Results 15,361-15,380 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Strategic Communications Unit (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am not aware of any plans to use television advertising. There is, of course, no mention of political parties in any of these advertisements. In fact, there is no mention of the political parties in the Constitution. I note Deputy Burton spoke about the Constitution having a distinction between Oireachtas, Government and political parties. An interesting point about Bunreacht na...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Strategic Communications Unit (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: To answer the question, there is no contact between civil servants in the unit or any part of my Department and party officials, and nor should there be.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Strategic Communications Unit (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Of course, there is contact between serving politicians and their parties. I speak to Fine Gael and I do so very regularly, as do special advisers. The total budget for the unit is €5 million for this year and it is up to the directors to determine how it is best spent and spread across the various campaigns.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Strategic Communications Unit (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have it.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Strategic Communications Unit (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: If Deputy Micheál Martin writes to the Secretary General, I am sure he will give it to him.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Strategic Communications Unit (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to see the information first.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Strategic Communications Unit (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not even know if it exists.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Strategic Communications Unit (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That will not be known until the campaign is finished.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Strategic Communications Unit (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will be happy to provide it.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not think it requires a protracted debate-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----but it is a good system. We used it the last time and we should use it again.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I would certainly welcome Deputy Martin's views and the views of other parties on the matter. I believe the results of the European Parliament elections should be reflected in the selection of the Commission President.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Strategic Communications Unit (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 11, inclusive, together. The remit of the strategic communications unit is to bring consistency, clarity and professionalism to all Government communications. Its focus is to treat communications as a whole-of-Government activity and to speak to our citizens in a way that they understand and so they can be aware of the Government services available to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. I chaired meetings of Cabinet committees A and G in January, and to date in February I have chaired meetings of committees D, F and C. It is a short answer.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In relation to the assessment of capital needs in the health sector, that was very much covered by the capacity review that was commissioned by the Minister for Health. The capacity review was in the programme for Government. It is referenced specifically in the Sláintecare report. The capacity review was published in January. It outlines the kind of increase in capacity that we need...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has published several action plans, all of which take Brexit into consideration. I referred to the 2018 Action Plan for Jobs in my initial response, which specifically includes actions to prepare businesses and enterprise for Brexit. It was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday and will be published by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, in the coming weeks. Ireland 2040, which was...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Companies that are dependent on the UK market will face difficulties.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is no point in denying that they will face difficulties. No matter who sits in this office or from which side of the House one looks at it, if there is a significant change in the trading relationship between Britain and Ireland, companies that depend on the UK market for exports will face difficulties. We need to help them to prepare, which involves diversifying markets, increasing...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Of course, the report says none of those things. If one reads it, it says that even in a worst-case scenario, the Irish economy will continue to grow but at a slower rate than it would otherwise.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is not how it is being reported in the reports that I have seen in the media.