Results 22,501-22,520 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's strategy statement sets out the key objectives for my Department for the period 2016 to 2019. The strategy statement is aligned to the Government's key priorities and policies and sets out the following six strategic priorities: providing excellent support services for the Taoiseach and Government; ensuring that Ireland has a sustainable economy; helping to ensure that...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On the NTPF, I do not know how many patients have been treated so far. There is €15 million allocated this year for the NTPF. I raised the matter with the Minister, Deputy Harris, on foot of my conversations with Deputy Martin. I understand that part of the fundamental problem was that the NTPF had effectively ceased to exist. Although it was still there in name and had a board and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Absolutely. I am sure that can be done. I am going to have some new Cabinet sub-committees. I think there were too many, quite frankly. I am going to reconfigure them into a smaller number of Cabinet sub-committees which, of course, I will chair. They need to be more focused. We will have a new ten-year plan on infrastructure, which we hope to be able to publish in October or...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is far too slow. We have a problem with drafting capacity, not just in education. Legislation is far too slow. On the Cassells report, in this current political configuration we are trying to achieve consensus around funding for third level that can pass through the Dáil. It is going to be difficult to achieve this but if we can, we are willing.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will start by dealing with the last question because essentially the Deputy asked it twice. I saw the Grenfell Tower on my way to and from the meeting with Theresa May. It is horrific to see it and to imagine the thoughts and feelings of people who were stuck in that tower while it was in flames and engulfed in smoke. I extended by condolences and offered any support and solidarity we...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have no doubt of that but that is quite a lot in the first eight days of a new Minister being in office, in fairness to him. It is not even eight days, it is seven days. In regard to Deputy Howlin's question, I set out in my speech appointing Cabinet Ministers the two or three major priorities, four in some cases, that I want them to pursue and I will pursue them to make sure that they...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No. I did not get close to doing that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have no difficulty answering them.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together. The Department of the Taoiseach has implemented significant restructuring to ensure that Brexit is being treated as a crucial cross-cutting whole-of-Government issue. The amalgamated international, EU and Northern Ireland division was created under a second secretary who also acts as the Government's sherpa for EU business, including...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In my own precedent, I will answer Deputy McDonald first since she has asked it a number of times. It is my view that Northern Ireland should remain in the customs union and the Single Market. It is also my view that the United Kingdom should remain in the customs union and the Single Market or that, failing that, we would negotiate a UK-EU free trade agreement that is not far off Britain...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is one of the reasons why I would like to see a Northern Executive established because I would like to see the parties in Northern Ireland come together and stand over the joint letter written by Arlene Foster, MLA, the late Martin McGuinness and others, which they sent only a few months ago. Although it does not say it, the contents of that letter are not far off an arrangement where...

Pre-European Council: Statements (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Amárach rachaidh mé chuig an mBruiséil le haghaidh cruinnithe de chuid Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh. Tá mé ag súil le ceisteanna móra an lae a phlé le ceannairí eile na hEorpa. Ó thoghadh mé mar Thaoiseach, tá mé tar éis labhairt leis an Chancellor Merkel agus leis an Uachtarán Macron agus thaistil mé go...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Central Statistics Office Data (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available. The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q1 2017. Table 1 shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by usual hours worked in Q1 2017. Table 2 shows the number of employees (ILO)...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Functions (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Having appointed Ministers to their various portfolios across Government, I will reflect on how my Department can best support the important work ahead for the Government. I will continue to meet officials in the Department and decide over the coming weeks what changes might be required.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: All Cabinet Committees stand dissolved at the end of every Government's term in office. I expect that the Government will shortly establish a number of Cabinet Committees to deal with specific aspects of policy.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts Data (21 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There has been no expenditure on public relations by my Department or the body under its aegis, the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), in the period in question.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to take advice as to whether I can publish that letter. There is no objection to the proposed legislation in the letter that has not already been flagged or appeared in the newspapers. There was a meeting some months ago involving the Chief Justice, the Taoiseach at the time and the Tánaiste, Deputy Fitzgerald, to discuss the Government proposals. There has been engagement...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Those things will not change. They are in the Constitution. This legislation is about the process by which three names are put to the Government. The judicial appointments will put three names to the Government. From those three names, the Government will choose a judge. The legislation will also prevent canvassing. It will require that merit be the criterion for the appointment of...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have immense respect for the current Chief Justice, whom I have known since I was a teenager, and also the office of the Chief Justice. It is not the case in either England or Scotland that the chief justice in those jurisdictions chairs their judicial appointments committee, so I do not see that as a denigration of anyone's office. It is very much the precedent in our neighbouring...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Absolutely.