Results 13,321-13,340 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The commercial investment that has occurred has been very much spurred on by Government policy and the national broadband plan: commercial operators getting into areas quickly, providing broadband quickly, knowing that if they did not, it would not form part of the Government's plan. Therefore, much of the commercial investment that has happened would not have happened as quickly had it not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think it is.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Martin. As Taoiseach, I note that the Government is absolutely committed to bringing forward the national broadband plan. When this Government of Fine Gael and Independents working together came to office a little more than two years ago, just over 50% of homes, farms and businesses in Ireland had access to high-speed broadband. By the end of this year, we will be at 80%....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We are determined to bring that to 100% as soon as possible. We want to ensure that the 540,000 homes, farms and businesses across rural Ireland which lack access to high-speed broadband should have it as soon as possible to allow them to access public services which are available online to a greater extent and become part of the digital economy. We want businesses in rural Ireland to sell...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Following the review conducted by the Secretary General earlier in the year, it was agreed that the Department should revert to a reformed GIS model, with a smaller budget, less staff and a more limited role. Accordingly, the budget has been been reduced by 50%. The staff numbers have been reduced by 4. In further alignment with the Secretary General's report, the reformed GIS team now...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet Committee B last met on 7th June and is scheduled to meet on Monday next, 22nd October, 2018. The Committee, which covers the areas of Social Policy and Public Service Reform, ensures a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government, and provides the opportunity to shape proposals on issues such as equality, disability and disadvantage...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Meetings (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together. I attended the Informal meeting of Heads of State and Government in Salzburg on 19 and 20 September. This was one of a series of Summits relating to the Future of Europe. On this occasion, our focus was on migration and internal security. We also took the opportunity to discuss progress in the negotiations on Brexit. On migration, we had...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Committee last met on 1 February this year and the next meeting has been scheduled for 15 November. As I have previously indicated to the House, Cabinet Committee D works to ensure a coordinated approach to the delivery and ongoing development of policy in relation to infrastructure investment and delivery, housing, and climate action. There is significant work underway on each...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May in the margins of the Informal Summit in Salzburg on Thursday 20 September. During the meeting, I reiterated that I hope the future relationship between the EU and the UK will be as close, comprehensive and ambitious as possible, but that it is essential that the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The International, EU and Northern Ireland Division of my Department works on all international, EU and British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs within the Department, including on Brexit. The Division supports me in my international role including as a member of the European Council, and in my other EU and international engagements. The Division also provides advice and support to me...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Coistí Rialtais (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Pléann Coiste Comh-Aireachta B le réimsí Beartas Sóisialta agus Athchóiriú na Seirbhíse Poiblí lena n-áirítear oideachas, leanaí, ionchuimsiú sóisialta, an Ghaeilge, na healaíona agus cultúr agus feabhsú leanúnach ar sheirbhísí poiblí agus athchóiriú seirbhísí poiblí....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. Six appointments have been made to the Principal Officer grade within my Department since 7 July 2015 arising from internal or open competitions. Of these, four arose from internal competitions, one from the 2015 Principal Officer open competition and one from the 2017 Principal Officer open competition run by the Public Appointments...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As I stated in the House on the 11th October 2018, I was invited by Science Foundation Ireland to present Mr. David McCourt with the Science Foundation Ireland St. Patrick's Day Medal at a public event held in Washington DC in March 2018. This was reported in the media at the time. We did not discuss the national broadband programme. I have had no other meeting or discussion with Mr...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (16 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Economic Division in my Department supports me and the Government in developing and implementing policy: - to deliver sustainable and regionally balanced economic growth and quality jobs, and - to promote effective planning and delivery of infrastructural developments, including housing. The Cabinet Committees and associated Senior Officials Groups supported by the Division help to...

Resignation of Minister: Statements (11 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

Resignation of Minister: Statements (11 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The national broadband plan is the Government's plan to provide high-speed broadband to every home, farm and business in the country. It will be the biggest investment in rural Ireland ever and I believe that in time it will be seen to be as significant as rural electrification was decades ago, allowing people in all parts of Ireland to access public services online and trade in the digital...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is a little fuzzy in his political history when he suggests that this is the twelfth budget-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is a little fuzzy in his recollection in talking about this being the twelfth budget. It is the third of this Government involving Fine Gael and Independents under the confidence and supply agreement. The previous five budgets before those were introduced by Fine Gael and Labour. The Deputy was in that coalition briefly but I am not sure if he ever managed to vote for a budget....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure he was briefly part of that Government, at least until it came to the point of having to make a difficult decision.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure he will spend many years in this House but he will never have to vote for a budget. For the people who like that sort of politics, that is the sort of politics that they like.