Results 31,761-31,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy makes a very good argument. I am not up to date on the matter. The Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, is here and she may be up to date on it but if not I will seek a reply from the Department for the Deputy.

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

Leo Varadkar: It is not necessary for people to purchase surgical masks or respiratory masks. I look around the House today and I see a large number of Deputies who are wearing cloth face coverings. That will suffice-----

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

Leo Varadkar: They can be reused and washed and they are more environmentally friendly than disposable ones.

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

Leo Varadkar: This is an important issue. I understand that a mechanism is in place for small schools that were due to lose a teacher to have that decision appealed or reviewed. I do not know whether there are plans to have a moratorium. As I mentioned earlier, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Foley, will be here to take oral questions next week. The deadline is still open for Deputies to...

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

Leo Varadkar: I cannot answer the Deputy's question specific to Belmullet hospital but I will ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to correspond with her on that. There is no moratorium. We have 15,000 more health staff now than only a few years ago and we are recruiting all the time. Bed capacity is being increased. Three new hospitals are under construction in the country, one of...

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

Leo Varadkar: I believe that legislation will be on the autumn schedule, when we come back in September.

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

Leo Varadkar: I am glad to hear the facility is being upgraded to comply with HIQA standards and I am sure the Deputy is too, but it is not right that families are not communicated with and that should happen. I will certainly let the Minister for Health know that the matter was raised and, perhaps, he will be able to contact her directly.

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

Leo Varadkar: I think we would all agree that our hospices in Ireland provide excellent end-of-life care, both in terms of hospice care and home care. There has been a significant increase in capacity in our hospices in recent years. The hospice in Mayo opened only in the past year or so, I think a new hospice is due to open in Wicklow soon, while there are new hospice developments both in Waterford, in...

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

Leo Varadkar: I nominate the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to take that question.

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

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Colm Burke only mentioned this matter to me recently as well. I do not have detailed information on it but I know it is a matter of concern for people in Cork. I will see the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, later today and I will let him know the matter was raised here and ask him to reply to both Deputies.

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

Leo Varadkar: I know the drug was approved for use some months ago if not last year. However, the process is not straightforward and this is not just a medicine that can be given to a patient, including children. This must be administered in hospital in a particular way. The Children's Health Ireland group, including the Crumlin hospital, must scale that up over time. It has committed to doing this but...

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

Leo Varadkar: It is not a bad idea. The Deputy makes a valid point and this is something we will examine between now and the announcement on phase 4. We have some time over the next couple of weeks to examine the matter. I am not a public health expert but if people on stage are adequately socially distanced, it should be okay. That would apply if a comedian was on his or her own or if people are...

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

Leo Varadkar: The programme for Government commits to making the metro link happen. I know it has been promised for a long time and I want this to be the Government that at least gets construction under way. It is targeted for 2023 but I will see the relevant Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, this afternoon. I know he is committed to it as well and very keen to see the project completed. I hope that by the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Credit Guarantee Scheme (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The new €2 billion COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme announced by Government forms a major component of the Government’s strategy to aid SMEs in these difficult times by providing critical support to ensure businesses are facilitated in having access to credit facilities to assist a return to a more regular trading environment. It is a further development of the existing Credit...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sports Facilities (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government's July Jobs Stimulus, to be announced this week, will extend, enhance and add to the existing measures for COVID19 impacted businesses already announced. The July Stimulus will help all firms meet the costs incurred during lockdown and in re-opening, in addition to the range of measures already in place. In that regard, I am considering how the effectiveness of the Restart...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (23 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has introduced a range of measures for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, the pandemic unemployment payment for the self-employed, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs. Full details on all COVID19 supports for business are available at: Any eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant scheme is just one part of the wider suite of measures for firms of all sizes, which includes grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs. This package is a significant step-up in assistance available for all businesses in all sectors at this very difficult...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Under the new Restart Grant scheme, which was launched as part of the July Stimulus package on 23 July 2020, pubs will be eligible for the grant if they operate from rateable premises. The grant will be based on the amount of the rates assessment for the premises for 2019 (excluding arrears) with a new minimum grant of €4,000 and a maximum grant of €25,000.  The revised...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Health and Safety Inspections (28 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Health and Safety Authority currently has 175.5 whole-time equivalent staff in administration and inspector grades. The total current inspector headcount is 105.3 whole-time equivalents.  These inspectors operate across all of the Health and Safety Authority’s statutory mandates covering occupational health and safety, chemicals and market surveillance of products and can be...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty - public bodies’ statutory duty to eliminate discrimination, promote equality, and protect human rights of staff and service users - is the responsibility of all Departments and other public bodies individually. COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on communities, businesses, families and individuals across the...