Results 23,401-23,420 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: That is a matter for the Secretary General.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The level of paranoia about the strategic communications unit really is extraordinary. First, it has absolutely no role whatsoever in producing or issuing statistics. Statistics on waiting lists are released by the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund. The Central Statistics Office releases other statistics. The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government releases other...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to staffing, it is a matter for an office within my Department. Decisions on the number of staff and on the appointment of individual staff members are made by the Secretary General.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am not going to be interfering with it. The only role I had whatsoever in it was what I have already put on the record of the House, that is to say, I suggested someone for the head of it. I suggested someone who, as we all know, had done a great job already for Creative Ireland, The Gathering and the 1916 commemorations.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not agree that it is inappropriate. For example, when we are appointing Secretaries General to Departments we are given a list of names to choose from.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There is a much greater political role in the appointment of a Secretary General than there is in suggesting that somebody get a position.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: To answer the other questions, since I thought this would come up-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----the list of staff I read out includes staff assigned to Independents, to the Chief Whip and drivers. For comparison, that adds up to 20, compared to 23 under the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny. I have fewer staff than did my predecessor and the total cost of their salaries is considerably lower than the cost of salaries under former taoisigh, former Deputies Brian Cowen and Bertie...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is costly. That does not mean it will cost nothing-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----particularly when it comes to running campaigns but that is entirely met by existing resources in my Department. The Deputies will know that from the budget book because my Department is one of the few taking a reduction in its budget in 2018.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Bodies Data (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There are no professional bodies or boards under the remit of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Government Information Service (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 to 84, inclusive, 95 and 99 together. The Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) will be integrated within the Civil Service structures in my Department, with the Director of the Unit reporting to the Secretary General of the Department. The Civil Service Management Board (CSMB) has decided to establish a sub group of the CSMB which will act as a...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet Committee E last met on 12 September 2017. It is scheduled to meet again in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On 31 August last I held my first formal meeting with representatives of the Catholic Church under the structured dialogue process. I intend to hold further meetings with other dialogue partners and I have asked my office to progress this matter and make the necessary arrangements. I hope to be in a position to meet next with representatives of the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seanad Reform (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together. 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 was the establishment of an...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Northern Ireland (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is keeping me informed on a regular basis on political developments in Northern Ireland and on his contact with the Northern parties and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The absence of an Executive in Northern Ireland continues to be a major concern for the Government who have been...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 to 93, inclusive, 96 and 97 together. My Department's budget for 2018 has decreased by 2% compared to 2017. My Department does not have any budget for capital expenditure. The focus of the new Strategic Communications Unit established in my Department will be to streamline Government communications for citizens, develop and deliver major cross-Government...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Ongoing political engagement with our EU and international partners is crucial, especially as negotiations on Brexit proceed. I continue to use every opportunity to ensure that other Member States and the EU institutions fully understand our particular concerns arising from Brexit, to enable the best possible outcome for this country. Of course, other Ministers - particularly Minister...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Tender Process (17 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has seven tenders which are ongoing at present.