Results 26,381-26,400 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is not as the Deputy sees it. It is not suggested that a eurozone budget be used to bail out eurozone countries.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is proposed that the ESM would do that. To answer the question I was asked earlier, I am fully confident that the EU 27 have our back. Each member state knows that I will not agree, nor will the Government, to anything that gives rise to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. I have not heard anything from the Visegrád Group, V4, to give me concern. Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I apologise.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Howlin for letting me answer his question; at least he gives me a chance to answer. I have no particular concerns regarding the V4 group, but I thank the Deputy for alerting me to that. I will make sure to check that out on Thursday and Friday. We also want to have a trade deal with the UK, but if the UK persists with its red-line issues, such as leaving the customs union...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Catalonia was discussed. I raised the issue, and I get the impression from Prime Minister Sanchez that, given that there is now a new prime minister in Madrid and a new president in Barcelona, there is an opportunity for a rapprochement. I got the sense that the new Spanish Prime Minister wants to arrive at a solution within the constitutional rules of Spain and that a more conciliatory...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together. As previously indicated, the national risk assessment is an annual exercise, which aims to ensure a broad-based and inclusive debate on the strategic risks facing the country. It focuses on the identification of risks and is not intended to replicate or displace the detailed risk management and mitigation that happens across Departments...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I may have to disappoint the Deputies a little. The latest weather forecast indicates that it is going to rain on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. It may well be the case that the anticipated drought and dry weather-related fodder crisis may not materialise on this occasion. Damage to biodiversity is not a stand-alone strategic risk in its own right in the current...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will do my best, as always. A land use plan is a good idea and we will certainly give it some consideration. The Government and its Departments only have a certain amount of bandwidth to produce any number of plans in any given year but it is certainly something to which I am happy to give consideration. To an extent, the national planning framework does this but certainly not to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Burren is a beautiful place, but I am not sure we should turn the entire western seaboard and all of the counties along it into a national park like the Burren. I really do not think that would be welcomed in those counties for obvious reasons. People want to protect their environment but they also want economic opportunities, they want jobs, they want their children to be able to stay...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are road safety aspects.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On 22nd January 2018 I met with representatives of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. I was accompanied by the Ministers for Justice and Equality; Business, Enterprise and Innovation; Education and Skills; Health; Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This was the second in a series of meetings...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On 22nd January 2018 I met with representatives of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. I was accompanied by the Ministers for Justice and Equality; Business, Enterprise and Innovation; Education and Skills; Health; Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This was the second in a series of meetings that I...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Advisers Data (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together. Details of the Advisers appointed in my Department since July 2017 are set out in the table below: Special Advisers to the Taoiseach (appointed since July 2017) Name Salary Level John Carroll Assistant Secretary Clare Mungovan Principal Officer Jim D'Arcy Assistant Principal Officer (Higher) Special Advisers to the Government Chief...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Bodies Data (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The National Economic and Social Council is the only body under the aegis of my Department. There are 28 members of the Council as currently constituted, and there are no vacancies remaining to be filled. No quorum applies to meetings of the Council. I also appoint members of the National Statistics Board. No vacancies exist on the board and no quorum applies to meetings.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foireann Roinne (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Ceapadh Oifigeach Gaeilge i mo Roinnse in 2005 chun tacú le tiomantas na Roinne cultúr a spreagann úsáid na Gaeilge laistigh den Roinn agus sa bplé a bhíonn againn lenár gcuid custaiméirí a fhorbairt agus a choinneáil. Tá an duine sin freagrach freisin as a chinntiú go gcloítear le hAcht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus go...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No employee in my Department has been removed from their position, transferred to another role or had their employment terminated in the past four years due to breaches of departmental standards, professional misconduct or incompetence. However, during the period in question, two employees were not retained following completion of their probationary contracts.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The issue of capitation will, of course, be considered in the context of the forthcoming budget. There is a programme for Government commitment to increase capitation, so it is something we intend to do. I appreciate that capitation has been cut back in recent years and, unlike many things, has not been restored. It goes towards the running costs of schools and I would be very much in...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is not fair to describe it as rhetoric. I gave the Deputy a list of facts. People, as I often say, are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. Yes, it is the case that our population is increasing. This is one of the reasons why the education budget must increase too. Notwithstanding that, we have been able to hire an extra 5,000 teachers over two years and invest more...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have not had an opportunity to read the statement from the Relatives for Justice. I had an opportunity to hear Mr. Travers on the radio this morning. My sympathies go to anyone and any family affected by the Troubles, that awful period of our history and those decades during which various organisations wrought appalling violence on people north and south of the Border. As the Deputy...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The incoming Commissioner has the confidence of the public. The Garda representative associations that have commented on this have been broadly supportive. The main Opposition party has been broadly supportive. The sense I have from gardaí on the ground is that they welcome this appointment and this change. The general sense I have from the majority of the public is that they welcome...