Results 32,601-32,620 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Brexit Preparations (10 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department’s budget allocation for 2021 has been increased by €154 million or 15.9% on the 2020 allocation in addition to €100 million earmarked from the Recovery Fund for Brexit. This is a record allocation for the Department and will significantly bolster the capability of our enterprise and regulatory agencies to help businesses examine their Brexit exposure, seek...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Economic Policy (10 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland’s economy was in a strong position prior to the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic. There were an unprecedented 2.3 million people at work and unemployment levels at below 5 per cent were at an all-time low. However, the economy was highly exposed to the performance of a small number of firms in a small number of sectors, and a small number of export markets. The pandemic has...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Enterprise Data (10 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: While the majority of manufacturing and supply chains remain open as essential services, the sector faces ongoing challenges of capacity constraints, reduced demand and supply chain disruption. Given its export intensity, the manufacturing sector is very reliant on international trade flows and functioning global supply chains and on recovery in EU and global markets. Wider external...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Job Creation (10 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: According to the Central Statistics Office's (CSO) Labour Force Survey, female employees make up 29.5% of those employed in manufacturing and 53.1% of those employed in services. These proportions have not changed significantly in the past decade. Please see table below. Table 1: Employment in manufacturing and services by gender, Q2 2020 Sector Male (000's) %...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Trade Strategy (10 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Now more than ever, it is important to assist Irish companies increase their presence in existing markets and expand into new ones. The exporting sector will continue to be a strong engine for growth and jobs in the Irish economy as we rebuild after the pandemic. Over half of companies expect to grow their exports next year and that 83% expect to hire new staff. This is a testament to the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Work Permits (10 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In March 2020, the Employment Permits Section of my Department implemented a COVID-19 contingency plan to ensure that the employment permit regime could continue to operate throughout the crisis.  Since 30th March, the employment permit system has been operating fully remotely and online.   Operational practices have been adjusted to replace the paper-based elements of the service...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Staff (10 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The tables below set out the numbers of staff in post in each grade at the end of each year as follows: Table 1 - The overall numbers of staff in the relevant grades and grade equivalents at each year end for the past five years. Table 2 - Provides further breakdown of the overall totals for each year by grade to those in post in a full-time capacity. Table 3 - Provides further breakdown of...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: We know the Level 5 restriction is having a significant impact on businesses. In order to reduce transmission of this disease quickly this decision was taken now so we can return to a lower level of the Living with Covid-19 framework. I am keenly aware that businesses are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities and I am committed to ensuring that the Government will offer as...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Commercial Property (11 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together. Roche Ireland established its pharmaceutical operation in Clarecastle, County Clare in 1974. In November 2015, Roche announced that it planned to close its Clarecastle facility after a review of Roche’s worldwide manufacturing network for small molecules. While the announcement of the closure of the plant was very...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is currently at Level 5 of Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 - the Plan for Living with COVID-19. At Level 5, only essential retail outlets and essential services are allowed to open to the public. The list of essential services that can remain open during Level 5 includes therapy services provided by a member of a designated profession within the meaning...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Office of Public Works (OPW) manages and oversees the State's property portfolio. Accordingly accommodation for my Department and its Offices is provided by the OPW in buildings which are either State owned or leased by the OPW on our behalf. The information being sought by the Deputy is therefore a matter for the OPW.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Programme for Government (11 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments under the “A New Social Contract” Mission. This Mission includes initiatives that pertain to the work of the Low Pay Commission: - Progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government - Request the Low Pay Commission to examine Universal Basic Income, informed by a review of previous international pilots,...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Properties (11 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Office of Public Works (OPW) manages and oversees the State's property portfolio. Accordingly accommodation for my Department and its Offices is provided by the OPW in buildings which are either State owned or leased by the OPW on our behalf. Typically, the Department and its Offices are in shared accommodation, either with other Government Departments, public bodies or the private...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising the serious issue of the review of gynaecology services in Letterkenny University Hospital where women experienced delayed diagnosis. Obviously, as a result of that, in some cases they did not get the treatment they should have as soon as possible. I want to express my deep sorrow to any of the women affected and also to any of their families and friends...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I will do that and I will read the independent review. When we find failings or shortcomings in any particular hospital it is important to apply scrutiny nationwide. If things are going wrong in one hospital it is wrong to assume that everything is okay everywhere else. Too many times we have learned that failings identified in a particular hospital or service are not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I support the thrust of the campaign and the intentions behind it. The matter of how this can be achieved requires a bit more discussion. There is always the law of unintended consequences. We all know of children, young people and teenagers who were born in Ireland, who know no other home and who speak with Dublin, Wicklow or Kerry accents - not that someone's accent...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot say whether we can support it at this time, but I will take a look at it. I will speak to the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, who I expect to be the Minister addressing it in the Seanad, to see what we can do. Perhaps we will not oppose it and attempt to find a solution on Committee Stage. Senator Bacik is one of the best legislators in these Houses so we would always...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the questions. The CMO was consulted. The matter was discussed at the Cabinet sub-committee on Covid. We were both present and we discussed it. I recall that at the time the CMO said he was not particularly concerned about international travel. As we get the numbers down, it becomes a greater concern for reasons which the Deputy will understand. I do not know...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Some modelling has been done on the possibility of a third wave in January and February, which has been published by NPHET or Professor Nolan. I do not know to what extent international travel feeds into that modelling. I will have to check that. In terms of the European regulation that we have adopted and signed up to, that does not require a double test. It falls within the discretion...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: A person who tests positive is not supposed to travel.