Results 38,581-38,600 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together. Expenditure incurred directly by the Shared Island unit, the Department of the Taoiseach, relates primarily to the Shared Island research programme and dialogue series. Expenditure by year to date is set out in tabular form below. This administrative expenditure by the unit is mainly in this jurisdiction, with the research programme work...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Wildlife Conservation (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Implementation of related actions set out in my Department's Resource Efficiency Action Plan are overseen by the Department's Green Team. The plan includes the provision of a wild garden/meadow in the courtyard area of Government Buildings which is under consideration by the Office of Public Works, who provide and maintain the building. The installation of a beehive is also under...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The table below shows the total number of prosecution files received by the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) from 2006 to 2021. YEAR FILES 2006 14511 2007 14714 2008 16144 2009 16074 2010 15948 2011 16127 ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (23 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: More than 100,000 people from Ukraine and asylum seekers have arrived in recent times with over 84,000 successfully accommodated, but the ongoing situation is very challenging. Listening to and communicating with local communities is essential as new accommodation centres are opened. The Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Integration and Youth and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Business Supports (24 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I have referred the Deputy’s correspondence to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for consideration and reply on the appropriate sources of advice and any potential supports for the company. This guidance would not be provided by the Shared Island unit, but by the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Data Protection (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: All Department of the Taoiseach official devices and the software apps which run on them comply with guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review by the NCSC. The Department of the Taoiseach expects all users of official devices to exercise appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government commits to establishing four Citizens’ Assemblies, on the topics of Biodiversity Loss; the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin; Matters relating to Drugs Use; and the Future of Education. The Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use is currently underway and is scheduled to complete its work by the end of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department does not make a financial contribution to, the sourcing or provision of childcare or crèche facilities for the children of staff members of any grade or position.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (30 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department did not incur any expenditure for external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms or consultants in 2022. Training and related services delivered to staff as part of normal learning and development may in some instances be provided by HR professionals but does not relate to HR consultancy work.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commissions of Investigation (31 May 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The IBRC Commission of Investigation engaged three independent experts to assist it in its work. They were paid €150 per hour up to a maximum of €750 per diem and details of the amounts paid to each by year to date are set out in the table beneath. - 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Donald Rushton €5,904 ...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. At the outset, on behalf of the Government, I want to express our shock and horror at the events in Nottingham today. We do not yet know the details because only a certain amount of information is available but it is clear there have been fatalities and a number of injuries. We extend our condolences to those whose loved ones or friends have been killed. We send our...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: In January, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, brought an independent report to Cabinet on the retained fire service. We accepted the recommendations of that report. Negotiations were ongoing up until a few weeks ago. A third-party negotiator, Mr. Ultan Courtney, was appointed to chair those talks. An offer was made which would involve: a 20%...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. A lot of politicians talk out of both sides of their mouths, and the champions among them are those who come in here and express concern about the housing crisis and then go back to their constituencies and oppose housing. We will come back to that-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----on another occasion, and I will now answer the question. Climate change is real. It is happening. It is a clear and present danger. It is man made, and we need to act to reverse it. We have to be the generation that turns the tide when it comes to climate change. In respect of data centres, over 100,000 people in Ireland work for technology firms. They might not work in data...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I am not going to engage in scaremongering; I am just going to give the basic facts. There a different proposals being negotiated at the moment in respect of the EU nature restoration law. There is a proposal before the European Parliament which is very radical. There is a proposal at the European Council on which the Government is currently negotiating. There is also a proposal made by...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Anything that is done has to be properly remunerated. I would like to see people from rural constituencies like Cork South-West and Wicklow, for example, backing the Government in that regard. I do not see how farmers in Cork South-West, Wicklow or other rural constituencies could possibly believe that the Social Democrats have their backs.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. This is something I will have to discuss with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and the Minister of Housing, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy O'Brien. Local authorities are principally accountable to their elected members. I believe in local government and do not like to see central government taking over local government. Sometimes that has had to happen...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----but again, that is central government beginning to take over local government and I am not sure that is the right approach. It is something I have an open mind on and something I will discuss with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell. Something I think we all agree on is that public money, the people's money, money paid by them in local property...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I firmly agree the people's money needs to be spent well, spent efficiently and spent in their interest. That is why it is important that we have audit and oversight functions that work. However, local government is separate from central government. Local government is now enshrined in our Constitution by means of an amendment passed by the public some years ago. While local authorities...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2023)

Leo Varadkar: -----and from their own income. For an Oireachtas committee to start to take oversight of income that is local government income and not central government would have to be thought about, and thought about in depth.