Results 14,681-14,700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We have delivered. We delivered on the pupil-teacher ratio, guidance counsellors, extra teachers, pay restoration and additional schools. I welcome Deputy Micheál Martin's clarity that capitation is Fianna Fáil's priority in education spending, not the other promises Deputy Thomas Byrne has been making to other groups in education.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is one issue on which I disagree with Deputy Micheál Martin. It is important that we plan for new schools in four or five years' time and the Department of Education and Skills, under this Government, is much better at planning for schools than it used to be because we now look at demographics and child benefit.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I remember very well when I was in opposition that we had to set up an emergency school in prefabricated buildings one September - Scoil Choilm - precisely because the then Government did not plan three or four years ahead.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We need to plan three and four years ahead. It is disturbing that-----

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----we are planning three or four years ahead for children who are born and are aged two.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this important issue. I had an opportunity to watch the "Prime Time" programme last night. Sexual crimes perpetrated against children are the worst form of crimes - they are abhorrent, unspeakable and unforgivable. It is particularly distressing and shocking that the young women in question were in State care. I noted some similarities with the Grace...

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: This year the Government will invest €10 billion in education, the highest ever spending on education in the history of the State. In fact, €1 billion more is being spent on education this year than when the current Government of Fine Gael, the Independent Alliance and Independent Members came to office. That is money well spent. It is taxpayers' money invested in our...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There has been no expenditure by my Department on social media training or consultancy in the years 2011 - 2016.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Training (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No training in social media has been delivered in the Department of the Taoiseach.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (25 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 to 72, inclusive, together. The Research referred to has not yet commenced. It is intended to run a Citizen survey to assess public awareness and understanding of Government services. The opposition parties will be given an opportunity to review the proposed material for the survey prior to it being issued. Once the survey has been run and results...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The best definition of a bioeconomy is that it relates to the maximising of the use of renewable biological resources to produce value added products such as food and bioenergy. It extends across a range of sectors and disciplines, from what can be seen as quite traditional sectors such as farming and agrifood, as well as energy suppliers, to novel protein production and biopharmaceuticals....

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are four vacancies in NESC that I intend to fill in the next two to three weeks. There were 31 applications in total which were short-listed to eight by the Public Appointments Service. It passed these on to me with the various curricula vitae. My intention in approaching these appointments is to have regard, first, to gender balance as there is a degree of gender imbalance in NESC...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, together. The Government believes the bioeconomy can ensure more efficient use of renewable resources and support sustainable economic development and employment in rural Ireland. In simple terms, the bioeconomy involves the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Some people may have had the impression that the six turned into 15. Half of those 15 were people already working in GIS or MerrionStreet.iedealing with communications in the Department. The additional number of staff was five or six. I cannot remember the exact number. As should be the case, human resources matters are confidential and I am not going to discuss what has happened to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have the exact numbers.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Not today. I know what it was before but I do not know exactly how many are there today. Obviously, there is a process under way whereby staff members are being offered the possibility to transfer to other roles within the Department or to another agency or Department. That is being managed, as it should be, by the relevant assistant secretary general.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am not getting daily or weekly reports on how many people work in the different sections of my Department.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Strategic Communications Unit (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is the correct role for the Secretary General and the relevant assistant secretary general. A sum of €2.5 million has either been spent or is already committed to things like the self-employed campaign, Healthy Ireland, Project Ireland 2040 and some other initiatives. The other €2.5 million will be rebated to the Exchequer. It is anticipated that my Department will...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (24 Apr 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, has a membership of 28, reduced from 34 in the previous council. Members are appointed in accordance with the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010, that is, 15 members are...