Results 41-60 of 21,971 for speaker:Leo Varadkar in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach has not availed of any services or consultancy for the past five years to date from the companies in question nor has any expenditure been incurred.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Travel (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: On the 20th September last year, I travelled to Miami to officially open the Consulate General of Ireland there. During my visit I met with members of the Irish community and local political leaders. The Consulate is the eighth Consulate in Ireland’s US network and was established under the Global Ireland strategy (2018) which commits to doubling Ireland’s diplomatic footprint....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government commits to establishing four Citizens’ Assemblies, on the topics of Biodiversity Loss; the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin; Matters relating to Drugs Use; and the Future of Education. With the publication last week of the Citizens’ Assembly report on Matters relating to Drugs Use, three of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Staff (30 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: As Taoiseach, I am provided with Ministerial transport driven by Garda protection officers. Ministerial transport driven by Garda protection officers is also provided to the Government Chief Whip who attends Cabinet. The arrangements for the civilian drivers for the Minister of State for European Affairs are a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs. Responsibility for provision of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Climate Change Policy (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) is a statutory body whose mission is to provide independent, evidence-based advice and recommendations on policy to Government, and this includes periodic reports, as well as its annual report the most recent of which was published in July 2023. As Taoiseach, I have also received correspondence from the Chair of the CCAC in relation to particular...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Flexible Work Practices (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 42 together. Guided by the Central Policy Framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service, the Department of the Taoiseach launched a Blended Working Policy in November 2022 with staff members invited to submit applications for blended working arrangements. In general, all applications for blended working arrangements were facilitated subject to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Irish Sign Language (24 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - which incorporates the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) - is set out in the tables below. Department of the Taoiseach Platform Total Videos* Videos with Speech** Videos with Speech that feature ISL...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (23 Jan 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (23 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet Committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland is one of ten Cabinet Committees re-established in January 2023. It last met on 29 November 2023. The Cabinet Committee is intended to oversee implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of Brexit and Northern Ireland, and ongoing related developments. Northern Ireland and related matters are also discussed at...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (23 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 99, 100 and 101 together. Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 98 go 101, go huile, le chéile. Tá Roinn an Taoisigh tiomanta go hiomlán dá dualgais reachtúla faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2021 a chomhlíonadh. Oibríonn oifigigh le gníomhaireacht ceannaigh meán na Roinne chun na ceanglais a...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Travel (23 Jan 2024)

Leo Varadkar: As Taoiseach, I regularly travel to participate in formal and informal meetings of the European Council in Brussels and elsewhere. In keeping with the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy, I also place a high importance on engaging actively with fellow Heads of State and Government, both within the EU and more widely. I also use international visits to promote Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Economic Policy (12 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council published its annual Competitiveness Challenge report in September 2023. The Council’s Report outlined nineteen priority recommendations across a broad range of areas for Government consideration. On 29 November 2023, the Government published a comprehensive formal response to the Council's recommendations. This is the fourth year...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Programmes (12 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: Through the Shared Island initiative, the Government is engaging with all communities to build consensus around a shared future and delivering benefits for the whole island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. The Government has so far allocated almost €250m from the Shared Island Fund, moving forward with our commitments and objectives in this area in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Sector Staff (12 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Director of Public Prosecutions is independent in the performance of her functions in accordance with provisions of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974. One of the ways effect is given to this independence is that funding for the Director’s Office is provided through a separate Vote; Vote 5 – Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. While I have a role in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Policies (12 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach has been working with Government Departments to progress work across a number of priority areas, which include: · the new Child Poverty and Well-Being Programme Office published its first Programme Plan in August and more recently a report setting out new measures in Budget 2024 to reduce child poverty and promote well-being; · progress on the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Properties (12 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach does not own any property. Properties occupied by the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach - are provided and managed by the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Priorities (12 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of the Taoiseach will continue to work with Government Departments to progress work across a number of areas as set out in the Department’s Statement of Strategy 2023 -2025, as follows: ·progress on the Housing for All Action Plan, to maintain strong momentum in 2024 for new homes; ·ongoing progress reports will be produced under Climate Action Plan 2023...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Inquiries (6 Dec 2023)

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 the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Policies (6 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: During 2023, the Department of the Taoiseach has been working with Government Departments to progress work across a number of priority areas as follows: · progress on the Housing for All Action Plan, with strong momentum in new homes this year with over 22,400 completed in the first three quarters and construction started on almost 24,000 more; · three progress reports produced...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 to 103, inclusive, together. The Department of the Taoiseach’s ex Vat expenditure on the X (formerly Twitter); Meta (Facebook & Instagram); and Google platforms for paid advertisements placed in the years 2021 – 2022 and to date in 2023 is set out below. The bulk of the expenditure relates to the dissemination of information related...