Results 14,041-14,060 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Websites (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions No. 1 and 2 together. There is no plan to revamp or update the Department's website. As part of a broader programme of work to streamline citizen information, all non-transactional Government websites are being migrated to one portal, gov.ie. Thegov.iewebsite is managed by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, OGCIO. It is planned that later in...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Websites (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: It makes sense to have a single Government website. I have explained previously my view that Government is too fragmented, that every Department and agency has its own website and web officer and it makes sense to have a single portal. MyGovID works well and gov.ie, which will be the single portal for Departments, will work well too. It should not be necessary to expend public money on...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: My apologies for the delay. I live in a world of treasury tags and paper clips at the moment.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: Yes, it would be much easier to find replies. I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 8, inclusive, together. On Monday, 28 May, I met the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Lee Nak-yeon, in Government Buildings. This was the first visit by a South Korean Prime Minister to Ireland since 1990, and an opportunity to discuss strengthening bilateral relations between our two...
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I do not have that detail before me, but I will ask the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, to provide it for the Deputy once he has it.
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I am afraid that I do not have any particular information on the school in Kilmacthomas to which the Deputy refers. Generally, if a school is oversubscribed, additional accommodation is provided or children are given the opportunity to attend other schools in the locality which might have vacancies. Without knowing the details, I cannot comment on the matter further. Certainly, I will...
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I understand that legislation is in committee tomorrow. If I recall correctly, the legislation, which I published as Minister for Health, required that there be health warnings on all alcohol products. I do not think it was ever a requirement that they be a particular size. The important thing is that we have the label and that it warns people about the adverse health effects of consuming...
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: It is always a case of having to prioritise, as Deputies will appreciate. The education budget this year is €10 billion, the highest education budget in the history of the State. What does that mean in practice? It means 5,000 more teachers than we had two years ago. It means we now have 15,000 SNAs, so there are more SNAs in Ireland than gardaí, even though the number of...
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I can only issue a money message for legislation on two grounds. First, the legislation must be quality legislation or of sufficient quality that it can become law. Second, money must be voted by the Oireachtas for its implementation. That is the basis on which I make a decision on whether a money message can be issued. We have a wider problem with legislation that is queuing up or stuck...
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I am sure the person concerned is a fine psychiatrist. I think he is also an election candidate so we should bear that in mind as well. When it comes to-----
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I think it is relevant when it comes to-----
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: He certainly is. He is also an esteemed voice for Fianna Fáil.
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: No legislation is promised on the matter but the programme for Government commits to continuing to increase resources for the mental health sector and we have done so. Funding for mental health has increased by €200 million per annum since 2012, which has led to the recruitment of additional staff.
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: I will check again.
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: We could never pass legislation on Second Stage that was unconstitutional.
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: The Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan will respond to the Deputy's questions.
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: There is no impediment to it happening in the context of the court challenges, but, obviously, it has to be drafted.
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: Absolutely. The eyes of the world are on the US at the moment. No one can defend the scenes of children being forcibly separated from their parents. We know from dark chapters in our history how lasting can be the consequences of separating children from their parents and how it can damage them for their entire lives. Like most in this House, I love America and I am very fond of it. I am...
- Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: The advice I have received from the Attorney General is that we can publish the legislation. The legislation is being drafted and we anticipate publishing it next month. However, my advice is that we cannot actually debate it or bring it through Second Stage in this House while the constitutionality of the actual referendum result is being challenged.
- Leaders' Questions (19 Jun 2018)
Leo Varadkar: First, I hope the Deputy will examine the plan and the proposals that are being launched tomorrow, before concluding that they are not enough.