Results 25,061-25,080 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Meetings (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Officials from my Department engage with staff from newspapers and other media organisations, on an ongoing basis, in relation to a range of issues relating to Government business.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Freedom of Information Data (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department received 1,619 freedom of information requests from the start of 2010 to 23 February 2018. During this period there were 57 requests for internal review and 17 appeals by requesters to the Information Commissioner. In relation to the 17 appeals, the Information Commissioner affirmed my Department's decision in 5 cases while in 3 cases my Department's decision was varied or...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 to 106, inclusive, and 111 together. During my visit to Belfast on 12 February, I met with the Sinn Fein, SDLP, UUP and Alliance Parties to discuss on the restoration of the Executive. I did not have the opportunity to meet the DUP on that day. I regret the fact that, in the intervening period, the talks process has stalled again. Power sharing and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Strategic Communications Unit does not have a marketing budget. The Unit has a budget allocated of €5 million for 2018. This budget will be used on a variety of items within the strategic communications programme, such as the implementation of the new Government of Ireland identity, support of the migration to gov.ie and for various priority information programmes.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Funding (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has no capital allocation for the years 2018 to 2022.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There was no spend on social media in 2016. For 2017 and 2018, the spend on social media (Facebook, YouTube and Twitter) and the cost of campaigns to date is detailed below: Campaigns 2017 Spend on social media Campaign Costs to date Back to School €2,600 Bliain Na Gaelige €1,358.48 €2,318.55 Budget18 €3,520 €7,648.14 Rugby World Cup €6,500 ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the 2018 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland from 24 to 26 January. I was accompanied by my Chief of Staff, the Secretary General of the Department, the Government Press Secretary, my Private Secretary, and a Security Officer from An Garda Síochána. As is the case with all my travel, my officials ensured costs were minimised and the best...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Strategic Communications Unit in my Department has worked with Government Departments, Ministers and Senior Officials to agree a set of priority information campaigns. The list is outlined below. Other campaigns may be run throughout the year if the requirement arises. Funding for each campaign will be determined at the planning stage for the campaign. Government Approved Priority...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Government Information Service (27 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 to 126, inclusive, together. The reporting and accountability relationship of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) is to the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) is working with the OGCIO on the gov.ie migration project. The project to transfer all non...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The national emergency co-ordination group is meeting as we speak. I cannot be there because I am here. The Government is represented at the meeting by the Minister-----

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I was interrupted within 20 seconds that time. The interruptions are starting even quicker as the days go on. The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and the Minister of State, Deputy English, are representing the Government at the meeting of the national emergency co-ordination group which is taking place at present. Further guidance on all of these matters will be given at the press...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: School transport has been suspended today for safety reasons in the areas covered by the red alert. School transport is not the main way people get to school in many parts of the country, where pupils are more likely to get to school by car or by walking. I have asked the national emergency co-ordination group to provide a clear instruction on what schools should do tomorrow and on Friday...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I said that I would not offer a blank cheque in such circumstances and I did not do so. Second, some of the Members opposite were among those who made the constructive suggestion that we should pay a double week of the fuel allowance. I did not dismiss that. The record of the Dáil will show that I said I would endeavour to speak about the matter to the Ministers for Employment Affairs...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The way the warning system works is that warnings are issued by Met Éireann. Status yellow means people should be aware, status orange means they should be prepared and status red means they should act. It is not as simple as just saying red automatically means school closure because one could have a red alert arising from a chemical spill at an industrial facility, which would have no...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The decision on whether schools close is either made by boards of management on an individual basis or on the advice and instruction of the national emergency co-ordination group. The group is meeting now and the Department of Education and Skills is represented at that meeting. It will issue clear guidance to schools with regard to tomorrow and Friday at its press conference after the...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The intergovernmental conference can be convened only at a date that is agreed by both the British and Irish Governments and such a date has not yet been agreed. That is not to say that we are not in regular contact, however. I have spoken twice on the telephone to Prime Minister May in the past ten days and we have also met in person. I recognise the constructive and measured approach...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to answer that. We engage the UK Government by meeting it all the time. In the past ten days, I have spoken twice to, and met once with, Prime Minister May. Last Monday, the Tánaiste met Mr. David Lidington who is the de factodeputy Prime Minister. We engage with them by meeting them face-to-face and talking to them on the phone and when we do not do that, our officials do...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The figures for the number of people in emergency accommodation that were published yesterday are bad and they are distressing for everyone affected by homelessness and for everyone who is working night and day to resolve the enormous social problem we face. As the Deputy correctly pointed out, they are disappointing given that they had gone down in December. Many of us hoped that was the...

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is all about housing among other things, and it contains a commitment to build 110,000 new social homes and apartments over the next ten years.

Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is happening. There were only a few hundred social homes built in 2016 but thousands were built last year and the number is being ramped up again this year, although it will take time to get on top of this problem. Our major concern today is rough sleepers given the bad weather people are facing. We are ensuring there is food, health and shelter for everyone who needs it. Teams...