Results 41-60 of 40,270 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I do not believe so. The State's apology was sincere and we followed up on it through various actions. I have received some correspondence on the matter the Deputy has raised, from Councillor O'Farrell and some others. My advice, however, is that this is not something central government can intervene in and that it is a matter for the local authority.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I discussed this issue with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, today, and only in the last week with the Minister of State with responsibility for special education, Deputy Madigan. The explanation they gave me is that this new model is fairer. Two thirds of schools will have the same number of hours or will, in fact, gain hours. It is not the case that complex needs will not be a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The main thing for us to get the scheme up and running. It has been far too long in coming. It is open to applications from today and we are very keen to implement it, press ahead with the other measures such as the remembrance centre, memorialisation and the medical cards and get what has been agreed by Government and the House operational as soon as possible.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: -----or the European Parliament, is ever a waste of money even if you do not get the result you want.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I will take this opportunity to note the passing of our former colleague, Emmet Stagg. I worked with him when he was deputy Chief Whip in the 2011-2016 period. He was a fine man and did a lot to make sure that Government stayed together and got votes across the line. I extend my condolences to his family, party, supporters and friends. On the issue of asylum seekers, there is to be a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: To reiterate, redress comes in many different forms. Financial compensation is only one element of that. There are more aspects to it than this. The overwhelming priority and need, which has been expressed through extensive engagement with survivors, is access to records and information about their births and their early lives. About 10,000 people have already received that information,...

Death of Charlie Bird: Expressions of Sympathy (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to take this brief opportunity to allow us to recall and recognise the life of Charlie Bird. I think he was somebody who pretty much everyone in this House knew from his professional life. He was an extraordinary and animated journalist who really brought stories to life. In his later years, he showed enormous courage and bravery in the campaigns he led. He will be sorely missed by...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The mother and baby homes institutions payment scheme opened for applications at 9 o'clock this morning. It has taken far too long but I am glad the scheme is now up and running. An extensive information and awareness campaign will take place both at home and abroad, and applicants will be supported throughout the application process with the information and advice they need. Where a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The people will decide who will constitute the next Government when the next election comes, which will be within the next year. In the meantime, the current Dáil should continue to do its work and the current Government will continue to do its work, focusing on the issues mentioned by the Deputy such as housing, health, law and order and many other issues. I know that we have a very...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: -----all over his constituency. We are seeing record levels of investment in social housing and, most encouraging, we are now seeing 500 individuals and couples buying their first home every week. That is so encouraging to see. It is not enough, however, and the last thing that will change that is spending the next month, or two, three, four or five months, having an election and trying to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I once again restate the Government has the confidence of the Dáil and it will continue its work, albeit under a new Taoiseach and a new leader of my party. Obviously, the leaders of the other parties will remain the same. The Government will focus on the work at hand. I acknowledge the appalling scourge on our society that homelessness is and how shameful it is. I also acknowledge...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I am always willing to acknowledge the problems the country faces and the very real problems people have in their lives. I do so pretty much daily, or at least I have for 13 years now. I acknowledge the problems we face when it comes to housing and the deep crisis that exists there for so many people as well as the cost of living and the challenges around migration. I acknowledge all those...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: You heard what I said.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The truth is-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Play it back, Deputy Cairns, look in the mirror and ask yourself whether you engaged in honest politics there or not. I think there is potential in Deputy Cairns and her party, but my fear-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: There is a lot of potential. My fear is an obvious one. It is that Deputy Cairns is very much a politician of the social media age. It is not about truth. It is not about information. It is about the clip to put online, and if that means misinformation or disinformation-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: -----if it gets me more clicks and likes, well then, more of it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for her kind words on a personal level. As a new TD and a party leader, she has had a meteoric and dramatic rise in politics and I wish her the best in the future. I mean that because we need new people and young people in politics. The work of the Government will continue. I have made that clear, as have the other party leaders who make up the majority in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. There is very little humility in any of her contributions. She possesses many qualities but humility is definitely not one of them. As often, she is a master of misinformation. There will be a general election within a year; there has to be. I spoke to the President today after making my statement and I look forward to seeing him in the next couple of days or...