Results 23,901-23,920 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: In response to Deputy Eamon Ryan's question, while I am sure he will not believe it, none of the companies raised renewable energy, with the exception of Facebook. It is the only one that wanted to speak about being zero carbon.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: When we discussed Athenry with Apple renewable energy was not an issue it raised. It raised concerns about planning and legal delays, eirgrid connections, and who would build the substations on its site in Athenry. It did not raise concerns about renewable energy as something that was delaying that project in any way. I appreciate that does not fit the Deputy's narrative but that is the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seanad Reform (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: 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) and I intend to honour this commitment. One of the recommendations of the Report, published in 2015, was the establishment of an Implementation Group to oversee implementation of the reforms contained in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 to 94, inclusive, together. The Director and a member of staff in the Strategic Communications met with their counterparts in the UK and the Netherlands to learn at first hand how both countries went about the streamlining and optimisation of government communications, from the perspective of the citizen. Both countries have adopted a whole of Government...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commissions of Investigation (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: 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 Commission is entirely independent in its work and it is not possible for me to make any comment on the status of the Commission other than in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Training (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The training and development needs of the staff in my Department are identified through the performance management process. This is to ensure that staff are equipped with the skills and competencies to both perform their roles efficiently and progress their careers. The cost of providing training and coaching for the development of staff in my Department in the five year period from 1...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department receives no income of the nature referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Appointments to State Boards (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I appoint members to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) under the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and the NESC (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010 - SI 603/ 2010. In the case of the NESC, the legislation provides that I appoint members on the nomination of the organisations and interests set out, ie business and employer, ICTU, farming and agriculture,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: As I indicated to the House on 4 October, I spoke informally with Angela Merkel at the Digital Summit in Tallinn. I also saw and interacted with her at the October European Council.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I engaged informally with Prime Minister Rajoy at the European Council in October, and at the Social Summit in Gothenburg on 17 November. I have not yet had a formal bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister, but I look forward to having a chance for a more detailed engagement in the near future. Ongoing political engagement with our EU and international partners remains crucial,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I attended Remberance Day ceremonies in Enniskillen on Sunday 12 November. I laid a wreath at the Cenotaph and attended a Remembrance Service in Saint Macartins Cathedral before visiting the Royal British Legion hall for lunch. In the afternoon, I visited the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen. After a tour of the facility, I had a private meeting with staff who cared for victims of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The list of current valid domain names registered in my Department follows. As part of the Government's eGovernment strategy 2017-2020 the Office of the Chief Information Officer has been working on the development of a Digital Service Gateway - a single digital point where citizens can easily access information about the Government services that are available to them. This work, which...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Parliamentary Questions Costs (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Information is not currently available which would make it possible to distinguish the cost to my Department of answering Parliamentary Questions from the overall administrative cost associated with the operation of the Department more generally. The cost in answering Parliamentary Questions would also need to take account of the costs arising for the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Aid (21 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The Taoiseach has no official function or responsibility to the House in relation to this matter. Under Standing Orders questions addressed to a member of Government must relate to public affairs connected with his Department or to matters of administration for which he or she is officially responsible.

Leaders’ Questions (22 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: All I can do at this stage is restate and remind the House of what I said previously, first, that the Tánaiste had no hand, act or part in the legal strategy pursued by the former Garda Commissioner. There is an attempt in some way to suggest in this House and other places that the State or State entities were acting in collusion or all acting together. That is not the case. The Garda...

Leaders’ Questions (22 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is important to point out as a matter of fact that all parties had legal representation at the commission - not the Tánaiste individually, but the Department of Justice and Equality, An Garda Síochána and, of course, Sergeant McCabe, who had separate legal counsel, separate legal representation, dealing with the issue in accordance with the rules and laws that govern...

Leaders’ Questions (22 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I have no difficulty with that being done but I will have to check whether it is possible. There is nothing here to hide and there is no one here whom I or the Government is trying to protect. All we are interested in is the truth, and the best way we can get to the truth is to allow the tribunal to do its work. I ask anyone in this House or anywhere else who has information, and whose...

Leaders’ Questions (22 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, I have confidence in the Tánaiste but, no, I am not satisfied with the fact that on a number of occasions - at least two in the past week - I have been given incomplete information from the Department of Justice and Equality. My role is to account for the Government to the House and it is not something I like to see happen. On one occasion it was with regard to the ODCE and it...

Leaders’ Questions (22 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: On the Opposition side, Deputy Martin has at least accepted that-----

Leaders’ Questions (22 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----that the Tánaiste had no hand, act or part in-----