Results 2,721-2,740 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Semi-State Bodies (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach has no non-commercial or semi-State commercial companies under its aegis.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Properties (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department is in regular contact with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as part of its role in co-ordinating the humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine to ensure a joined-up approach to accommodation and services. All accommodation used by my Department and by the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only body...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Government agreed on 14 February to establish a Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use. Motions are before the Dáil and Seanad this week to formally establish the Assembly which will likely commence in April and conclude its work by the end of the year.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Irish Sign Language (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Sign Language Act 2017 provides that all public bodies should provide Irish Sign Language users with free interpretation when accessing or availing of statutory services. While the Department of the Taoiseach nor the body under its aegis, the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), provides any such statutory services to members of the public, both have...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach incurred expenditure of €1,784,926 on advertising in 2022. This figure is provisional until the 2022 accounts are finalised. The vast majority of that spend, amounting to €1,765,805, related to COVID-19 public information campaigns undertaken in the first half of 2022 as part of the Government’s coordinated approach to COVID-19 public...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: While there are elements of communications to most policy roles in my Department, the Unit in my Department whose function relates to communications is the Government Information Service (GIS). GIS includes the Government Press Office and the MerrionStreet.ie content team and works on a cross-functional and collaborative basis to: - provide the Taoiseach, the Government and the Department...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Office of the Attorney General (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The role of the Attorney General, as provided for in the Constitution, is to advise the Government in matters of law and legal opinion. The Attorney General’s Office provides a range of legal services to the Government and to Government Departments and Offices. There are no plans at present for significant or fundamental reform of the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ukraine War (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach is ensuring effective co-ordination of our humanitarian response across all Government departments through the work of the Senior Officials Group. This is assisting the work of the Cabinet Committee on the Humanitarian Response to Ukraine, which I chair. I also have regular engagements with Ministers at Cabinet and individually to discuss matters of concern for...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Legal Cases (21 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: No discrimination cases have been taken and won against the Department over the past ten years.

Co-ordination of International Protection Services: Statements (16 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: In the darkest days of our country's history, faced with famine, violence and the loss of our independence and freedom, we clung to a single hope. We endured, fought for, dreamed of and died for the promise of a better future, a better life for our children and for ourselves. In the same period, we fled in our millions to other parts of the world. Some were lucky and were able to breathe...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ukraine War (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies for their questions. When we talk about the whole issue of Ukraine and the wider migration issue, we need to put it into context. We are seeing a war on the Continent of Europe the likes of which we have not seen since the 1940s. We are seeing refugee movements across Europe the likes of which we have not seen in our lifetimes, certainly not since the 1940s. We have seen a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ukraine War (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 14, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the humanitarian response to Ukraine last met on Tuesday, 31 January and the next meeting is scheduled for 23 February. This committee, which I chair, works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the State's humanitarian response to people arriving from Ukraine who have sought temporary protection...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Once again, I extend my condolences to Shane O'Farrell's family on his sad death. A scoping exercise was done. I think it was by a retired judge. I have not seen the report but I know the Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, is very keen to publish the report as soon as possible. He wants to put the published report out there. We want Members to be able to read it for themselves so that,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of the questions about the communications function in my Department, I am not personally involved in any decisions on advertising, staffing or the awarding of private contracts to anyone for communications purposes. These are matters for the Secretary General. I hear what Deputy Carthy said about communications staff across Departments and I appreciate he has not had any...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I think that in the round, the community welfare service works well, and we have seen how community welfare officers have responded to the increased need for exceptional needs payments in the past couple of months, with a significant increase in the number of payments being made. Obviously, that is because people have needed them, but it also demonstrates there is capacity in the system to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 10, inclusive, together. The public service, justice and policing reform unit is part of the wider social policy and public service reform division within the Department of the Taoiseach. The work of the unit assists me, in my role as Taoiseach, on criminal justice and policing reform, public service reform, social affairs and other related matters,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The local improvement scheme is under the control of the Minister for Rural and Community Development. I think she allocated €12 million or €15 million to local authorities for that scheme in the past couple of days. I know it is a very important scheme for resurfacing and improving laneways across rural Ireland, as is the case in Dublin. It does operate in Dublin. It is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: My apologies if that was the case because we always tell all Deputies where we are going but sometimes we have to wait until the programme is finalised. I have not yet seen the final programme.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The Government Information Service, GIS, includes the Government Press Office and the merrionstreet.iecontent team and works on a cross-functional and collaborative basis to provide the Taoiseach, the Government and the Department with press office and communications services; ensure strong collaboration and co-ordination among press and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue in Craughwell, County Galway. We want to invest in our towns and villages so that every town and village can have a certain amount of natural growth. It is important that we facilitate that. As the Deputy acknowledged, €50 million in funding has been provided specifically for wastewater collection and treatment needs in villages...