Results 27,481-27,500 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We are keen to make those changes in order to make the fair deal fairer for farmers and people who own small businesses. We anticipate that legislation will be brought forward in the next session.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That legislation is still on Committee Stage in the Seanad.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have no information on contracts and no involvement in the matter. If the Minister for Health does, I will ask him to provide a reply to the Deputy. Contractual matters are generally not dealt with at ministerial level.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. I visited counties Cavan and Monaghan on Friday, 12 October, where I had several engagements. In the morning, I visited the Cavan County Museum in Ballyjamesduff, which is really worth a visit and I would recommend it to anyone. I also visited the new autism unit in Bailieborough community school and Bailieborough courthouse. In the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The focus of this particular visit to Cavan and Monaghan was very much on education, disability and childcare as well as a visit to Cavan County Museum. I engage with business groups and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions regularly but not every day. It is good on occasion to have days where we focus just on education, childcare, disability, health or housing. The particular focus of this...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Digital Strategy (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, together. The Government is developing a new national digital strategy to help Ireland maximise the economic and societal benefits from digitalisation. This is a commitment in the Action Plan for Jobs 2018. The strategy is being led as a shared effort by the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Communications, Climate Action...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Digital Strategy (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: First, with regard to digital skills, we believe it involves a number of approaches. Obviously there is upskilling of people already in the workplace. That is important to ensure they can continue to have jobs into the future and that companies embrace the digital economy. That is done through a number of existing mechanisms. Sometimes it is fully funded by the Government and sometimes...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together. I attended the 12th ASEM summit, or Asia-Europe meeting, on 18 and 19 October in Brussels. The summit, which takes place every two years, provides an opportunity for Asian and European leaders to discuss how to enhance co-operation in tackling regional and global challenges and deepening economic, social and cultural links...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is greatly concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen. The crisis unfolding before our eyes is deeply troubling, particularly the horrendous impact on civilians, including children. Ireland, together with the EU, fully supports the UN special envoy in his efforts to ensure that all parties respect international humanitarian law, and that humanitarian...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes Supervisors (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We might compare figures afterwards and see what is the gap. Either way, it is a large figure. No other issues were identified in the process with the community employment sector regarding the scoping of the costs of different options to address the matter. I outlined in my reply to the Deputy what work the forum did and the costs relating to it. Regarding Deputy Burton's comments, I...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising Budgets (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together. 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. The expenditure referenced relates to a number of major...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (27 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 some of his colleagues. I then visited Creggan Enterprises in the Rath Mór Centre in the Creggan where...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 24 together. I spoke by phone to the British Prime Minister, Theresa May on 5 November, when we discussed the current state of the Brexit negotiations. We both emphasised our commitment to avoiding a hard border and the need for a legally operable backstop. The Prime Minister raised the possibility of a review mechanism for the backstop. I indicated an...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seanad Reform (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I established an Implementation Group on Seanad Reform to consider the Manning report and develop specific proposals to legislate for Seanad Reform. The Implementation Group comprises Members of the Oireachtas with the assistance of outside experts, as appropriate. Since its initial meeting on 9th May 2018, the Group has met eleven times.The Group is due to report back in the coming weeks.

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

Leo Varadkar: I travelled to Helsinki earlier this month, where I had bilateral meetings with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, and the Prime Minister of Finland, Juha Sipilä. Finland and Ireland are like-minded on many issues, and both bilateral meetings were very warm and constructive. In my meeting with Prime Minister Sipila we discussed Finland’s upcoming Presidency of the EU...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 31 together. I travelled to Paris where I was honoured to represent Ireland at the Armistice Day Commemorations on 11 November. I am grateful to President Higgins for offering to delay his inauguration ceremony that day, to enable government and other representatives to attend commemoration ceremonies across Ireland, the U.K. and France. Eighty-four...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, led by the Tánaiste, has overall responsibility for Brexit. That said, Brexit will have implications for each Government Department and Agency. Within my Department, staff across several divisions contribute to the work on Brexit. The International, European Union and Northern Ireland division covers work on all international, EU and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department, as outlined in the Strategy Statement, provides support services for the Taoiseach and the Government, including the Independent Members of Government, through the Government Secretariat, the Parliamentary Liaison Unit, the Programme for Government Office and the Cabinet Committee structure to ensure Government business is managed to the highest standards. The Chief...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: British-Irish Council (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: 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 political developments for Administrations since the last summit in June, including on the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (27 Nov 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the special meeting of the European Council on Sunday, 25 November in Brussels. I had no formal bilateral meetings at this Summit.  However I had the opportunity to engage informally with my EU counterparts in the margins of the Summit.  The focus of our exchanges was on Brexit, where I took the opportunity to thank them for their solidarity in relation to our concerns...