Leo Varadkar, TD

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has announced the appointment of Jim Breslin as Secretary General of the Department of Health. Mr Breslin rejoins the Department from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs where he has served as its inaugural Secretary General for the last 3 years.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has announced the appointment of Jim Breslin as Secretary General of the Department of Health. Mr Breslin rejoins the Department from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs where he has served as its inaugural Secretary General for the last 3 years.

These new Deputy Chief Nursing Officers are an important addition to the Department and will bring a particular focus to areas like patient safety, education and careers, and primary care and women’s health.

The Comptroller & Auditor General report on Managing Elective Day Surgery has been published before the Dáil, in accordance with the Comptroller & Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993, which requires that the Minister lays it before the Dail.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has announced that the Secretary General of the Department of Health, Dr Ambrose McLoughlin, will be moving to a new role supporting the implementation of the Healthy Ireland initiative ahead of his retirement next year.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has today signed an agreement to allow for mutual exchange of driving licences between Ireland and Ontario.

New targets for 50,000 extra jobs in tourism and hospitality and €1.7 billion more in annual revenue from tourism have been proposed by Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for Primary and Social Care Kathleen Lynch have described the passing of the Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014 by the Oireachtas as a historic moment which paves the way to provide GP care without fees for children under six.

Speaking today Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said: This is a blow to fans and to visitors coming from abroad. The way this happened at the very last minute is clearly unsatisfactory from everyone’s point of view and highlights the need to review the major events licencing laws. Nonetheless residents have legitimate concerns about five concerts in a row which the GAA has conceded was a mistake.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar has announced that Dublin Port Company has paid a dividend of €8 million to the State based on its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2013. The payment is in line with the company’s commitment to making a dividend payment of 30% of profit after tax, annually.