Results 23,741-23,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No. 2) Bill 2017: First Stage (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. My Department's primary role is to support me, as Taoiseach, and the Government in delivering on our programme. During the next three months, my Department will therefore support delivery of significant Government policy objectives, including the development of a ten-year capital investment plan alongside the national planning framework;...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: We spoke about housing and homelessness earlier on Leaders' Questions and I do not wish to repeat anything I said. I simply draw Deputies' attention to my remarks at the time. International statistics always come with a health warning and different countries collect statistics in different ways and have different definitions, whether for unemployment, GDP and pretty much everything. Some...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The question was about statistics. I am interested in talking about solutions. The leader of the Opposition has been in correspondence with my Secretary General about communications and I believe the latter has written a reply on the matter. I have not been party to that correspondence, which is from a unit in the Department, but I am sure Mr. Fraser has replied in full. The unit will...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is not true. I have read this story in the newspapers but as is often the case, such as it was with the "bonkers" assertion of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, just because it is in the newspapers again and again does not mean it is factually correct. I made no such order.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Priorities (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I am indeed. I may yet be Europe's last optimist. This might be a good thing as Deputy Howlin is so glum.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 10, inclusive, together. I had telephone calls with the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, on 16 October and on 1 November. In our conversation on 16 October, we discussed the latest developments in Northern Ireland at that time and urged a rapid resumption of talks, with a view to restoration of the Northern Ireland institutions urgently in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Martin's analysis of the situation is largely accurate. In terms of our conversations with the UK Government, to the extent we have spoken about special arrangements they are in the context of the paper agreed by the EU 27. That paper attempts to make real the promises made to us. We have all heard the language of the past 18 months, that there should be no hard border, no return to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Howlin asked what will happen if the DUP and Sinn Féin fail to form an Executive. I am loath to answer a hypothetical question.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Government cannot support a return to the kind of direct rule that existed 20 years ago prior to the Good Friday Agreement. With the agreement of the UK Government, some of the provisions of the Agreement, such as those relating to the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and the North-South Ministerial Council, could be brought into operation or back into operation. However, that...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not want Ministers from this Government meeting Northern Ireland Office Ministers. I would rather see Ministers from this Government meeting Ministers elected by the people of Northern Ireland to discuss these matters. To respond to the first group of questions asked by Deputy Pearse Doherty, I absolutely agree that this Government is neither an observer nor a commentator. It is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 17, inclusive, together. I had a constructive meeting with President Macron in Paris on 24 October last. Our exchanges covered bilateral relations, the Brexit negotiations and the future of Europe. We were each accompanied by a small team of officials and advisers. The meeting provided a welcome opportunity to review the strong bilateral relations...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On PESCO, we have not yet made a decision, either as a Government and as a country, regarding whether we want to participate. We want to see the full details before we make that decision. It will require a decision at Cabinet followed by a decision of the Dáil, so there will certainly be consultation with the major Opposition parties before a decision is made. We are favourably...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together. Cabinet Committee E last met on 12 September and is scheduled to meet again on 23 November.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Functions (14 Nov 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 the Division includes supporting the work of Cabinet Committee C, which deals with EU affairs, including Brexit, and supports me in my role as a member of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The role of Cabinet Committee F is to keep the State's systems for the analysis of, preparation for, and response to, threats to national security under review and to provide for high-level coordination between relevant Departments and agencies on related matters. The Cabinet Committee will allow greater ministerial involvement in preparing for and managing major security threats. The...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Programme for Government (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government Annual Report was published on 10 May setting out the progress made on more than 300 commitments across all of Government over the proceeding 12 months. This Report provides a comprehensive update on the progress of the commitments in its first year and highlights very specific plans which have been put in place to address in the short and longer term, key areas...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: During a recent visit to Seattle, I met with CEO of Apple, Tim Cook and his executive team. During our discussions, Mr. Cook highlighted the company’s very positive and long-standing experience of their Irish-based operations. He briefed me on the company’s data centre needs, and confirmed that Apple will consider the Athenry site in the context of future business requirements....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I undertook a three day visit to Seattle, Silicon Valley and San Francisco from Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd November. In Seattle, I spoke at an event attended by approximately 250 people from Seattle’s business community, as well as local Irish community representatives. Also in Seattle, I met with representatives of both Amazon and Microsoft, who between them employ over 5,000...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I had a three day visit to Seattle, Silicon Valley and San Francisco from Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd November. The primary focus of the visit was on growing trade, investment and tourism opportunities between Ireland and the US, and on highlighting Ireland’s priorities in the context of Brexit and other international developments. In all of my engagements, I emphasised Ireland's...