Results 29,181-29,200 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Preparations (17 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions No. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. My Department works closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which has overall responsibility for Brexit. A comprehensive set of structures has been put in place to ensure that all Departments and their agencies are engaged in detailed preparedness and contingency activities. Within my Department, staff across...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Preparations (17 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: On no-deal preparedness, we have not taken the decision to step down our preparedness in the way the United Kingdom has, but those measures were complete, or close to complete, at the end of March in any event. Deputy Howlin asked about the uptake of customs registration numbers by businesses. Revenue has identified 84,000 businesses that may need a customs registration number, that is,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Negotiations (17 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 13, inclusive, together. I last saw the British Prime Minister, Mrs. May, on the margins of the special European Council meeting on 10 April. At that meeting, the Prime Minister presented her case for a further extension of the Article 50 deadline. The House is aware that the European Council agreed to an extension of the deadline to 31 October,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) (17 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Deputy Martin asked about direct rule. The Tánaiste and I have discussed this with our counterparts. We have been very straight in saying that we cannot support a return to direct rule. We have had no indications from the UK Government that this is what it intends to do but we have given our view, straight up, that we could not support this...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Communications (17 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 to 16, inclusive, together. I spoke by telephone with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, on 27 March. The Prime Minister contacted me to discuss what actions might be taken to counter the proliferation of violent and extremist online content following the horrific terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on 15 March. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Communications (17 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I very much agree with the Deputies who have praised the response of Prime Minister Ardern to last month's events in Christchurch. I believe she responded with great dignity and leadership. She became a unifying force for New Zealand. In our conversations, she often speaks about how we need to tackle both the root causes and the enablers of terrorism and extremism. That is the correct...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (17 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am pleased to have an opportunity to update the House on the special meeting of the European Council, which I attended in Brussels last Wednesday. President Tusk convened this meeting following the UK Parliament's rejection of the withdrawal agreement on 29 March last. As Deputies will recall, at the previous meeting of the European Council on 21 March, we agreed that if the withdrawal...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Go raibh maith agat a Chathaoirligh agus a Sheanadóirí. As Senators know, today marks the 70th anniversary of the Republic of Ireland coming into effect. Today 70 years ago, the President, Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh, signed into law the Republic of Ireland Act and, therefore, while it may be a coincidence, today is a fitting day for me to have the opportunity to speak in this...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the proposal from the European Commission that will enable the current PEACE and INTERREG programmes to continue until the end of 2020, even in the event that there is a disorderly Brexit. Work has already begun on a new PEACE+ programme that will build on and continue the work of the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. This will provide reassurance for all those who benefit from these...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Senators for their contributions. Many issues have been raised and I will try to answer as many questions as I can in the limited time available to me. I apologise in advance if I do not justice to any particular question or issue raised. Housing was mentioned. We all agree that the core of the solution is an increased supply of housing of all forms, but it is not the solution on...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Members did and were acting within their rights in doing so. If this House believes that 120 hours for the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill is not enough, that is the decision of the Senators.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is entirely open to the House to spend as many hours as the House decides debating the Bill, but there are two certainties in politics, two things are finite, money and time.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: If it is the decision of this House to give more time to this particular issue than any of the issues that were mentioned today, that is the decision of the House and Members must be accountable for it.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: This is a Parliament, the House can pass Private Members' Bills and can pass legislation. If the decision of this Seanad is that this is the issue of most importance to Members, that is their decision but they must also be accountable for it. I do not have the power to impose any guillotine.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Leo Varadkar: In regard to climate action there are many areas, where Ireland does well environmentally. We are close to the top of the league tables when it comes to things such as recycling. We are doing well on wind energy and can do much better again. We have brought through some really important legislation in the past three years, largely Private Members' Bills, for example, Deputy McLoughlin's...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Civil Service Staff Data (8 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables below. Table 1: Department of the Taoiseach Staff by Grade and Gender-30 April 2019* Grade Total Male Female Secretary General 1 1 0 Second Secretary General 1 1 0 Assistant Secretary 5 3 2 Principal Officer 15 7 8 Assistant Principal Officer 40 13 27 Higher Executive Officer 34 9 25 Administrative Officer 16 5 11...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Agencies Data (8 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The National Economic and Social Development Office, based in Dublin, is the only body under the aegis of my Department. There are currently 12 persons working full-time and 4 persons working part-time in the office (14.5 Full Time Equivalents).

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (8 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I wrote to Prime Minster Wickremesinghe on 24 April condemning the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka and expressing condolences on behalf of the Government of Ireland to the victims of these attacks.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Northern Ireland (8 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I spoke with Prime Minister May on 24th April when we both attended the funeral of Ms Lyra McKee, in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. In coming together with other political leaders we paid tribute to Lyra McKee and gave expression to the clear will and determination of all of the people of these islands to reject violence and to support peace and a better future for everyone in Northern...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Issues (8 May 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I last spoke with Prime Minister May on 24 April, when we both attended the funeral of Lyra McKee, in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. Our discussions focussed on developments in Northern Ireland, and our common efforts to see the institutions re-established there. I have had no formal bilateral meetings with my EU counterparts since the last meeting of the European Council on 11 April....