Results 13,981-14,000 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On 22nd January 2018 I met with representatives of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. I was accompanied by the Ministers for Justice and Equality; Business, Enterprise and Innovation; Education and Skills; Health; Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This was the second in a series of meetings...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: On 22nd January 2018 I met with representatives of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. I was accompanied by the Ministers for Justice and Equality; Business, Enterprise and Innovation; Education and Skills; Health; Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This was the second in a series of meetings that I...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Advisers Data (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together. Details of the Advisers appointed in my Department since July 2017 are set out in the table below: Special Advisers to the Taoiseach (appointed since July 2017) Name Salary Level John Carroll Assistant Secretary Clare Mungovan Principal Officer Jim D'Arcy Assistant Principal Officer (Higher) Special Advisers to the Government Chief...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Bodies Data (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The National Economic and Social Council is the only body under the aegis of my Department. There are 28 members of the Council as currently constituted, and there are no vacancies remaining to be filled. No quorum applies to meetings of the Council. I also appoint members of the National Statistics Board. No vacancies exist on the board and no quorum applies to meetings.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foireann Roinne (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Ceapadh Oifigeach Gaeilge i mo Roinnse in 2005 chun tacú le tiomantas na Roinne cultúr a spreagann úsáid na Gaeilge laistigh den Roinn agus sa bplé a bhíonn againn lenár gcuid custaiméirí a fhorbairt agus a choinneáil. Tá an duine sin freagrach freisin as a chinntiú go gcloítear le hAcht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus go...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (26 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No employee in my Department has been removed from their position, transferred to another role or had their employment terminated in the past four years due to breaches of departmental standards, professional misconduct or incompetence. However, during the period in question, two employees were not retained following completion of their probationary contracts.

Address by Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission (21 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: A Cheann Chomhairle, a Chathaoirligh, President Juncker, distinguished members, it is an honour to lead the responses at this joint sitting for President Juncker's speech. Let me begin by thanking the Commission President for his fine contribution. Four years ago, President Juncker was chosen by the European Peoples' Party, EPP, a party of which Fine Gael is a member, as candidate for the...

Seanad: Address by Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission (21 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: A Cheann Chomhairle, a Chathaoirligh, President Juncker, distinguished members, it is an honour to lead the responses at this joint sitting for President Juncker's speech. Let me begin by thanking the Commission President for his fine contribution. Four years ago, President Juncker was chosen by the European Peoples' Party, EPP, a party of which Fine Gael is a member, as candidate for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I would like to respond to Deputy Burton's remark about west Belfast. The phrase to which she referred was not a campaign slogan. It was a tweet.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It was a criticism of Sinn Féin's record in government and its poor delivery for communities that vote for it in large numbers. I am happy to clarify that it was not meant to be a criticism of west Belfast as a place or as a community. If I was doing it again, I would do it differently.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am apologising to anyone who was offended by it and believed it was a reference to the people and community of west Belfast, when it was actually a reference to Sinn Féin's poor performance in government in Northern Ireland and its failure to deliver for people in west Belfast.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Section 39 organisations are very varied. They range in size from small organisations that receive just €10,000 in State funding to major employers that receive most of their income from the HSE or the Department of Health. The staff of section 39 organisations are not employed by the State and do not receive public sector pensions. The various section 39 organisations approached...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is a lot going on in this space. There is now a process under way to examine this and resolve it. I am sure it will result in a cost to the taxpayer. We do not yet know what that cost will be. That is part of the work that is being done. It is difficult to allocate money until one knows the actual estimate. Reference has been made to mental health services in the south east....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet committee E covers issues relating to the health service including health system reforms. The next meeting of this Cabinet committee has not yet been scheduled but last week I met the Ministers for Health and Finance, Deputies Harris and Donohoe, to discuss the Sláintecare implementation report. In addition to meetings of the full Cabinet and Cabinet committees, I meet with...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I share with Deputy Micheál Martin a deep concern that the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive are still not functioning. In order for them to function the two largest parties, namely, the DUP and Sinn Féin, will need to build trust and they will need to compromise. I know there were compromises but ultimately trust needs to be built. I have been involved...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: While I understand the terrible personal experience and the trauma that former Senator Cahill was put through, and I understand where the Stack family is coming from, Féile an Phobail is really not a Sinn Féin event, it is a community event in west Belfast. There are many Sinn Féin supporters involved in it. This is a part of Northern Ireland where Sinn Féin wins five...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is why we should not engage in something like that unless we knew that there would be a critical mass of people who feel themselves to be British, who are unionist or Protestant, who would be willing to participate in that, and I do not believe at the moment that is the case.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have given my view on that. I did in the North and in an op-ed. My view on this is very simple. Any right or freedom that an Irish citizen has in Ireland, any right or freedom that a British citizen has in Britain, should be enjoyed by Irish and British citizens in Northern Ireland and that applies to things like marriage equality and abortion rights. I have said that to Prime Minister...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I did not understand the Deputy's question.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (20 Jun 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No, I am not.