Results 36,461-36,480 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 108: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the value of the union subscriptions collected from the payroll by his Department from civil servants in any given year; the breakdown of such by the union or staff association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4666/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 109: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of days taken off for trade union leave in his Department by civil servants in 2007, 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4654/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 110: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the value of the union subscriptions collected from the payroll by his Department from civil servants in any given year; the breakdown of such by the union or staff association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4664/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 114: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of days taken off for trade union leave in his Department by civil servants in 2007, 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4647/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 120: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of days taken off for trade union leave in his Department by civil servants in 2007, 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4649/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the value of the union subscriptions collected from the payroll by his Department from civil servants in any given year; the breakdown of such by the union or staff association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4661/10]

Referral of Papers to Joint Committee on Health and Children: Motion (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: The commencement order for the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act appeared on the Order Paper on Tuesday. That was a commencement order rather than a statutory instrument and did not include, if I am correct in my reading of it, any reference to the fact the Minister had used his powers under that Act to grant an exception to people in regard to bonuses. The...

Referral of Papers to Joint Committee on Health and Children: Motion (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: We can bring them in for the Minister.

Mid-West Task Force: Statements (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to share time with Deputy Noonan.

Mid-West Task Force: Statements (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Perhaps the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will inform me when there are two minutes of my slot remaining because I would like Deputies from the region to have as much time as possible in which to make their contributions. It is disappointing that we do not have more time to discuss this important report. I thank the Tánaiste for her contribution. I must point out, however, that she barely referred...

Mid-West Task Force: Statements (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: It might be someone else's mobile telephone. No, I apologise, it was mine. The Tánaiste's speech could have been written by someone who had not even read the report by the task force. I wish to read into the record of the House some of the aspects of that report which I believe to be correct. The report indicates that from January 2002 to September 2008, Ireland lost 32% of its...

Mid-West Task Force: Statements (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle did not distract me.

Mid-West Task Force: Statements (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: The report also suggests that a target of 20% be set in respect of reducing our cost-competitiveness deficit. That should be adopted as Government policy; it is already Fine Gael policy.

Mid-West Task Force: Statements (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: No. The Tánaiste is referring to the 25% target in respect of regulation, which is entirely different. The report also calls for a national competitiveness strategy. Developing such a strategy should also be a matter of policy for everyone and proposals in this regard have already been put forward by Fine Gael. The report also calls for the entire joint labour committee, JLC, system,...

Mid-West Task Force: Statements (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: What should have happened is that the task force should have carried out its work and issued a report and a month or two later the Tánaiste could have provided a reasoned response in respect of each recommendation with indications regarding which of the recommendations she intended to accept and which she proposed to reject and why. It appears that her intention in establishing the task...

Mid-West Task Force: Statements (28 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: The best way for the Tánaiste to refute what I have said would be for her to return to the House next week and provide a short two or three-line reasoned response in respect of each of the report's 20 recommendations indicating which she proposes to accept and which she intends to reject. She should not bother refuting statements or making arguments on radio. All we ask is that she provide...

Civil Partnership Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of the Bill is to establish a statutory civil partnership registration scheme for same-sex couples. Fine Gael will be supporting the Bill, which is broadly in line with Fine Gael policy, as enunciated by former Senator Sheila Terry in 2004. The Bill is warranted for a number of reasons, particularly to recognise that there is a significant number of citizens in long-term...

Civil Partnership Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Another issue arises in respect of civil partnership, which appears to be much easier to dissolve than a conventional civil marriage, the reason for which I do not understand. If the argument is that civil partnership is necessary to recognise and give legal status to long-term same sex relationships, why should it be any easier to dissolve than civil marriage? If it is the case that we are...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 211: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will provide a detailed breakdown of the €2,327,000 expended in 2009 under the heading of Miscellaneous Payments, X2; if she will provide a breakdown of the €2,549,000 provided for same in the Book of Estimates 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3314/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 Jan 2010)

Leo Varadkar: Question 212: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the breakdown for the €87,310,000 in the 2010 Book of Estimates for appropriations-in-aid received in 2009; the breakdown for the €95,092,000 provided in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3316/10]