Results 27,361-27,380 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On outpatients, unfortunately we are not making the same kind of progress. The number of people waiting more than three months to see a specialist is now more than 350,000. However, the number of missed appointments is 500,000. The slots are available but they are not being filled. I know it is not as simple as that but this demonstrates the efficiency problem we have in managing the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 11, inclusive, together. I have seven special advisers working in my private office. These staffing levels are in line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's instructions on ministerial appointments for the 32nd Dáil. The special advisers working in my office provide briefings and advice on a wide range of policy matters, as...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are nine special advisers.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are two working on press and media matters and seven on policy and other matters. Of the nine, six are male and three are female. I mentioned Angela and Clare, but perhaps I forgot to mention Sarah who is head of the Government Information Service. One third are female; therefore, it is the same proportion of women as in the Labour parliamentary party. It is not a bad figure in that...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is one third.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Engagements (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I had a bilateral meeting with the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, in the margins of the European Council on 18 October. We discussed the state of play in the Brexit negotiations between the EU and the U.K. I thanked President Tajani for his ongoing strong solidarity in relation to our concerns and reiterated the need to ensure a legally operable and robust backstop in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Northern Ireland (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I met the leader of the DUP Ms Arlene Foster on October 15. We discussed many issues including the current political situation in Northern Ireland and Brexit. I emphasised the Government’s full commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, and our continuing determination to secure the effective operation of all of its institutions. We discussed what could be done to get the institutions...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Engagements (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I visited Counties Cavan and Monaghan on Friday 12thof October when I had a number of different engagements. In the morning, I visited the Cavan County Museum in Ballyjamesduff, the new Autism Unit in Bailieborough Community School and Bailieborough Courthouse. In the afternoon, I visited Cootehill where I had the pleasure of turning the sod on the new Holy Family School. Finally, I spoke at...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Digital Strategy (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: A new overarching National Digital Strategy is currently in development. The Strategy will help Ireland to maximise the economic and societal benefits from ongoing digitalisation and its transformative effects. In 2013, Ireland’s previous National Digital Strategy was launched, and focused on Doing more with Digital. Five years on, the Government is seeking to develop a new National...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Engagements (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the 12th ASEM Summit, or Asia - Europe Meeting, on the 18th and 19th of October in Brussels. The focus of the recent Summit was on improving trade and connectivity between Europe and Asia, and on reinforcing the multilateral, rules-based system of governance on issues like international trade, peace and security, sustainable development and climate change. As well as...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The cost for any social media advertising undertaken in 2019 will be met from my Department's administrative budget. Costs incurred are expected to be significantly less than the spend on digital advertising in 2018 which is estimated at approximately €450,000.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Engagements (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I visited Derry City on Friday 26th October where I had several engagements. I was pleased to visit the Apprentice Boys Headquarters and Museum where I enjoyed a tour of the Museum. I also had the opportunity to meet the Chair of the Management Committee Mr William Moore and a number of his colleagues. I then visited Creggan Enterprises in the Rath Mór Centre in the Creggan where I spoke...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: British-Irish Council (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 128 together. I attended the 31st British Irish Council (BIC) Summit in the Isle of Man on Friday 9 November, hosted by Chief Minister Howard Quale. I was accompanied by the Minister for Natural Resources, Community Affairs and Digital Development, Sean Canney TD. The discussion at the summit covered key political developments for...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Energy Efficiency (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department participates in the Public Sector Energy Reporting Programme, reporting all of its energy consumption through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) Monitoring and Reporting online system. Energy usage in the Government Buildings complex, including my Department, is administered by the Houses of the Oireachtas. In recent years there have been some significant...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Government Information Service (20 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Civil Servants from the Government Information Service, which includes MerrionStreet.ie, are not involved in any aspect of the weekly video message delivered by the Taoiseach.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Thanks very much, Deputy. I am a very strong supporter of reducing taxes on income and taxes on work. I know some people believe that, when one reduces income tax or USC, one is somehow giving people money. I do not see it that way. I believe it is allowing people to hold onto more of the money that they earned in the first place. We know at the moment, when we need to continue to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We have set out our projections in the years ahead. We are able to afford a tax package of about €620 million per year and still increase public spending from €66.5 billion next year to €68.7 billion the year after to €70.8 billion the year after that, €72.6 billion the year after that and €74.6 billion the year after that. I am happy to provide...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Martin is actually wrong on that point. We could have done what Sinn Féin and the left wanted to do - we could have borrowed more. We decided, instead of borrowing, that we should balance the books.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We could have had a €700 million increase-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----in spending on health rather than a €1 billion increase in spending on health. The VAT increase-----