Results 15,741-15,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----deliver history lessons. I remind Deputy Martin, who sought to remind me that my colleagues and I have been in government for seven years, that in our first years in government, we had to restore this country's economic sovereignty and put us back into a place where we could build a future for Ireland again.

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: As I have already mentioned, unemployment is falling in every county and employment is increasing in every county. Some 80% of new jobs are being created outside the greater Dublin area.

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is a difference between advocating for a place and undermining it. I always support people who advocate for their area, be it a town, a city or the country from where they come, or the rural area they represent. There is a big difference between advocacy and undermining. Advocacy involves acknowledging problems and coming up with solutions, and undermining the place from where one...

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister is here beside me. I will give the House some examples of things that have been done-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----in a short period of time to make rural Ireland a better place to live and make it more attractive for people to live, raise their families, set up businesses and do all the things we want. An investment of €21 million has been made in the town and village scheme.

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The local improvement scheme-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It says a lot about the different approach that Members on this side of the House are willing to listen to the charges and then the question is thrown in at the end.

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Opposition hates the facts, so I will go through the facts again.

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Some €21 million has been invested in the town and village scheme, and there will be a lot more to come, making our towns and villages a lot more attractive to live in.

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The local improvement scheme has been restored with €17 million spent already on that, improving rural laneways and access-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----to farms and homes in rural Ireland. There will be more funding there also. The rural recreation scheme has been granted €11 million and €30 million is provided for the Leader programme. There has been an underspend in the Leader programme-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----but there is always an underspend in the first two years. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, has made 32 changes already to simplify the Leader process and to make sure that money is drawn down and is spent. The social inclusion and community activation programme is receiving €43 million. The CLÁR programme is receiving €5 million to help...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Banking Sector Reform (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: While progress towards Banking Union in the EU was referenced in the context of general discussions on the future of Europe, the specific issue of banking reform was not discussed at my meetings in Davos.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Budgets (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: A key part of the modernisation of Government communications is the greater use of social media. Four campaigns undertaken by the Strategic Communications Unit in 2017 had an informational video component which was promoted on social media - YouTube, Facebook and Twitter at a total cost of €21,895. It is not possible at this stage to give an overall budget figure for social media....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Committee last met on 9 November and that meeting was attended by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade; Justice and Equality; Communications, Climate Action and Environment; Housing, Planning and Local Government; and the Minister of State for Defence. Also in attendance were key personnel from the Defence Forces and an Garda Síochána together with a number of senior...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Apprenticeship Data (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There are no people enrolled in apprenticeships in my Department or the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Internal Audits (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: An external peer review was carried out on the internal audit function in my Department in 2013. The review confirmed that the internal audit function met the standards required for the provision of a robust, independent and objective assurance to the Accounting Officer of my Department on the adequacy or otherwise of the systems of internal control operating within my Department. The...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Reviews (6 Feb 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 Staff Data (6 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is one secondee from PwC working in my Department. My Department does not have any secondees from the other organisations detailed by the Deputy.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Cathaoirleach. A Sheanadóirí, I am delighted to speak to you today on Lá Fhéile Bhríde, St. Brigid's Feast Day, a date which also marks the first day of spring.   In pagan times today was known as "Imbolc" – a time for making plans and renewing strength. Today’s speech, on my first occasion here as Taoiseach, is inspired by these...