Results 16,761-16,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Relations Contracts Data (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: The table below provides details of public relations companies engaged by my Department from 1 January 2012 to 31 October 2017: Year Company Purpose Cost 2012 & 2013 Caroline Erskine, Media and Public Affairs Consultant To assist in the implementation of the communications plan for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and Associated Projects...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Since becoming Taoiseach, I have participated in the European Council meetings in Brussels in June and October, and the Digital Summit in Tallinn in September. In advance of the October European Council, I also participated in a meeting with the leaders of a number of like-minded partners - Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. I had separate...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts Data (7 Nov 2017)

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: Ministerial Advisers Data (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Details of my special advisers are as follows: - Brian Murphy, Chief of Staff, paid at Deputy Secretary grade; - John Carroll, Head of Policy and Programme Implementation, paid at Assistant Secretary grade; - Nick Miller, Spokesman and Communications Adviser to the Taoiseach, paid at Assistant Secretary grade; - Patrick Geoghegan, Special Adviser, paid at Assistant Secretary grade; - Angela...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committee Meetings (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Cabinet Committee A did not meet in October. It met on 12th September and the next meeting is scheduled for 23 November.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's budget for 2018 has decreased by 2% compared to 2017. Savings are expected to be achieved under the subheads Tribunals of Inquiry and Citizens' Assembly in 2018. The focus of the new Strategic Communications Unit established in my Department will be to streamline Government communications for citizens, develop and deliver major cross-Government communication campaigns, and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: From 1 January 2017 to 31 October 2017, my Department spent a total of €8,614.64 on photography. The use of a photographer is for official events/functions. Increasingly my Department utilises its own staff to take photographs in-house, thereby reducing costs.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Strategic Communications Unit (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Communication to our citizens is an essential public service: the public has a right to know what their government is doing on their behalf, and why. That is why communications should be treated as a strategic, whole-of-government activity which should be conducted to the same level of professionalism as any other activity, such as human resource management or financial management. ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Websites (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 135, inclusive, together. A key part of the modernisation of Government communications is the greater use of social media. Recent initiatives in my department such as videos relating to Ireland's Rugby World Cup Bid, information about going back to school, the budget and treatment benefits cost approximately €21,895 in total. Sponsored posts...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Security Committee (7 Nov 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Having regard to the confidential nature of the National Security Committee, it would not be appropriate to disclose information about the dates of individual meetings or about its proceedings. The Committee is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government and comprises representatives at the highest level of the Departments of Justice & Equality, Defence and Foreign Affairs and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: They also have influence through the-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: -----Sewel convention and also through the legislation. They are not part of negotiations; that is absolutely correct. However, it is absolutely incorrect to say they have no influence or role because they can have an influence and a role. Deputy Burton asked about a hard Brexit. Our meeting was quite short and rather than focusing on the hard Brexit, we spoke more about how we could...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: It is not inevitable by any means. We plan to avoid it, obviously, by negotiating an exit treaty with the UK and a subsequent new relationship treaty with the UK that does not result in a hard Brexit.

European Council: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Tá áthas orm seasamh os comhair an Tí le labhairt faoi chruinniú an Chomhairle Eorpaigh na míosa seo, a bhí ar siúl sa Bhruiséal Déardaoin agus Dé hAoine seo caite. Ar an Déardaoin, rinne an Comhairle Eorpach plé ar inimirce, an Eoraip dhigiteach, cúrsaí slándála agus cosanta agus an caidreamh seachtrach. Ag...

European Council: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know.

European Council: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I apologise if Deputies do not have it yet.

European Council: Statements (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I rewrote it somewhat this morning and so there may have been a delay. This is reflected in the conclusions we adopted. Without a level playing field internationally if Europe were to act unilaterally, we might end up handing an advantage over other non-EU economies. As Ireland has maintained on numerous previous occasions, the OECD is the best forum for dealing with this. That is why...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 11, inclusive, together. I met with Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on 5 October in Government Buildings. We held a very useful discussion on a range of shared challenges and priorities such as education, housing, health care, unemployment, economic management and the budget. Our conversation also touched on Brexit from our respective...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Oct 2017)

Leo Varadkar: I will be as brief as I can. It was a real pleasure to meet and talk with First Minister Sturgeon. We had spoken on the phone previously but it is the first time we met. She is a very impressive person. She is somebody who is very direct and business-like. I was very impressed by her. We are aligned on many issues and I look forward to working closely with the Scottish Government in the...