Results 22,901-22,920 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Information Service (12 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The new unit does not exist yet. It probably will not be established until September but I am happy to give the House notice of it and any information I have on it now. It will be supplementary to and separate from the GIS because its role will be different and complementary. It will not be political. It will not be staffed by political appointees. People will be seconded from other...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (12 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As I indicated to the House last week, the Government has agreed to streamline the Cabinet Committee structure and approved the establishment of five committees. One of these, Cabinet Committee D, will cover housing, climate action, infrastructure investment and delivery, and the National Planning Framework. Among other issues, this Committee will provide political oversight of our efforts to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seanad Reform (12 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together. As the Deputy will be aware, in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government stated its commitment to pursuing the implementation of the Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform (the Manning Report). That Report was published in 2015 and it is available on my Department's website. One of the recommendations of the Report...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Meetings (12 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I saw the Greek Prime Minister in the margins of the meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 22/23 June. I took the opportunity to give him a copy of the letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to his Greek counterpart, regarding monitoring of the case. I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to doing all that it can to secure the earliest possible return of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (12 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Government recently approved the establishment of five new Cabinet Committees. As part of these changes Cabinet Committee B will now cover Social Policy and Public Services including Education, Children, Equality, Social Inclusion, Justice, Arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht, and Public and Civil Service Reform. Membership of the Committee has been changed accordingly to reflect these changes.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (12 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Following on from publication of the document setting out the Government's approach to the Brexit negotiations, work is underway across departments to prepare adaptive Sectoral Brexit Response Plans to mitigate emerging sectoral challenges. These plans will build on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders and will encompass the following themes: -...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Economic and Social Council (12 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Appointments to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) are in accordance with the provisions of the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006, and the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010 - SI 603/2010. The legislation provides for nominations from five sectors - business and employer, ICTU, farming and agricultural, community...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (13 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Provision for meritorious promotion to the rank of Corporal is set out in paragraph 304, ‘A’ Administration Instructions, Part 10 (Chapter 3 – Promotions, Section 1, Promotion to Corporal). It states that promotion to the rank of Corporal may be authorised by the Adjutant General when the individual concerned has given long and loyal service and is considered unsuitable...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am informed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that the following tables outline the details requested by the Deputy. YEAR GROSS ESTIMATE €000 APPROPRIATIONS-IN-AID €000 NET ESTIMATE €000 2017 41,588 912 40,676 YEAR GROSS EXPENDITURE €000 APPROPRIATIONS-IN-AID €000 NET EXPENDITURE €000 2007 34,468 135 34,333 2008...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together. Like public representatives generally, I meet with church leaders from all faiths informally from time to time in the course of attending official or public events. Since I took office as Taoiseach, neither myself nor my officials have had any formal meetings with any church leaders, including Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. I intend to have...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Disability Support Services Provision (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department supports the implementation of national policies and strategies designed to advance the lives of people with disabilities including the recently published National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. As Taoiseach and Head of Government, I encourage and endorse every effort to improve the services and supports for people with disabilities. I want everyone to reach their...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Funding (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The funding provided to County Louth and County Meath by my Department since March 2016 is set out in the following table. Organisation County Programme Amount Drogheda & District Chamber of Commerce Louth Local Diaspora Engagement Fund €5,000 Gleeson Clan Gathering 2016 Organising Committee Meath Local Diaspora Engagement Fund €3,000 Louth County Council Louth...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts Data (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office adhere to the procedures set out by the Office of Government Procurement and EU Procurement rules in relation to the procurement of all goods and services. The standard terms and conditions of tenders conducted by the Office of Government Procurement state that the contractor shall provide the services in accordance...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Funding (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach is not currently in receipt of an application for funding from this organisation. In 2016 the Kerry Emigrant Social Housing Association was awarded a grant of €5,000 under the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund which was administered by the Department of the Taoiseach. This was one of a total of 106 local and community projects around the country that were...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has a taxi account for official business purposes with a company selected by the Office of Government Procurement following a public tender. Taxis are used for official purposes where there is no other practical or suitable alternative mode of transport available. Expenditure on taxis from January 2015 to end-June 2017 is set out in Table A. In addition, the sum of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 33 to 37, inclusive, and 42 to 44, inclusive, together. As I previously stated in the House last week I intend to establish a small unit in my Department to focus on strategic communications across Government. This unit will complement, not replace, the existing arrangements in Departments and agencies for dealing with press, media and communications. The...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 32, 38, 40 and 49 together. The Strategic Communications Unit has not been established as yet. The precise mandate and other arrangements for the operation of this new unit, including staffing structure and budget, will be worked out over the coming weeks. It is my intention to staff the unit with civil and public servants. The new unit will be...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Government Information Service (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 39 together. The role of the Government Press Secretary (as Head of the Government Information Service (GIS)) is to keep the media updated on the activities of Government, including briefing the media subsequent to the weekly Cabinet meetings.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: All employees of my Department are civil servants, either established or non-established.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (26 Jul 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 to 47, inclusive, together. I spoke by phone with Prime Minister May most recently on June 27 when we discussed the ongoing talks process in Northern Ireland and our strong commitment to supporting the peace process as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. We agreed to continue to work together to support the parties in reaching agreement to...