals all around the country are under a lot of pressure. That is correct. It is driven in part by rising population, increasing frailty, more older people and the availability of more treatments. I know that patients are experiencing conditions in some parts of the country that they should not have to experience. I know that many staff are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Transport Policy (21 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 12 go 14, go huile, le chéile. The economic division of my Department assists me and the Government in developing and implementing policy across relevant areas, including economic growth and job creation, infrastructure and housing and climate action and social dialogue. The work especially focuses on the deliver of commitments in the programme...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Transport Policy (21 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I have no objection if the Deputy wants to take three minutes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Transport Policy (21 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Once again, I thank the Deputies for their questions. Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of ride sharing. Perhaps I can give some assurance to taxi drivers in that regard. It is something we have all used when we were abroad. Generally speaking, it is a good service. I have used Uber, Bolt and Lyft. With one exception, I found the service provided to be good. However, I have concerns...