Results 31,261-31,280 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): EU Issues (18 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 13, inclusive, together. I engage with individual EU leaders, including President Macron, both bilaterally and in the context of my attendance at European Council meetings. I visited Paris on 2 April 2019, when I had an exchange of views with President Macron on a range of global, EU and national issues of shared interest. As part of our...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): EU Issues (18 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: To the best of my knowledge, we have not lobbied for a change in EU trade policy with regard to Israel. It is certainly something we can consider. It is unlikely that we will be able to find consensus at European level to take action of that nature, given that some member states exhibit strong support towards Israel. We have taken a very strong position on Jerusalem. I was very active at...

Post-European Council: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the meeting of the European Council and the eurozone summit in Brussels on Thursday, 12 December, and Friday, 13 December. At the European Council meeting on Thursday, we discussed climate change, the EU's long-term budget and external relations, particularly the EU-Africa partnership and Turkey's recent actions in the eastern Mediterranean. We agreed to continue economic...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Websites (18 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: My Department’s website www.gov.ie/taoiseach is managed by the staff of the Government Information Service. The Content published includes public information notices, consultation papers, information about my Department, and current speeches and press releases from the Government. The website also contains content informing citizens and different sectoral groups about Brexit. The...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Project Ireland 2040 Administration (18 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Project Ireland 2040 provides the overarching policy and planning framework for the social, economic and cultural development of our country. It includes a detailed capital investment plan for the period 2018 to 2027 - the €116bn National Development Plan 2018-2027, and the 20-year National Planning Framework 2040. My Department is represented on the Project Ireland 2040 Delivery...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (18 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy regarding new staff recruited in my Department from January 2019 to date is outlined in the following table. My Department uses workforce planning and succession planning to ensure that there are sufficient staffing resources in place to deliver the Department's strategic goals. Staff are recruited to fill vacancies which arise on an ongoing basis due...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising Data (18 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Comprehensive communications have been central to the work across Government to ensure that Ireland is as prepared as possible for the UK exiting the EU, whatever shape it takes.This includes the Government-wide Getting Ireland Brexit Readypublic information and outreach campaign which was launched in September 2018. In advance of the March, April and October Brexit deadlines, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Personal Injury Claims (18 Dec 2019)

Leo Varadkar: No property is owned either by my Department or the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only agency under the aegis of my Department. The properties occupied by my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office are provided and managed by the Office of Public Works. No payments for personal injuries on these premises were made during the...

Ainmniú Iarrthóirí agus Ceann Comhairle a Thoghadh - Selection of Candidate and Election of Ceann Comhairle (20 Feb 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I did not realise the Taoiseach was present at the wedding feast at Cana but you never know. Ar dtús, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an gCeann Comhairle. Is lá speisialta é dó féin agus dá chlann. Guím gach rath air. Is dea-chomhartha é den ardmheas agus gean láidir atá ag daoine ó gach taobh den Teach air gur toghadh é...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (20 Feb 2020)

Leo Varadkar: First, I offer my congratulations to every Deputy who has been elected to the House for the first time. This is a really special day for them and their families, and one they will never forget. In June 2007, I was one of 49 first-time Deputies taking their seats. On that day, there were more first-time Deputies than today - change always happens in politics. That, too, was a change...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I also thank the Deputies for their suggestions and measured responses. This is a matter no one will want to politicise in the weeks and months ahead and it may well go on for many months. The Business Committee made a wise decision in not advocating for a full Oireachtas committee at this stage. We have a relatively small number of very competent and...

European Council Meeting: Statements (5 Mar 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the special meeting of the European Council held in Brussels on Thursday, 20 and Friday, 21 February, the first meeting of EU leaders this year. The meeting was convened by President of the European Council, Charles Michel, following our request at the December European Council for him to take forward negotiations on the post-2020 multi-annual financial framework, MFF. When we...

European Council Meeting: Statements (5 Mar 2020)

Leo Varadkar: This proposal was informed by a series of bilateral meetings he held with leaders in the preceding weeks. I discussed Irish interests and concerns with him on 12 February. It also built on extensive consultations at official level. As the House will be aware, the Commission published its proposal for the next MFF in May 2018. This proposed an overall level of 1.11% EU 27 GNI. Sectoral...

An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19), 2020: An Dara Céim - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (26 Mar 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Inniu táimid bailithe le chéile chun dul i ngleic le héigeandáil nár tharla riamh roimhe seo. Sular phléimid an éigeandáil seo, ba mhaith liom ómós a ghabháil dóibh siúd go léir a tháinig le chéile ar aon chéim leis an iarracht náisiúnta...

An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19), 2020: An Dara Céim - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (26 Mar 2020)

Leo Varadkar: We are meeting today to take unprecedented actions to respond to an unprecedented emergency. A Cheann Comhairle, I am grateful to you, and to all our public representatives for facilitating this work. I also want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the staff in Leinster House for going about their business with such efficiency while following the recommended guidelines on physical...

An Bille um Bearta Éigeandála ar mhaithe le Leas an Phobail (Covid-19), 2020: An Dara Céim - Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (26 Mar 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I think they are a non-essential service at the moment, if that is all right.

Health (Covid-19): Statements (16 Apr 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome this opportunity to discuss the actions being taken to respond to the Covid-19 emergency, to answer questions and to exchange ideas with leaders about future actions to rebuild, revive and renew our country. I am very sorry that Deputy McDonald is not yet back in this Chamber, but I know she will be once fully recovered. Our thoughts today, and every day, are with all of those...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (16 Apr 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As is often a challenge in this format, it is quicker to ask a question than to answer it. I want to answer as many as I can.

Health (Covid-19): Statements (16 Apr 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I have jotted down one, two, three four-----

Health (Covid-19): Statements (16 Apr 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am in the Ceann Comhairle's hands.