Results 31,741-31,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (22 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) is a progressive and comprehensive trade agreement between the EU and Canada. CETA has provisionally applied since 21st September 2017 meaning that duties on 98% of products (tariff lines) that the EU trades with Canada have been removed. The reduced trade barriers, tariff elimination, simplified customs procedures and more...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (22 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In 2017, Enterprise Ireland developed and launched a Brexit SME Scorecard, an interactive online platform which can be used by all Irish companies to self-assess their exposure to Brexit under six business pillars. The Brexit Scorecard remains a very informative tool to help companies understand their Brexit exposure and generate a Brexit action plan. To date 7,211 scorecards have been...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The numbers of applications processed varies between Local Authorities. Delays in processing can occur for a variety of reasons such as lack of relevant information provided by applicants, further information being sought from applicants, applications made in respect of properties not relevant to a particular Local Authority, adjustments necessarily being made to software systems to match...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (22 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Maternity benefit and sickness benefit payments to employees are administered by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The Unfair Dismissals Act 1979 and the Redundancy Payments Act 1969 are currently the responsibility of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection although they will shortly move to my Department as part of a wider Transfer of Functions....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Doherty for raising this important issue. I know Members from all parties in this House have taken an interest in this important matter. There are hundreds of thousands of parents across the country who are concerned about this and want to know the details and how their children will go back to school at the end of the year. There are more than 1 million children and young...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: We have learnt a lot about this virus over recent months, things we did not know back in March when the schools were closed. One thing we have seen from other parts of Europe and across the world is that while nothing is no risk, the risks that arise from opening schools are low. This is why it should be done. Countries that have a higher incidence of the virus than Ireland and suffered...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. Give my regards to Regina and the kids. It is a long time since I have seen them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I would say they are at this stage. What are their ages now?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Time flies. Getting back to business, the Whip informs me that the Minister, Deputy Foley, will be in the Dáil next week to answer questions, will answer questions on this matter, and will be happy to do so. In my view, if one looks at this rationally, the shops are open, hotels and restaurants are open, hairdressers and barbers are open. The Dáil, albeit in unusual...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister will be in the House next week taking oral questions, and I am sure that among those questions will be questions on schools reopening. The Business Committee is giving consideration to an additional slot as well to deal specifically with this issue. What the Minister, Deputy Harris, produced the other day in terms of third level reopening is welcome. It paints a pathway by...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure there is much I can add to my previous replies, other than to say that additional teachers will be required and that space will need to be used differently. For example, spaces such as libraries, general-purpose rooms and gyms may be used in addition to classrooms. Stakeholder engagement is strongly focused on the shape and design of solutions that are both workable and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot say for certain whether the Deputy will get those details next week. The Minister for Education and Skills will be here next week and she will be able to answer questions. I am sure she is more up to date than I am on the issue of schools reopening. While do not know everything about this virus by any means, we have learned a lot in the past few months about it. For example,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Berry for his question and his ongoing interest in and commitment to matters relating to the Defence Forces. It is true that we have a significant recruitment and retention challenge in our Defence Forces, and have had for five or six years, if not longer. It is something with which we have struggled to deal. Recruitment is not so bad, but retention poses a considerable...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: There is a long-standing myth - I will be polite in using the word "myth" - that the Department of Defence hands back millions of euro to the Central Fund every year. I do not know whether it is an error of mischief on the part of those who continue to repeat it, but it is not true. While it is the case that money is reallocated from one part of the Department's Vote to another, that is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. No airline or tour operator can issue travel advice on behalf of the Government - the Government issues travel advice. If anyone is confused about travel advice, he or she should go to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's website to find it. It may not be simple, but it is clear. What we are saying to people is that the safest thing is to stay at home and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Every country and jurisdiction is taking a different approach. In Northern Ireland where Sinn Féin is in power, the decision has been taken to have a green list of 56 countries, some of which have a much higher incidence of infection than Ireland.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: People travelling to and from Northern Ireland from those countries could come south. We need to bear that in mind as a risk.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will respond.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the question. The budget for the National Parks and Wildlife Service has been increased in recent years and I am confident it will be again. We have some fabulous national parks in Ireland. A lot of people will have an opportunity to discover them over the next couple of months. I was in the Burren National Park last weekend. I encourage people to visit but not in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Cabinet will meet in Dublin Castle this afternoon. At that meeting, all things going to plan, the Government will agree the July stimulus package and publish it this afternoon. The package will, of course, require debate in the House, including legislation next week. Until the decision is made by Cabinet I cannot reveal the contents of it but all of the matters that Deputies have...