Results 13,801-13,820 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet Committee E (Health) last met on 11 April 2018. A date for the next meeting is currently being discussed. In addition to meetings of the Cabinet Committee, Senior Officials meet on a regular basis to advance particular issues.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Recruitment (10 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In common with all other government departments, staff in my Department are mainly recruited through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) through open and inter-departmental competitions. In 2017, one officer in my Department was promoted by way of an internal competition. By comparison, thirty-six officers were appointed to my Department in 2017 by way of PAS competitions, of which...

European Council: Statements (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We will certainly provide one. I tend to make edits, but we can provide a copy.

European Council: Statements (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Does that apply to everyone?

European Council: Statements (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It seems a little unfair, but no, I am happy to provide a copy.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Economic and Social Council (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It should not matter who owns them. Local authorities have CPO powers to purchase unused properties and add them to the social housing stock. Whether they are owned by the Deputy, me or a vulture fund should not really matter. The objective is to get vacant homes into use at a time when we need more homes. The NESC land use report is very strong and we intend to act on it. We have...

European Council: Statements (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Tá áthas orm labhairt os comhair na Dála inniu faoi chruinniú Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh a bhí ar siúl sa Bhruiséal ar an Déardaoin agus ar an Aoine seo caite. I attended the European Council in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, 28 and 29 June. On Thursday, we met in regular format to discuss migration, security and defence, the European economy...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Economic and Social Council (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 12, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The council analyses and reports on strategic policy matters relevant to Ireland's economic, social, environmental and sustainable development. Its membership comprises representatives of business and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Economic and Social Council (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In fairness, probably two days do not pass when I do not have something to say about housing or homelessness.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Economic and Social Council (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I did at noon today.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Economic and Social Council (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: If anyone cares to check the record, there is not a week, or even a period of two or three days, that goes by when I am not asked about housing or homelessness and I do not have something to say about it. It is not necessary for me to issue a press statement every time a set of figures comes out. I do not do that as standard, even if the figures are positive and there are plenty of such...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We have a gender pay gap in Ireland. There are many reasons for it, two of which I cited. I said that women do not get a fair go. They do not get a fair crack of the whip when it comes to promotion in the workplaces because women are very often unfairly expected to carry a greater burden of child care then men. I do not think there is anything wrong about that. I think both those things...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have any particular information about the educational matter raised by Deputy McDonald but I will certainly tell the Minister for Education and Skills that it was raised here when I see him tomorrow. The fundamental idea behind any tax relief or incentive, particularly if it is one that is commercially focused and aimed at the private sector, is that the benefits should outweigh...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It may not be. All tax reliefs should be regularly reviewed.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is the responsible thing to do in my view. On the rainy day fund, it is intended that will be managed by the NTMA. On the film industry, I have not seen the report that Deputy Boyd Barrett mentions. He indicated there are few or no permanent jobs in the film industry. I suspect that is related to the nature of the industry in many ways. Film projects are discrete projects and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 9, inclusive, together. Cabinet committee B last met on 7 June. A date for the next meeting has not yet been scheduled. The committee covers the areas of social policy and public service reform, including education, children, social inclusion, Irish, arts and culture, and continued improvements and reform of public services. Cabinet committee B...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: To pick up on the last point first, what we are doing in terms of preparing for the possibility of a hard Brexit, which we believe is unlikely but for which it is prudent to prepare, is contingency planning for different scenarios. We should be in a position to share that in the next couple of weeks. It is very much contingency planning for all sorts of different scenarios but the most...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I was there in Brussels so I know what I said, and certainly what I meant. I believe it is what I said.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No. The Deputy is suggesting there is a conflict between what I said last December and what I said in Brussels last week. I am saying there is not. What I said in Brussels last week was that a UK-wide backstop could apply to something like customs but could not apply if there was to be some sort of division of the four freedoms. The European Union is willing to make exceptions for...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (4 Jul 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----and 25. If we move more people under 25 into education and training, the unemployment rate as a percentage potentially increases because of the way it is calculated. Those people get taken out of the calculation because they are not considered to be part of the workforce. The standard unemployment rate is calculated as a percentage of the workforce. There is a difference between...