Results 1-20 of 21,971 for speaker:Leo Varadkar in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Referendum Campaigns (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The referendums to which the Deputy refers were held pursuant to Article 46.2 of the Constitution following the passage by both Houses of the Oireachtas of two Bills proposed by the Government. A Government-sponsored Bill is only presented to the Oireachtas with the Government’s prior approval.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: An Garda Síochána (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach works closely with the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána to ensure the safety and security of office holders and staff located in Government Buildings. There are appropriate protocols in place in the event of security incidents, including bomb threats and other emergencies. The Department does not provide details in relation to such incidents for...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Inquiries (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic. It will include a review of the whole-of-government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar type event were to occur. It will include a consideration of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Bodies (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 41 together. Expenditure by the Shared Island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach relates primarily to the Shared Island research programme and dialogue series. Provision is made in the Revised Estimates each year, as part of the Department’s administration subhead allocation, for the work of the Shared Island unit. Detail on expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: All lump sum payments to civil servants retiring from the Department of the Taoiseach are paid from Vote 12 Superannuation and Retired Allowances overseen by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform subject to normal eligibility requirements. Ministerial personal staff employed on temporary contracts are entitled to severance/ex-gratia payments, including statutory...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Funding (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach did not provide funding to any non-governmental organisations in the past three years.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Referendum Campaigns (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The unauthorised disclosure of the Attorney General’s legal advice referred to in the Deputy’s question was unfortunate and inappropriate. The Attorney General provides legal advice to the Government and this advice is subject to legal professional privilege, in the same way as the legal advice provided to a private client by any solicitor or barrister. The proper operation...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Private Partnerships (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of the Department - do not currently oversee any PPP projects. The Department has no capital expenditure subhead in its Estimates.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (6 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I attended the 60th meeting of the Munich Security Conference, a leading forum for the discussion of security and defence issues, from 16 – 17 February. I participated in a panel discussion on neutrality where I set out the value of Ireland’s military neutrality in a world of increased geo-political insecurity, including new cyber and hybrid threats. I also highlighted the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: All lump sum payments to civil servants retiring from the Department of the Taoiseach are paid from Vote 12 Superannuation and Retired Allowances overseen by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform subject to normal eligibility requirements. No discretionary exit payments have been made to staff in the Department or the National Economic and Social Development Office...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: All lump sum payments to civil servants retiring from the Department of the Taoiseach are paid from Vote 12 Superannuation and Retired Allowances overseen by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform subject to normal eligibility requirements. No discretionary exit payments have been made to staff in the Department or the National Economic and Social Development Office...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: All lump sum payments to civil servants retiring from the Department of the Taoiseach are paid from Vote 12 Superannuation and Retired Allowances overseen by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform subject to normal eligibility requirements. No discretionary exit payments have been made to staff in the Department. Ministerial personal staff employed on temporary...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Funding (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach is not in receipt of EU funding.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Properties (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office do not pay ground rents. All properties used are provided and managed by the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: International Protection (28 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Over the last two years, unprecedented numbers of people have sought protection in Europe and in Ireland due to Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and other conflicts. It is important to be as responsive as possible to genuine local concerns. The best way to address this is to ensure that the structures and supports which have been put in place as part of the humanitarian response...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Information and Communications Technology (27 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Office of the Attorney General has identified a need to significantly improve accessibility of the eISB to meet current international standards. In that context, the tool to which the Deputy refers has been removed as part of an overall redesign of the website, currently under way, to bring it up to the highest international standards of accessibility and which is expected to be...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Data Centres (27 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: In common with other Government Departments, the Department of the Taoiseach has in place comprehensive arrangements to support Data security. Data is stored predominantly on Government Networks. The Department of the Taoiseach receives regular advice on these matters from the relevant authorities, including the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the National Cyber...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 28 together. A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic. It will include a review of the whole-of-government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar type event...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Security (21 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The State’s security is a priority for the Government. We already have functioning services in place that carry out significant and important roles in protecting the State and the people, notably An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the National Cyber Security Centre. Much of the security-focused work our services do is, of its very nature, covert and simply cannot...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Social Dialogue (21 Feb 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The social dialogue unit, part of the economic division of the Department, co-ordinates and assists the Government's overall approach to social dialogue. This includes the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, which engages with representatives of employers and trade unions on economic and employment issues insofar as they affect the labour market, and which are of mutual concern. The most...