Results 25,241-25,260 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On the first question, I have not reviewed any of these arrangements that exist in the Department. They seem to be working well and I have had no specific complaints from Independents as to how they operate. Independent Deputies will from time to time contact the unit about issues they may have, almost always relating to their constituencies. It is in many ways a path finding service such...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is no list. Those involved are the Independents who take the Government Whip, and Deputy Harty.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No, and nor does Deputy Harty.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is no list.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I missed the question.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I did. It is hard to write down questions and listen at the same time. Perhaps the Deputy would repeat it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As I am sure Deputy Martin will confirm, we have not yet discussed the matter, but we will do so at some point. When we do, the Deputy will be the first to know.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In 2017, my Department received 344 freedom of information, FOI, requests. Forty two requests were refused and no records were held in relation to 63 requests. There were 12 requests for internal review and two appeals to the Information Commissioner. There has been a significant increase in the number of FOI requests received in my Department since the new Freedom of Information Act...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have enough respect for the Ceann Comhairle and his office such that if he says something to me verbally, I will not ask him to send it to me in writing. That was an unnecessary demand by Deputy McDonald.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: None of us should get exited about it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Just for clarity, I was very involved in the establishment of the strategic communications unit. It was my initiative. However, if Deputies check the Dáil record, it was after the controversies around its setting up that I took a decision to step back. A budget was allocated, a memo was brought to Cabinet, the Cabinet agreed a work programme and the Secretary General of my Department...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is the philosophy behind what we were trying to do. People want to know what the Government is doing for them; they are not all that bothered about which Department or agency is actually doing it. In terms of the open government partnership, the challenge of building a more open, transparent and accountable public governance unit in Ireland is being advanced through a range of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am concerned at allegations that I - specific reference was made to me - or the Government in any way tried to delay or block the release of this information, because that is just factually incorrect. It is a very strange allegation to make in the context in which I was accused of blurring the lines between the Government and the Civil Service. It seems that I am accused of that on one...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Yes. I do not have the numbers to hand.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will give consideration as to whether a review is necessary. I would say the best way to approach that is for me to look at the number and percentage of appeals that were granted. If we have a high rate of appeals being granted, perhaps we should be releasing more. If the percentage of appeals being granted is slim, that would indicate that the Department is getting it generally right. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The figure was originally suggested by the director of the unit - I supported it - but, obviously, the budget is now likely to be curtailed significantly.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: A Cheann Comhairle, tá sé i gceist agam Ceisteanna 4 agus 5 a fhreagairt le chéile. Ag teacht le brí agus meon Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, tá Roinn an Taoisigh tugtha do chultúr a chruthú agus a chothú lena spreagtar úsáid na Gaeilge taobh istigh den Roinn féin agus leis an gcustaiméir. Chun na críche sin tá...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as a gceisteanna. Ní aontaím leis na Teachtaí gur theip orainn ach aontaím leis an Teachta Martin faoi TG4. Táim buíoch de Mháire Geoghegan-Quinn, den Uachtarán agus an iarThaoiseach, an tUasal John Bruton, dá initiative agus don obair a rinne siad.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Tá an Rialtas ag déanamh go leor chun tacú leis an nGaeilge. Mar shampla, tá allúntas breise de €1.2 milliún ar fáil i mbliana chun cabhrú tuilleadh le cur i bhfeidhm an phróisis pleanála teanga, rud a fhágann go bhfuil cistíocht ar fiú €2.65 milliún ina iomlán ar fáil sa bhliain seo lena haghaidh....