Results 16,141-16,160 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Discussions (12 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet Committee B last met on 16 November. The Committee covers the areas of Social Policy and Public Service Reform including education, children, social inclusion, Irish, arts and culture, as well as continued improvements and reform of public services. The work of this Committee seeks to coordinate the work across Government on planning and implementing policies that contribute to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Discussions (12 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I established Cabinet Committee C to cover issues relating to the European Union. It assists Government in its ongoing consideration of Brexit and will also support my participation as a member of the European Council. Preparing for and dealing with Brexit in a way that delivers the best possible outcome for the country remains a top priority for the Government. Its potential...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (12 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 to 96, inclusive, together. I spoke by phone with Prime Minister May on Wednesday 6 December and again on Thursday 7 December. On both occasions we had good conversations as we took stock of developments since Monday 4 December. I reiterated the firm Irish position regarding the text that I am satisfied was agreed on Monday. We discussed our...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Policy Functions (12 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 provides a robust statutory framework within which employees can raise concerns regarding potential wrongdoing that has come to their attention in the workplace in the knowledge that they can avail of significant employment and other protections if they are penalised by their employer or suffer any detriment for doing so. The Act requires every public...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: For the record, what the SCU deals with is the provision of public information and campaigns. It does not deal with political matters such as the Brexit talks or responding to what happens on television or radio programmes. That is not its role as I am sure I have said many times. As regards how I structure my Department, one of my special advisers, Ms Angela Flanagan, follows health...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure what the connection is between departmental staff and political staff and the issue of the scoliosis, other than the attempt to use scoliosis and people who are suffering from it and their families to have a go at me. I think that is bad politics, quite frankly. The Labour Party, as we all know, would have 20 members as State-funded staff and I am sure the leader's allowance...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is a really important issue and not one that should be taken advantage of to have a go at me. If we are going to talk about scoliosis, which is a really important issue, let us talk about scoliosis and let us not use-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Let us not try to use departmental resourcing. It is old-fashioned politics and very disappointing. Let me talk about scoliosis because I actually care about it.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Given that Deputies were given wide latitude to discuss a very important issue like scoliosis under a question that is related to the structure and management of my Department, I would like to talk about scoliosis as well because I think it is very important. It is not the kind of issue I would use in that sort of way to score tacky points around the management of a Department. I am a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On the meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality this morning raised by Deputy Kelly, I was not there. I do not know what transpired at it and would rather not comment on a committee meeting that I did not attend.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly do that if I get the chance. I agree with Deputy Kelly that the Department of Justice and Equality should err on the side of sending too much when it comes to documentation. If officials have documentation in front of them and are wondering if it is covered by the terms of reference of the tribunal, they should assume that it is. That is the approach that all Departments...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not see any reason why, if there is any doubt, one would not just send it down anyway. This is a tribunal established by the Oireachtas for a particular purpose and Departments should not think they have anything to hide or even have that mindset. In terms of the section 41 letter, that contains allegations about the liaison unit for the tribunal in Garda headquarters. This is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As it is a protected disclosure, I am not permitted to say. Indeed, it would be an offence and a crime for me to say anything that would expose the identity of the person making the protected disclosure.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The section 41 letter is from the Garda Commissioner informing the Minister for Justice and Equality of this protected disclosure. People who have been following the RTÉ website will be aware of all of this already. In terms of -----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will double check that. The section 41 letter is not, of course, a protected disclosure but a letter from the acting Garda Commissioner to the Minister for Justice and Equality informing him of something the acting Commissioner feels the Minister needs to be informed of. That is what a section 41 letter is and-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No, the section 41 letter relates to allegations made. I will have to double check as to whether those allegations were made in a normal letter or by way of a protected disclosure. Either way, I would not like to expose the identity of somebody making serious allegations.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Departmental Administrative Arrangements (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. The role of my Department is to support my work as Taoiseach and to co-ordinate the work of the Government and Cabinet. My Department is structured around seven main work areas. The breakdown of staff currently assigned to each of these areas is as follows: 25 staff assigned to the international, EU and Northern Ireland...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Membership (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The security threat or the threat of a terrorist attack is set from time to time by the Garda Commissioner. I cannot remember the exact term used but the threat is at the second lowest of four or five different levels. It was elevated from low or very low to the next level up, either low or slightly elevated. I cannot remember the exact term but it is the second lowest level and it has not...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Membership (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I think there are five levels but I cannot swear to that. I am sure the level is currently set at the second lowest level, which I think is called elevated. As I stated previously, the membership of the Cabinet committee is not a secret and I have just placed it on the record of the Dáil. Aside from the picture that was tweeted, photographers have been invited into the meeting room...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Membership (6 Dec 2017)

Leo Varadkar: While it initially appears to be a great idea to have an agency similar to those in other countries, whether MI6, the CIA or similar agencies in smaller countries, when one thinks it through ones sees the complications that would arise. Notwithstanding that Ireland is a small country with much lower security risks than other countries, creating a whole new agency and disentangling it from...