Results 12,461-12,480 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That clearly indicates the priorities of Sinn Féin during the busiest and most important week of a Dáil session. To answer the question, the special liquidators of IBRC announced yesterday that they will shortly commence the payment of the final dividend of 50% to admitted unsecured creditors of IBRC. This payment represents the final instalment of amounts owed to this class of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I join the Ceann Comhairle and the Leader of the Opposition and take this opportunity to wish all Members of the Dáil and Seanad a very happy and peaceful Christmas. In particular I thank those who work here, including all the staff in the Oireachtas and members of the press corps, without whom we could not do our work. Their professionalism makes it a pleasure to come here every week.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I would like to spare a moment to think of those who are no longer with us, including those who passed away in the year gone by and those who have retired. We are thinking of them today. I hope that everybody over the break will have the opportunity to spend time with families, friends and those who are dear to them. Perhaps Members will rediscover their constituencies, and I look forward...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commissions of Investigation (19 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 88 together. On 23 November 2018, the Commission submitted its Fifth Interim Report to me and requested a further extension of its deadline for reporting until the end of March 2020. On 5 December 2018, I met with representatives of the Opposition parties in relation to the Commission's request. There was a strong shared concern by all...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (19 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are currently 211.5 whole time equivalent staff working in my Department. This compares to a figure of 203.5 whole time equivalent staff on 31 December 2017.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister May on the margins of the December European Council on 13 December. We discussed the state of play with Brexit. We also discussed the political situation in the UK following the Prime Minister's decision on the previous Tuesday to defer the meaningful vote in the House of Commons, and the vote by her party MPs in respect of her leadership of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (19 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 to 91, inclusive, together. Please find the amounts requested in tabular form. The costs include information campaigns aimed at improving citizen's lives, such as the Healthy Ireland campaign, which encourages people to take small steps to improve their health or the Be Safe Online campaign, which highlights the range of resources to help assist people in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I concur with Deputy Micheál Martin's remarks about Atlas of the Irish Revolution. It is an excellent publication and the kind of book one would like to spend a lot of time with if one could find the time. Perhaps I will spend some time reading it over the Christmas recess. I also concur with him on what he said about the work of former President McAleese and her husband Martin. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My view is that video is a very good means by which to communicate. I notice Members of the House are using video and screenshots from the Chamber more and more on Facebook, YouTube and other social networks to get messages out to their constituents as to what they are actually doing to represent them in the House. It is a good thing they are doing this because it is a good means by which...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is good that the public should know a little bit about what the Government's foreign policy is and how their money is being spent-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----whether it is through our involvement in the United Nations, peacekeeping efforts or international development. I guarantee the House it is much more important to me that we concern ourselves with the substance of that. There is a €110 million increase in the budget for international development next year, which is more than many people called for. It is a significant increase....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: At least those who do agree with it as a policy are aware of it and they can form a view on it. It is not something that should be just buried away in a budget lying somewhere. We should tell the public how their money is being spent and what work the Government is doing on their behalf. If they choose to be supportive of it that is their choice. If they choose to be against what we are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. I was pleased to welcome the grand secretary of the Orange Order, Reverend Mervyn Gibson, and a delegation of Orange Order members from south of the Border to Government Buildings on 26 November. The Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, Deputy Helen McEntee, also attended the meeting. We discussed...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, together. It is important to communicate across a variety of platforms, including social media, to ensure transparency and clarity for all citizens. The Government Information Service is now required to provide a 24/7 service to media organisations, on all topics of public interest, and with short response times. It is also required to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Protected Disclosures (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Protected Disclosures Act was and is very reforming and innovative legislation. I think former Deputy Pat Rabbitte, the new chairman of Tusla, originally brought forward the legislation, although it may have been another Deputy. I remember supporting it from the Opposition benches as Deputy Howlin, as Minister, and other members of the previous Government brought it through the Houses....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: When the report is received, the Minister for Education and Skills will give it full consideration. I am very much in favour of ensuring that we have a modern, appropriate and secular sex education curriculum in schools. I am not convinced that the right approach is to legislate for a particular curriculum. There are many aspects of the curriculum that we do not legislate for. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I would have concerns about Parliament legislating for what children are taught in school.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are a number of actions under way to respond to this. First, there is the provision of speech and language therapy through the school system for the first time which we hope will make a big difference. We believe it may turn out to be a better system and a better way to provide speech and language therapy doing it through the education system as well as through the health service. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Protected Disclosures (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 provides a robust statutory framework which aims to provide protections to whistleblowers who raise concerns regarding potential wrongdoing in their workplace. These protections apply to workers in all sectors of the economy, both public and private. They protect whistleblowers from being penalised by their employer for reporting wrongdoing in the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Dec 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I am unable to give an answer specific to Cavan-Monaghan. The matter would be best raised either as a parliamentary question to the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Finian McGrath, or by means of a Topical Issue matter, rather than-----