Results 26,841-26,860 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: A couple of things struck me which I am concerned about. What is proposed is reckless and irresponsible. Sinn Féin proposes increased borrowing. Now is not the time for us to increase our borrowing. When the economy is going well and growing fast and one has full employment-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----that is when one should be balancing the books and trying to run a surplus. One does not increase borrowing. Whatever social problems we have now, they will be much worse in a few years' time if we make reckless financial decisions.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Now is not the time to increase borrowing; now is the time to balance the books. There is also a proposal to cancel the rainy day fund. With Brexit coming up in only a few months' time, cancelling the rainy day fund is a very reckless-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----proposal from Sinn Féin. There is also a proposal for 20 tax hikes, raising €3 billion. When one's economic policy is based on 20 tax hikes raising €3 billion, it is not long before one must start hitting average people with those tax hikes. One might get away with this in one go, but if one raises that amount of money out of taxation over five years, it is not long...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government-Church Dialogue (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 12, inclusive, together. I met Pope Francis during his visit to Dublin Castle on Saturday, 25 August. The meeting provided an opportunity for both of us to discuss a number of issues, though regrettably not at any great length because of the short duration of our meeting. I welcomed Pope Francis, who thanked me for the warm welcome he had received...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government-Church Dialogue (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On hospitals and healthcare institutions, the Minister for Health has asked Ms Catherine Day, former head of the civil service in the European Union, to lead some work on the future relationship and governance of our hospitals for us. I have not had sight of that work yet. I am not quite sure how advanced it is but I look forward to seeing the outcome once it is ready. Volunteerism in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government-Church Dialogue (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge the criticism from Deputy Micheál Martin on the divestment of schools. Surveys of preschool children are being conducted in different school areas. When they are completed, they will inform us what parents want. That will allow us to speed up the process again.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Programme for Government (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for a Partnership Government was agreed in May 2016 during the formation of the Government. This is a five year programme of work being undertaken for the duration of the present Dáil. The Government publishes progress reports on the Programme for Government each year - the second of which was approved by cabinet in May 2018 and is published on my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet Committee B last met on the 7th June and is expected to meet again in the coming weeks. The Committee, which covers the areas of Social Policy and Public Service Reform, ensures a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government, and provides the opportunity to shape proposals on issues such as equality, disability and disadvantage which...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 48 together. I attended the Informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government in Salzburg on 19 and 20 September. The Summit, which was chaired by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, was one of a series of such meetings relating to the Future of Europe. On this occasion, our focus was on issues relating to migration, and internal...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The next meeting of Cabinet Committee D is not yet scheduled. As I have previously indicated to the House, the Committee works to ensure a coordinated approach to the delivery and ongoing development of policy across the areas of infrastructure investment and delivery, housing, and climate action. There is significant work underway across Government departments and agencies on each of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: These activities are funded from my Department's Administration budget. This budget is currently behind profile. As the deputy will be aware, this area experienced large scale changes during the year, whereby the budget was scaled back significantly.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Each Department paid for their own stand at the National Ploughing Championship 2018. Given the fact that the event took place very recently, payments are still being processed and costs will be published once finalised. The number of staff from my Department varied over the course of the event, depending on the level of activity/support required. Over the course of the event, a...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On my recent visit to New York on 23 September to represent Ireland at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, I was accompanied by a small delegation from my department, comprising a Special Adviser, an Assistant Secretary General, the Government Press Secretary, an Assistant Private Secretary and a Security Officer.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Strategic Communications Unit has been wound down as of July 2018. The review conducted by the Secretary General of my Department in March 2018 recommended that the budget allocation for 2018 should be reduced by 50% to €2.5m, which reflected existing spending commitments already made and that the overall budget for 2018 for the Department of the Taoiseach should therefore be...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I take it that the research referred to is the Citizen Survey. The Citizen Survey has not yet been run. I have already committed to briefing Opposition parties prior to the running of the survey. It has always been the intention to publish the results of the survey once available.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together. Ongoing political engagement with our EU and international partners, remains crucial, in relation to Brexit and other important EU issues. I meet and speak regularly with my EU counterparts bilaterally, and at formal and informal meetings of the European Council, where I use every opportunity to advance Ireland's interests. I did not...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Meetings (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Summit, which was chaired by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, was one of a series of such meetings relating to the Future of Europe. On this occasion, our focus was on issues relating to migration and internal security. We had a useful exchange on how best to progress our comprehensive approach to migration, as agreed at the June European Council, in securing our...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Project Ireland 2040 Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department led on the launch of Project Ireland 2040 in Sligo and the four subsequent regional events in Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford. A breakdown of costs associated with each of the regional events can be found in the table. A number of strand launches were held in the first half of 2018; these were led and funded by the relevant line Department. The responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The following table shows the information requested. These amounts reflect spend on public awareness campaigns including Project Ireland 2040, Self Employed Benefits, Healthy Ireland, Luas launch, Global Ireland, Action Plan for Education, Bliain na Gaeilge. Note: All of the costs were incurred up to the end of July 2018. Certain payments were processed in the August/September timeframe,...