Results 15,661-15,680 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Leaders' Questions (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is what is set out in the 2004 Act.

Leaders' Questions (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As the creator of the HSE and the person who wrote the Health Act 2004, Deputy Micheál Martin should be well aware of that and should not be trying to misrepresent it.

Leaders' Questions (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In terms of trying to cover up anything, everyone knows full well that correspondence is released under freedom of information. The idea that these things could never be kept out of the public domain is absurd. These things are always released under freedom of information if they are not leaked beforehand. Quite frankly, we have had years of this. Certainly, there are no secrets in the...

Leaders' Questions (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It is also the case that the HSE and the Minister come before the Oireachtas committee on a quarterly basis. Indeed, I think that is happening today.

Leaders' Questions (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy said, a number of cases are currently before the courts. While I have absolutely no doubt that the serious ill-health suffered by some former members of the Air Corps is real, it has not been proven whether this array of illnesses could be caused by chemical exposure. Obviously, these cases will be heard in the courts, which will hear all the evidence and, on that basis, make...

Leaders' Questions (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As I have said before in this House, the 2018 national service plan sets out a budget of almost €15 billion for the HSE. This is the largest budget for our public health service since the foundation of the State and it represents an increase of more than €600 million on 2017. This is a substantial increase in funding levels. This comes on top of a health service that was...

Death of former Ceann Comhairle: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I offer my heartfelt condolences, and those of the Government, to the family of Séamus Pattison. I also extend my condolences to Deputy Howlin, his colleagues in the Labour Party and all his friends. Séamus Pattison epitomised the spirit of public service that has been the hallmark of our democracy since Independence. He served for an extraordinary 46 years in this House, winning...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Legislative Measures (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has responsibility for the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). The NESC’s statutory basis is as a body under the framework of the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006. That framework is no longer necessary and Government has agreed that it should be dissolved and the NESC itself placed on a statutory footing. Work is under way to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Brexit Data (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's International, EU and Northern Ireland Division is headed by a Second Secretary General who also acts as the Irish Sherpa for EU business, including Brexit issues. The total staffing resources of the Division, which are kept under ongoing review, currently amount to a whole-time equivalent of 23.3 staff across the full range of policy areas. This Division covers work on...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts Data (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has no contracts with the company in question.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Appointments to State Boards Data (7 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The specific information sought in relation to membership of other State boards or previous boards is not held in my Department. I appoint members to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) under the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and the NESC (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010 - SI 603/ 2010. I also appoint members to the National Statistics Board under...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Official Engagements (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: None of my Department's tenders is run by me, nor do they have to be-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Official Engagements (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----but I am happy to confirm once again that I have no difficulty whatsoever in publishing the outcome of any market research commissioned by my Department. I am happy to give that commitment. In terms of my speech to the European Parliament, I was not speaking in a personal capacity; I was speaking as Head of Government. I was invited there as Head of Government but it is not...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Official Engagements (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----the European Parliament or any other parliament requires a Government decision or parliamentary approval. Anything that requires a Government decision has to go to Cabinet and anything that requires parliamentary approval has to come to this House and the Seanad. I did not make any policy commitments on behalf of the Government or the country and anything I said was very much in line...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Official Engagements (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----or against the wishes of the Oireachtas, he might inform me because I would like to know. However, it seems that----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Official Engagements (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Official Engagements (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It seems that the Deputy is more interested in process than substance.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Official Engagements (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: If there was anything of substance that-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Official Engagements (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----Fianna Fáil objected to, I would have thought it would have been mentioned or raised by now.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Official Engagements (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am saying that the criticisms the Deputy offered relate entirely process and not substance.