Results 30,041-30,060 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cyber Security Policy (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: It is all in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The passport legislation is also covered in the specific legislation. It was always intended to be a public services card and that is why it is called that. That is why the legislation lists all the public service bodies that can use it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cyber Security Policy (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The legal advice from the Attorney General and a third party is very strong but if it has to be tested in the courts, so be it. I do not think appealing a judgment or a finding is somehow wrong.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cyber Security Policy (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: We do not need to bring in legislation because it is the view of the Attorney General and third party legal advice that the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, covers the matter.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cyber Security Policy (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: To pick up on one other thing, it is not possible for us to appeal the report because it has no legal status or standing. We can only appeal an enforcement order and one has not issued from the Data Protection Commissioner; only a press release has issued.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cyber Security Policy (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Department did. There was advice from the Department's counsel, the Attorney General and a third party, all of which was in agreement.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policy Reviews (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together. It is important to communicate across a variety of platforms, including social media, to ensure transparency and clarity for all citizens. The Government information service is now required to provide 24-7 services to media organisations on all topics of public interest and with short response times. The social media channels for my...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policy Reviews (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Briefly, regarding Oughterard, I agree with Deputy Burton that there should be communication between the Department of Justice and Equality and residents-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policy Reviews (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: -----on what plans, if any, there are to accommodate asylum seekers there.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policy Reviews (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are good examples of where there have been good communications. Wicklow town is one example and Lisdoonvarna is another where communities were engaged with. Some fears were allayed and some scare stories corrected. I am told that has not happened yet in Oughterard because any plans or proposals to accommodate asylum seekers in that particular town are only at the initial stages and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policy Reviews (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I know the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, is dealing with it. I will check with him to see if we can get it done in this session also. On the public information campaign on Brexit, that is run through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Until now, it has been largely business focused. People have heard the business focused advertisements on radio and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Discussions with European Leaders (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I spoke with Ursula von der Leyen on 12 July to congratulate her on her nomination by the European Council for President of the European Commission. I also wrote to her on 31 July nominating Phil Hogan for a second term as Ireland's member of the European Commission I look forward to working with her during her term in office to advance the Strategic Agenda adopted by the European Council...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cyber Security Protocols (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are no staff assigned to my Department who are dedicated solely to ‘cyber security protocols’ and there are no immediate plans to recruit such a specialist. One element of the Head of ICT’s role in my Department is ‘Implementing technologies relevant to the security and protection of data within the Department’s ICT Systems and Infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach has as a Business Continuity Plan, which is kept under review.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Internships (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not have an internship programme and has not offered or granted any unpaid internship positions over the past five years to 28 August 2019. During this period, a small number of students were facilitated with placements in my Department as part of their studies.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Websites (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Government Department websites are currently undergoing a significant change in how they present online content to citizens and businesses, with a view to making them easier to use and more accessible to citizens. Over time, Department websites are being moved to one single website, gov.ie, giving people a one stop shop for accessing information on Government services and organisations. It...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: IBM Notes, known as Lotus Notes prior to 2012, is used in the Department of the Taoiseach and is appropriately licensed. Although some of the core functionality associated with IBM Notes has been migrated to more modern alternatives, IBM Notes continues to be an important business application which is used throughout the Department on a daily basis. Email, calendaring and some other functions...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Advisers Data (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The list of advisers employed by my Department, as outlined in the following table, comprises those working with me, those in Government Press Secretary roles, advisers working with the Independent Alliance and Independent Ministers and advisers to the Government Chief Whip. Name Role Salary Scale Brian Murphy  Chief of Staff Deputy Secretary John Carroll Head of Policy and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Consultancy Contracts Data (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to advise the Deputy that the names of the companies/consultancies that have delivered advice and training on the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to staff in the Department of the Taoiseach since 2016 and the costs of same are set out as requested, in the following table. Year Course/Conference Provider Cost (inc VAT where applicable) 2016 Privacy and Data...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Customer Charters (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Ten customer service complaints have been received in my Department since 2017. Five complaints were received in 2017, four complaints were received during 2018 and one complaint has been received to date in 2019. I am not aware of any issues with the registration of complaints in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I held a positive and constructive meeting with Prime Minister Johnson in Government Buildings on Monday 9 September. Discussions focused largely on the UK’s departure from the EU, recognising of course, that negotiations take place through the Brussels Task Force. We agreed that we both want to see an agreement between the European Union and the UK. While discussions were at an early...