Results 32,761-32,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Regulation of Lobbying (Amendment) Bill 2020: First Stage (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: No.

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

Leo Varadkar: 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 much assistance and support as possible. Budget 2021 provides a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors. The measures in...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus schemes were administered by the 31 Local Authorities on behalf of my Department. The Schemes are now closed and are superseded by other budgetary measures including the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated through Revenue. As of 13 November 2020, Cavan County Council has approved and paid 741 applications to the value of...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Brexit Preparations (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s Brexit Readiness Action Plan sets out a broad range of changes that will occur from 31 December 2020, regardless of the outcome of ongoing EU-UK negotiations. It provides clear and concise advice on steps to be taken now by businesses and individuals in order to prepare for the end of the Transition Period. My Department and its agencies have put a wide range of Brexit...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: IDA Ireland (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is strongly committed to regional development and my Department and its agencies - including IDA Ireland - are working towards ambitious targets to ensure that employment and investment are as evenly distributed as possible across the country. 54,868 jobs were created outside of Dublin over the past five years leading to 33,118 additional direct jobs...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am acutely aware that COVID-19 has brought particular challenges for retailers - large and small, across the country.  Trading online is a very important route for retail businesses to grow and improve their business in the current crisis and will be an important element in their recovery over the longer term. My Department proposed the COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme in response to the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Regional Enterprise Development Fund (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I intend to make a significant announcement of funding for Enterprise Centres very shortly. This funding will be crucial as the Centres continue to offer services to local businesses during what is an exceptionally difficult time. It will help the Centres implement a recovery plan for businesses within their remit over the next six to twelve months.  It will help enterprise centres all...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Regional Development (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As part of the proposed multi-billion Digital Europe Programme (DEP), the European Commission and EU Member States will establish and fund a network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). In the recent Budget, €3 million was allocated to support Ireland’s participation in this network in 2021. These hubs will support digital transformation in SMEs and public sector...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Local Enterprise Offices (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: It is a priority that the 31 Local Enterprise Offices, as the first stop shop for business, are sufficiently resourced in order to support businesses and protect jobs as the country deals with the dual challenges of COVID-19 and Brexit. In Budget 2021 the Local Enterprise Offices are provided with a capital increase of €6 million and a further €5 million will be made available...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Contracts (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In the time available,  it has not  been possible to compile the information requested.  I will arrange for this material to forwarded to the Deputy as soon as a possible.

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

Leo Varadkar: In the reply to Oral PQ 83 of 10 November it was outlined that, since the introduction of level 5 restrictions on the 21 October 2020, the Health and Safety Authority had, at that point, carried out 13 inspections of meat processing plants. I have been advised by the Health and Safety Authority that 10 Reports of Inspection (ROIs) issued arising from these 13 inspections. Inspections...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Company Liquidations (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I extend my sympathies to the workers in Debenhams who have lost their jobs. It is disappointing that the recent Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) facilitated talks did not succeed in agreeing a way forward.  I would urge both sides to re-engage in a constructive manner with a view to finding a mutually acceptable resolution.   The Government is...

Covid-19: Statements (24 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: It has been some time since I have given my views on Covid and I welcome the opportunity to share some of my thinking with the House today. As we all know, the Government faces a difficult decision in the week ahead. As we approach the end of six weeks of level 5 restrictions, we sail between Scylla and Charybdis in trying to set the right course. In doing so, we know for certain that...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Trade Agreements (24 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2019, the EU reached political agreement in their trade negotiations with the Mercosur region (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay). The EU-Mercosur Agreement is the EU’s largest trade deal to date. The Agreement covers a population of over 770 million with trade in goods and services valued at €122 billion. It aims to reduce and, in...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Since the onset of COVID-19, Government has worked to ensure that appropriate supports are in place for businesses as they seek to navigate the disruptions this has brought to their trading environments. The COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme makes funding available to eligible businesses that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. This scheme was developed in cooperation between the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Industrial Disputes (24 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I extend my sympathies to the workers in Debenhams who have lost their jobs. The Taoiseach and I, and other Government Ministers have met on a number of occasions with Debenhams employees and their union, Mandate. While the Government cannot interfere with the High Court-overseen liquidation process, Ministers have sought at all times to ensure that the concerns of workers are heard and...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Department, through a dedicated Procurement Co-ordination Unit with responsibility at Principal Officer level, ensures that there is an appropriate focus on procurement best practice. There are a range of formal procedures and control mechanisms in place to try to ensure compliance with all relevant national and EU procurement guidelines. The Department, where possible, will try to avail...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Legislative Process (24 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In October 2018, an application to waive pre-legislative scrutiny relating to the European Investment Fund Mandate Agreement Bill 2018 was granted by the Standing Business Committee. This Bill provided the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with the necessary powers to enter into a Mandate agreement with the European Investment...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: A full-time Data Protection Officer (DPO) at the level of Assistant Principal Officer was appointed on 30 April 2018. My Management Board agreed the assignment of a full-time post at this level to strengthen the Department's preparation for the EU General Data Protection Regulation on 25 May 2018. The DPO operates with independence in this important role and with the full authority of the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The pandemic has caused untold damage to lives and livelihoods, with many businesses severely impacted by the restrictions needed to ensure public health safety during the pandemic. Our response to COVID-19 will continue to assist those businesses affected. Budget 2021 provides a significant additional package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help...