Results 23,621-23,640 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 95, 97, 99, 121 to 124, inclusive, and 127 together. The Director of the Strategic Communications Unit informed the Secretary General of my Department that he was invited by the PRII to address its members. As part of the Government's eGovernment strategy 2017- 2020 the Office of the Chief Information Officer has been working on the development of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 to 93, inclusive, 128 and 129 together. I attended the European Council in Brussels on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 October. The agenda included Migration; Digital Europe; Security and Defence; and External Relations. The Future of Europe was discussed over breakfast on Friday. There was then a European Council Article 50 - without the UK - which...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 112 to 115, inclusive, and 118 together. My meeting with President Macron in Paris covered bilateral relations, the Brexit negotiations, and the future of Europe. We noted the extensive trading relationship between us and agreed that this provides a solid platform on which to build into the future, especially as Ireland looks to grow and diversify markets...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Civil Service Management Board (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Civil Service Management Board has established a Subgroup to give a whole-of-government approach to strategic communications. This Subgroup held its first meeting on Wednesday 25th October and is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. Members include the Secretaries General of the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform; Health; Housing, Planning and Local Government;...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts Data (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department currently has four active tenders.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 102 and 104 to 106, inclusive, together. The cost of the insight and market research contract is estimated at €130,000 ex vat. As stated in the RFT, Phase 1 of the research should be available in early 2018, the research will be published when available. There is no external company undertaking an audit of my department's website. The...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Equipment (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is located in Government Buildings, which is provided by the Office of Public Works. There are already two defibrillators in the building. The National Economic & Social Development Office comes under the aegis of my Department, but does not occupy a public building.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: There are five Press Officers in the Government Press Office. A dual reporting relationship is in place whereby Press Officers report to both the Head of Corporate Affairs and the Assistant Government Press Secretary. There is also a vacancy at Clerical Officer level in the Government Press Office which is in the process of being filled via the Public Appointments Service.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Training (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The performance of my Department is dependant on the knowledge, skills. competencies and commitment of its staff. Achieving improved performance through appropriate and relevant continuing professional development programmes continues to be an integral element of ensuring my Department achieves its strategic objectives. All staff of my Department, both established and unestablished Civil...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Relations Contracts Data (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department engaged Q4 Public Relations to provide public relations and communications services for the Data Summit, which took place in Dublin in June 2017. The company was tasked with promoting the Data Summit to both a national and international audience, including industry, academia, not-for-profit sector as well as the wider public. The company was selected following a competitive...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Funding (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is grant funded from my Department's Vote. NESDO's payments and accounting practices, including the use of credit cards for official purposes, are audited annually by the Comptroller & Auditor General.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Relations Contracts Data (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The table below provides details of public relations companies engaged by my Department from 1 January 2012 to 31 October 2017: Year Company Purpose Cost 2012 & 2013 Caroline Erskine, Media and Public Affairs Consultant To assist in the implementation of the communications plan for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and Associated Projects...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Since becoming Taoiseach, I have participated in the European Council meetings in Brussels in June and October, and the Digital Summit in Tallinn in September. In advance of the October European Council, I also participated in a meeting with the leaders of a number of like-minded partners - Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. I had separate...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts Data (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not have contracts with the company in question, nor does the only body under the aegis of my Department, namely the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO).

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Advisers Data (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Details of my special advisers are as follows: - Brian Murphy, Chief of Staff, paid at Deputy Secretary grade; - John Carroll, Head of Policy and Programme Implementation, paid at Assistant Secretary grade; - Nick Miller, Spokesman and Communications Adviser to the Taoiseach, paid at Assistant Secretary grade; - Patrick Geoghegan, Special Adviser, paid at Assistant Secretary grade; - Angela...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet Committee A did not meet in October. It met on 12th September and the next meeting is scheduled for 23 November.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's budget for 2018 has decreased by 2% compared to 2017. Savings are expected to be achieved under the subheads Tribunals of Inquiry and Citizens' Assembly in 2018. 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 communication campaigns, and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: From 1 January 2017 to 31 October 2017, my Department spent a total of €8,614.64 on photography. The use of a photographer is for official events/functions. Increasingly my Department utilises its own staff to take photographs in-house, thereby reducing costs.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Communication to our citizens is an essential public service: the public has a right to know what their government is doing on their behalf, and why. That is why communications should be treated as a strategic, whole-of-government activity which should be conducted to the same level of professionalism as any other activity, such as human resource management or financial management. ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Websites (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 135, inclusive, together. A key part of the modernisation of Government communications is the greater use of social media. Recent initiatives in my department such as videos relating to Ireland's Rugby World Cup Bid, information about going back to school, the budget and treatment benefits cost approximately €21,895 in total. Sponsored posts...