Results 10,321-10,340 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There have been 3,500 job losses already. There is a risk that meat plants and meat factories may close permanently. This could do long-term, irrevocable damage to the industry. I do not think anyone in this House wants that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the Ceann Comhairle, all the Members of the House, the Press Gallery, and the staff of Leinster House back for what will be an eventful session. We have much to do. On the Deputy's question, I acknowledge the extraordinarily difficult times beef farmers are facing. For more than a year, prices paid to beef farmers at the factory gate have been very low at approximately...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Discussions with European Leaders (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I spoke with Ursula von der Leyen on 12 July to congratulate her on her nomination by the European Council for President of the European Commission. I also wrote to her on 31 July nominating Phil Hogan for a second term as Ireland's member of the European Commission I look forward to working with her during her term in office to advance the Strategic Agenda adopted by the European Council...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cyber Security Protocols (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: There are no staff assigned to my Department who are dedicated solely to ‘cyber security protocols’ and there are no immediate plans to recruit such a specialist. One element of the Head of ICT’s role in my Department is ‘Implementing technologies relevant to the security and protection of data within the Department’s ICT Systems and Infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach has as a Business Continuity Plan, which is kept under review.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Internships (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not have an internship programme and has not offered or granted any unpaid internship positions over the past five years to 28 August 2019. During this period, a small number of students were facilitated with placements in my Department as part of their studies.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Websites (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Government Department websites are currently undergoing a significant change in how they present online content to citizens and businesses, with a view to making them easier to use and more accessible to citizens. Over time, Department websites are being moved to one single website, gov.ie, giving people a one stop shop for accessing information on Government services and organisations. It...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: IBM Notes, known as Lotus Notes prior to 2012, is used in the Department of the Taoiseach and is appropriately licensed. Although some of the core functionality associated with IBM Notes has been migrated to more modern alternatives, IBM Notes continues to be an important business application which is used throughout the Department on a daily basis. Email, calendaring and some other functions...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Advisers Data (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The list of advisers employed by my Department, as outlined in the following table, comprises those working with me, those in Government Press Secretary roles, advisers working with the Independent Alliance and Independent Ministers and advisers to the Government Chief Whip. Name Role Salary Scale Brian Murphy  Chief of Staff Deputy Secretary John Carroll Head of Policy and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Consultancy Contracts Data (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to advise the Deputy that the names of the companies/consultancies that have delivered advice and training on the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to staff in the Department of the Taoiseach since 2016 and the costs of same are set out as requested, in the following table. Year Course/Conference Provider Cost (inc VAT where applicable) 2016 Privacy and Data...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Customer Charters (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: Ten customer service complaints have been received in my Department since 2017. Five complaints were received in 2017, four complaints were received during 2018 and one complaint has been received to date in 2019. I am not aware of any issues with the registration of complaints in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I held a positive and constructive meeting with Prime Minister Johnson in Government Buildings on Monday 9 September. Discussions focused largely on the UK’s departure from the EU, recognising of course, that negotiations take place through the Brussels Task Force. We agreed that we both want to see an agreement between the European Union and the UK. While discussions were at an early...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I met the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, on Tuesday 3 September. The Vice President was on an official visit to Ireland, marking the latest in a series of high-level visits by representatives of the US Government this year, including President Trump and Speaker Pelosi. I was pleased to host the Vice President, the Second Lady and other family members for a lunch, which...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I met DUP Leader Arlene Foster when we both attended the funeral of Ms Lyra McKee in Belfast in April. I also met with her in Washington in March during my visit for St Patricks Day. I expect to meet her again soon. The Government is in ongoing contact with the Northern Ireland parties, both through the work undertaken by the Tánaiste to progress the restoration of the NI institutions...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens Assembly (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: At its meeting on the 11 June 2019, the Government agreed to the establishment of a Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality and noted that a further Citizens Assembly would subsequently be established to consider the best model of local government for Dublin and, in particular but not exclusively, the issue of a directly elected mayor and his or her powers. The Government agreed...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (17 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on Health met on six occasions in 2016: on 12 May, 16 June, 21 July, 22 September, 7 November and 13 December. In 2017, it met on 11 January, 2 February, 21 March, 27 April and 30 May. It met twice more in 2017 as Cabinet Committee E (Health) on 12 September and 23 November. Cabinet Committee E met twice in 2018 - on 11 April and 22 November. Following a Government...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Advisers Data (6 Sep 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The following table provides details of the persons currently employed as advisers to me, as Minister of State with Responsibility for Defence.  Their salary is the scale for Principals (standard scale) appointed on, or after, 6 April 1995. Post Name Salary Scale Special Adviser John Coughlan €85,823 - €105,552 Press Adviser Niall O'Connor €85,823 -...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: The same applies to water metering, for example, which is the best way to conserve water. It was vigorously opposed by the far left. They are very much anti-environment parties in my view.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I listened to the Deputy's comments on Mercosur and his position sounds like a general objection to all free trade agreements. By their very nature, free trade between one part of the world and another, one country and another or between different continents requires transport costs.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Climate Action Plan (10 Jul 2019)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure if I am right but listening to the Deputy's comments, I imagine he was probably against the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Japan and Mexico deals.