Results 15,061-15,080 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Details of staff assigned in my Department to the Government Press Office, public relations or communications roles as at 31December in 2015, 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018 are set out in the following tables: 31 December 2015 Position/Grade No. Government Press Office Politically appointed staff Government Press Secretary 1 Deputy Government Press Secretary 1 Assistant...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Following on from Budget18, it was decided that the Minister for Finance would visit four locations nationally and present to invited local business groups, organisations and networks. These presentations were held in Limerick and Galway. A further two presentations planned for Cork and Waterford were postponed due to the severe weather caused by Storm Ophelia.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No contracts were entered into with individual journalists, freelance or otherwise for providing content or entering partnership agreements or another purpose.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Reviews (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Following consultation with the Attorney General, I appointed Mr. Michael Collins, Senior Counsel, to conduct an independent review of the practices and procedures employed by the Department of Justice and Equality in response to requests for documents from the Disclosures Tribunal. The Terms of Reference for the review were published on my Department's website:(www.taoiseach.gov.ie) on 13...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: To date, my Department has paid a total of €1,173.48 in respect of my mobile phone costs.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is routine for Government officials in my Department and across Government to meet with various stakeholders to discuss Government policy. The Director of the SCU met Paddy Cosgrave at his request. At this meeting, an outline of the SCU work plan was provided. All the information that was provided is in the public domain.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The amount spent on the Strategic Communications Unit since its introduction is listed in the following table: Details 2017 2018 (to 28 February) Total Travel and Subsistence €3,423.21 €299.34 €3,722.55 Advertising and Incidental Expenses €35,186.33 €124,385.38 €159,571.71 Postal & Telecommunications €626.48 €308.27...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Staff Data (21 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Special Advisers are non-established civil servants appointed by Government at the request of the relevant Office Holder in line with Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act, 1997. There are nine Special Advisers employed by my Department, working in my office and the office of the Government Chief Whip, one of whom is a public servant (i.e. a non-civil servant). As the terms of...

Strategic Communications Unit: Motion [Private Members] (20 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----even though there is no evidence to support that. Allegations are thrown around in a "make them deny it" sense. Conspiracy theories are put about because, of course, conspiracy theories require no proof. Innuendo is passed off as analysis or even fact. The Government was compared to Nazis by the deputy leader of the Labour Party and yet no sanctions or dissociation from his party or...

Strategic Communications Unit: Motion [Private Members] (20 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I rise to oppose the motion. I welcome this opportunity to put some facts on the record for those interested in them. The establishment of the strategic communications unit, SCU, as a Civil Service unit in my Department was approved by Cabinet in September. A budget of €5 million from within my Department's existing envelope was allocated in October and a work programme was agreed...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as a gceisteanna. Ní aontaím leis na Teachtaí gur theip orainn ach aontaím leis an Teachta Martin faoi TG4. Táim buíoch de Mháire Geoghegan-Quinn, den Uachtarán agus an iarThaoiseach, an tUasal John Bruton, dá initiative agus don obair a rinne siad.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Tá an Rialtas ag déanamh go leor chun tacú leis an nGaeilge. Mar shampla, tá allúntas breise de €1.2 milliún ar fáil i mbliana chun cabhrú tuilleadh le cur i bhfeidhm an phróisis pleanála teanga, rud a fhágann go bhfuil cistíocht ar fiú €2.65 milliún ina iomlán ar fáil sa bhliain seo lena haghaidh....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am concerned at allegations that I - specific reference was made to me - or the Government in any way tried to delay or block the release of this information, because that is just factually incorrect. It is a very strange allegation to make in the context in which I was accused of blurring the lines between the Government and the Civil Service. It seems that I am accused of that on one...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Yes. I do not have the numbers to hand.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will give consideration as to whether a review is necessary. I would say the best way to approach that is for me to look at the number and percentage of appeals that were granted. If we have a high rate of appeals being granted, perhaps we should be releasing more. If the percentage of appeals being granted is slim, that would indicate that the Department is getting it generally right. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The figure was originally suggested by the director of the unit - I supported it - but, obviously, the budget is now likely to be curtailed significantly.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: A Cheann Comhairle, tá sé i gceist agam Ceisteanna 4 agus 5 a fhreagairt le chéile. Ag teacht le brí agus meon Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, tá Roinn an Taoisigh tugtha do chultúr a chruthú agus a chothú lena spreagtar úsáid na Gaeilge taobh istigh den Roinn féin agus leis an gcustaiméir. Chun na críche sin tá...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have enough respect for the Ceann Comhairle and his office such that if he says something to me verbally, I will not ask him to send it to me in writing. That was an unnecessary demand by Deputy McDonald.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: None of us should get exited about it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Just for clarity, I was very involved in the establishment of the strategic communications unit. It was my initiative. However, if Deputies check the Dáil record, it was after the controversies around its setting up that I took a decision to step back. A budget was allocated, a memo was brought to Cabinet, the Cabinet agreed a work programme and the Secretary General of my Department...