Results 15,941-15,960 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff Data (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together. The role of my Department is to support my work as Taoiseach and to co-ordinate the work of the Government and Cabinet. In order to provide this service, the staffing and structure of my Department is reviewed on an ongoing basis. Details of the number of staff employed in my Department over the past three years are as follows: - 31...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My meeting with President Macron in Paris on 24 October last included discussions on the digital economy. President Macron and I agreed on the enormous potential of the digital economy and the need to ensure Europe provides the right economic environment for it to flourish. The March European Council is expected to include a Leaders' Agenda discussion on digital issues.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Bullying in the Workplace (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No bullying or sexual harassment cases have been lodged within my Department since 2011. My Department is committed to maintaining a positive working environment for all its employees. My Department has the same duty of care obligations under the Safety Health and Welfare Act 2005 as other employers in the state. Bullying, discrimination and harassment can negatively affect an...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Review of the Capital Plan has been completed. It was published in August 2017 and it is available at the following link: The Review informed final decision making by Government on the allocation of increased public capital resources in Estimates 2018. It also provided a significant input into the development of the new Ten Year National Development Plan. The Minister for Public...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts Data (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not have contracts with the company in question, nor does the only body under the aegis of my Department, namely the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO).

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Bodies Data (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: No agencies, boards or other such bodies under the aegis of my Department have been disbanded, amalgamated or have had their functions subsumed back into my Department since 2011 and no such bodies have been established since that date.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Personal Injury Claims (23 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: My Department paid one claim in respect of personal injury during the years 2010 to 2017. The claim was settled out of court in 2014 and related to an event which took place in 2011. The total cost of the claim was €22,909.30. No claims were made during these years in respect of the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only Agency under the aegis of my Department.

European Council: Statements (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have been here for the past four hours. How long has Deputy Paul Murphy been here?

European Council: Statements (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Regularly.

European Council: Statements (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Tá áthas orm Iabhairt os comhair na Dála inniu faoi chruinniú Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh a bhí ar siúl sa Bhruiséal an 14 Nollaig agus an 15 Nollaig. BhuaiI an Chomhairle le chéile i gceithre bhfoirm difriúla le linn an dá lá. Bhí an príomhchruinniú ar siúI Déardaoin,14 Nollaig, agus dhírigh sé ar...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The Toland report recommends that the Department of Justice and Equality have one Secretary General and be one Department but two divisions, each headed by a deputy Secretary General. That is the proposal and the report has been accepted by the Government. Deputy Brendan Howlin rightly says it is possible to have two Secretaries General and two Departments under the one Cabinet Minister....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Dialogue (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Reference was made to affordable housing. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Murphy, will be making an announcement on a new scheme and a revised scheme in the next days or weeks. That will come as welcome news to many people who do not qualify for social housing but who are unable to secure a mortgage because their income is higher than the social housing limit...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Dialogue (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I repeat that if NAMA were to get involved in the private rented sector or the private construction sector, that could constitute state aid. I want to make everyone aware of that as they develop policies in the coming months and years. Any such change could backfire badly on the State if suddenly NAMA was transformed into a body that was on-balance sheet or one that had to seek state aid...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Dialogue (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: A total of 2 million people are at work now.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. Cabinet Committee G was formally established by the Government last week and is scheduled to have its first meeting on Thursday. The Cabinet committee will provide political oversight of developments on justice and equality issues, including implementation of the Government's programme of reform for the justice sector as well...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Dialogue (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 81 together. The Government acts collectively and any work done by a Minister within a Department is done with a whole-of-Government approach. A Programme for a Partnership Government sets out the Government's ambitious programme of work and shared aims and we will continue to deliver on this programme. The primary mechanism for ensuring a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It started going down in 2007. There was no recession in 2007.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The matter of pension policy generally, and pension policy reform in particular, falls under the remit of this Cabinet committee and is on its agenda and work programme for this year. There are many pension anomalies, but the pension anomaly about which people most often speak is often not as well understood as it might be. The anomaly is that some people get a full pension after paying...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That means giving people a full pension for paying contributions for 35 or 40 of the 50 years for which they could have worked. It is inevitable that such a change could cause some people to lose out while others gain.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Leo Varadkar: All of those things need to be taken into account in any change that may occur.