Results 39,041-39,060 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Advertising (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know as much about this as I used to know when I was the Minister for Health. There are existing restrictions on the advertising of unhealthy foods, for the want of a better term. I acknowledge that not all processed foods are unhealthy, as the Deputy does, but there are rules around advertising at certain times and it being targeted to children. I am not up to date on what those...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 15, inclusive, together. I attended the meeting of the European Council on 29 and 30 June in Brussels and I will report to the House in detail on the meeting later this afternoon. We discussed Ukraine, economic issues, security and defence, migration, and external relations, including with China. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: On migration, the discussion we had at the June European Council was a follow-on from the detailed conclusions agreed by the Council in February, and much progress has been made since then. We could not agree on conclusions at the most recent meeting in Brussels because of the objections of Poland and Hungary. Sometimes it is better to have no conclusions than a formula of wording to which...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 20, inclusive, together. As I announced in March, the Government intends to hold a referendum in November this year on gender equality, as recommended by the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality and the special Oireachtas Joint Committee on Gender Quality. The decision to hold one or more referendums on this issue is in line with the commitment in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Constitutional Amendments (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Arising from the programme for Government, there are commitments to hold constitutional referendums on the following matters: extending the franchise of presidential elections to Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland and overseas; housing; and Article 41.2 of the Constitution, that is, the referendum on the role of women in the home and gender equality. Consideration is also being given...

European Council Meeting: Statements, Questions and Answers (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 29 and 30 June in Brussels. The agenda covered Ukraine, economic issues, security and defence, migration and external relations. The Minister of State, Deputy Burke, will provide further detail on some of the external relations issues discussed, including work towards a new partnership with Tunisia, relations with Türkiye, the ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Websites (11 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The situation described has not arisen in the Department of the Taoiseach.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (11 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The persons employed in my Department as Special Advisers are detailed in the table below. Office of the Taoiseach Name Role Brian Murphy Chief of Staff (Taoiseach's Office) Philip O'Callaghan Deputy Chief of Staff (Taoiseach's Office) Clare Mungovan Special Adviser to the Taoiseach ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic. It will include a review of the whole-of-government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar type event were to occur. It will include a consideration of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of the Taoiseach has incurred expenditure of €31,095,788 on COVID-19 public information campaigns. This incorporated a wide range of campaigns to ensure maximum clarity for citizens, businesses and the wider community. The accompanying table shows a breakdown of the different campaigns over the period 2020-2022 for which there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Taoiseach's diary for quarter 2 of 2023 has been published and is available on the Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e0fb8-taoiseachs-diary/.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (11 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Neither the Department of the Taoiseach, nor the National Economic and Social Development Office which is the only body under the aegis of my Department, operates a barter account.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Inquiries (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic. It will include a review of the whole-of-government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar type event were to occur. It will include a consideration of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on the Humanitarian Response to Ukraine last met on Thursday, 6th of July. This Committee, which I chair, works to ensure a coordinated approach to the State’s humanitarian response for people arriving from Ukraine who have sought Temporary Protection here. The Government’s coordinated response to the humanitarian crisis is extensive. Since the start of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Raidió Teilifís Éireann (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy and public services. The Committee covers a range of topics, including immigration and integration, in the areas of social policy with a particular focus on equality and public service reform. Other topics covered by the Committee...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on EU and International Affairs was established by the Government on 18 January. Its role is to oversee implementation of Programme for Government commitments in relation to the European Union and international issues. The Committee generally meets in advance of meetings of the European Council. It last met on 22 June 2023 in advance of the June meeting of the European...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The expenditure on external reports in 2022 and to date in 2023 is set out in the table below. The Shared Island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach is progressing a wide-ranging research programme to examine the political, social, economic and cultural considerations of a shared future for all communities and traditions on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. The...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Legal Services (20 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Director of Public Prosecutions is independent in the performance of her functions in accordance with Section 2(5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974. This statutory independence is a cornerstone of our criminal justice system. State Solicitors are appointed by and enter into a contract for service with the DPP to provide legal services arising from her functions under the 1974...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Directives (20 Sep 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is currently coordinating transposition of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) via Statutory Instrument under the European Communities Act 1972. The EAA will introduce mandatory minimum accessibility requirements for a range of commonly used consumer products and services across various sectors, including digital...