Results 23,001-23,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 113 and 114 together. I undertook my first official visit to Belfast as Taoiseach on 4 and 5 August last. I had a number of engagements during my visit, including giving a keynote address in Queens University on the "Future of Relationships North and South". I also hosted a lunch with leading business leaders from Northern Ireland during the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Trade Missions (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I travelled to Canada between 19-23 August. My visit commenced in Montréal with an official welcoming ceremony and a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister. During our meeting we discussed the provisional implementation of CETA which commences tomorrow, September 21. We discussed the latest developments on Brexit and Ireland's priorities in the negotiations. Prime Minister...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I was briefed on the extent of the flood damage on arrival in Carndonagh. I then visited damaged areas and talked to those directly affected. I also spoke to local and national media on actions being taken by Government. I then visited flood damaged areas in Buncrana and received further briefing on the remedial action being undertaken to address the situation. As is normal practice a...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 87 to 94, inclusive, 96, 97, 101 and 103 together. Communications is an essential part of effectiveness of any modern organisation. That is particularly true of Government Departments and public service bodies in all countries, given the impact of their activities on the lives of citizens. That is why communications should be treated as a strategic,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: One of my advisers is a public servant on secondment to my Department from Trinity College Dublin. All other advisers are (unestablished) civil servants.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Taoiseach's weekly messages on social media are generally recorded by a member of his political or press staff.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Community Development Projects (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Government has committed to implementing the recommendations of Kieran Mulvey's Independent Report on the North East Inner City in full. As recommended in the report, a number of structures have been put in place to drive forward progress on the actions. These include the Programme Implementation Board comprising statutory, community and business sector led by an Independent chairperson,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Services Card (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Neither my Department nor the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), have any plans to make services or payments dependent on the use and production of the public services card.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on its 2018 Estimate provision. Any expenditure savings will be identified as part of that process and announced by the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform at Budget-time.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach has an amalgamated International, EU and Northern Ireland Division headed by a Second Secretary General, who also acts as the Irish Sherpa for EU business, including Brexit issues. The work of this Division includes supporting the Cabinet Committee which deals with EU Affairs and Brexit. In particular, this Cabinet Committee will assist the Government in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Staff (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together. My Department is keen to ensure that Brexit is treated as a cross-cutting issue and one of the new Cabinet Committees which I have established will deal specifically with EU issues and the Brexit negotiations. Within my Department, the International, EU and Northern Ireland Division handles issues relating to the European...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: All building and maintenance projects relating to the property occupied by my Department are managed by the Office of Public Works. My Department has not been involved in any construction projects during the period mentioned.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Data (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Government decided on 5 July 2017 to establish Cabinet Committee C, to cover issues relating to the European Union, including Brexit. Cabinet Committee C has met once, on Monday 11 September.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (20 Sep 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: Commissions of Investigation (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 116 together. The IBRC Commission was established on 16 June 2015 under the Commission of Investigation (Irish Bank Resolution Corporation) Order 2015. Mr. Justice Brian Cregan, a judge of the High Court, is the Commission's sole member. The timeframe for the final report on the first module of its work, in relation to the Siteserv transaction, is...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As I have already reported to the House, in my June meeting with Prime Minister May, we reaffirmed our two Governments’ commitment to maintaining the Common Travel Area and associated reciprocal rights, to protecting the Peace Process and, in particular, to keeping the border invisible. But we also recognise that this will be extremely challenging and, in the words of the EU...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On 31 August last, I held a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process with representatives of the Catholic Church, led by Archbishop Eamon Martin. I was accompanied at the meeting by the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and by the Ministers for Education and Skills, Health, Transport, Tourism and Sport and Employment Affairs and Social Protection....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Operations (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Since assuming the office of Taoiseach, I have appointed four Ministers of State to portfolios in my Department: Joe McHugh, TD, is Government Chief Whip; Helen McEntee, TD, has responsibility for European Affairs; Paul Kehoe, TD, has responsibility for Defence; and Pat Breen, TD, has responsibility for Data Protection. In addition, I have made changes to the Cabinet Committee structure which...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I spoke with Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi by telephone on Monday 28 August. The call was instigated at my request to discuss the case of Irish Citizen, Ibrahim Halawa. I emphasised the importance the Irish Government places on the case and received assurances from the President that he would intervene, if necessary, following the announcement of a verdict to ensure that Ibrahim...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Trade Strategy (20 Sep 2017)

Leo Varadkar: While in Canada recently I announced a plan to double Ireland’s global footprint by 2025. It is clear that there is a new self-confidence in Ireland, as an island at the centre of the world and that national self-confidence requires that we always be ambitious, visible and active in promoting the interests of our nation on the international stage. I expect that this...