Results 23,221-23,240 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy referred to a party person who I had brought with me to Tallinn. I am not sure to whom he is referring because I did not bring a party person with me. He might be referring to the Government Press Secretary, Mr. Nick Miller, who travelled to Tallinn. Historically, the Government Press Secretary has travelled with the Taoiseach ever since they have been appointed.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: They have travelled with taoisigh to summits. In terms of my video, it is 2017. People do videos fairly regularly now.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is the equivalent of where in the past, for example, a Taoiseach or Minister attending a summit would issue a press statement.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Of course, their press officer would type up that press statement and then send it out. Things are a bit different now. One's press officer may take a video of the Taoiseach and one sends that out on the Internet instead. It negates the need to type up a printed statement which is what would have been done in the past.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In terms of the future of Europe debate, I am familiar with Mr. Juncker's speech and President Macron's speech. All of these contributions are welcome. In the 36 seconds I have left, I am not in a position to outline my own thoughts on the future of Europe debate. Suffice to say that I think we should be engaged in it. Ireland is a founder member of the euro and a founder member of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We are for the proposals in Gothenburg on a social pillar. There are lots of things we will be in favour of, as the Deputy can imagine. We are for the completion of the digital Single Market, which was the purpose of the summit in Tallinn. I understand what Deputy Adams is saying but from the way he speaks, he does not quite understand the situation. This is a negotiation. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: What we have to do is negotiate an outcome.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Diplomatic Representation (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, together. While in Canada recently I announced a plan to double Ireland's global footprint by 2025. Work is now under way, involving relevant Departments and agencies, to develop a fully worked-through plan for consideration by the Government later this year. The plan, which will take a strategic approach, will identify locations or areas...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Diplomatic Representation (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I can assure the Deputies that this is something to which I am very seriously committed. When I was Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I had the opportunity to travel to all parts of the world promoting aviation and tourism in particular, as well as doing other work including general Government representation and IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland work, as part of that travel. I was...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Diplomatic Representation (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That is exactly what it will do. That is what the document will detail but for example, in the case of our embassies, there are many ways that we can double our diplomatic presence. We could just open the exact same number of embassies again or, in some places, we might decide to build up the embassy. We have a lot of embassies that only have one or two members of staff where we might go...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Overseas Visits (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 13, inclusive, together. At the invitation of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, I visited Canada between 19 and 23 August. The visit was an excellent opportunity to further deepen the very important economic and cultural links that exist between our two countries. My visit commenced in Montréal with an official welcoming ceremony and a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Overseas Visits (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Bombardier was mentioned in the meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Trudeau, but we did not have a detailed discussion on it because we did not know the outcome at that stage. We have, however, used our bilateral contacts with the United States in recent weeks to raise our concerns on behalf of Bombardier and the 4,000 staff in east Belfast, the men and women who work in the company. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Overseas Visits (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I hope to have the opportunity to travel to the United States in March for the regular White House and Washington DC engagements and, as I did in the telephone call I had with the President a few months ago, I imagine we will discuss things on which we do not agree, such as climate change, multilateralism and free trade. I know Deputy Boyd Barrett and President Trump will be close allies on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Overseas Visits (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As a free trader I do not have the same view as President Trump but I am sure we will have the opportunity to discuss things on which we differ, as well those on which we agree. It is just a matter of approach. My view is that relations with America are important - much more important than any President, Taoiseach, Government or Administration.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Overseas Visits (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We must maintain close relations with the United States. The general approach I take towards other democratically elected leaders is to engage with them, which might be more successful than the alternative policy of the far left which is to shout them down and then ignore them. I just do not see how that approach could yield any positive results for the people who elect us. I went to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Trade Strategy (3 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 to 89, inclusive, together. The work of the Government is vast - over 200 different Government bodies constantly producing and updating policies and services, while initiating and running a variety of separate information campaigns annually. Despite extensive investment in communications, it can sometimes be difficult for the public to access the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Websites (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's website (is not currently being updated. The last time my Department's website was updated was in 2013 at a cost of €9,014.50.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have raised the Dublin/Monaghan Bombings and other legacy cases with Prime Minister May and have stressed the importance of making progress on legacy issues and the overall arrangements for dealing with the past. The Government will continue to engage with the British Government in relation to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings, and pursue all possible avenues that could achieve progress on...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (3 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I wrote to Angela Merkel on 26 September to congratulate her on her re-election and her fourth term as German Chancellor. I also had the opportunity to speak with the Chancellor in the margins of the Digital Summit in Tallinn last week, when I offered my congratulations in person. I thanked her for her support to date in relation to Ireland's particular concerns arising from Brexit, and...