Results 61-80 of 40,270 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Just to be clear, I have resigned as Fine Gael president and leader today. I have not resigned as Taoiseach, but that will follow. Our Constitution – and it is the people’s Constitution – is very clear on this. The office of president is directly elected; the office of Taoiseach is not. The office of Taoiseach is elected by Dáil Éireann, which is elected...

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...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I am conscious that quite a number of Deputies raised CAMHS and also CDNTs. I do not information broken down to local or county level. CAMHS receives dedicated funding of approximately €146 million annually, and €110 million of that has been provided to community-based mental health organisations and NGOs this year. A further €10 million was announced in January for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: On the issue of childcare fees, providers that are in the scheme have reduced their fees by approximately 25% and will reduce them by a further 25% in September. Providers that are outside the scheme are different because we do not control their fees. Even if we had a fully State-run system, I imagine there would still be private crèches and private childcare providers, unless one made...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 21, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on health last met on 12 February 2024 and is due to meet again shortly. Déanann an coiste comh-aireachta ar shláinte maoirseacht ar ghealltanais i gclár an Rialtais a bhaineann le sláinte agus faigheann sé tuarascálacha mionsonraithe ar réimsí beartais aitheanta....

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy Ó Murchú raised the issue of climate action. We are making measurable progress on climate. Emissions are falling and we expect them to fall again this year. This is against the backdrop of a growing economy and increasing population. Our per capita emissions have fallen considerably in the last 20 years, but they are still...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for their questions. Deputy Ó Murchú raised the issue of Mr. John Molloy in Dunleer. A decision was made by Government today to increase the retirement age for those in uniformed services to 62 but I am not 100% sure if that will apply in this gentleman's case or whether it will kick in in time for him. If the Deputy wants to pass me on some details, I can...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: Ba mhaith liom Ceisteanna Uimh. 9 go 15, go huile, a thógáil le chéile. Tugann an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Eacnamaíoch agus Shóisialta comhairle dom ar shaincheisteanna beartais straitéisigh a bhaineann le forbairt inbhuanaithe eacnamaíoch shóisialta agus chomhshaoil in Éirinn. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, advises me...

Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2024: Motion (5 Mar 2024)

Leo Varadkar: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2024, copies of which have been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 1st March, 2024.