Results 32,821-32,840 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: We appreciate that there is a lot of work to do in the next few years to improve our water quality. It has improved a lot in recent years, but big investment by Irish Water is required to make it better. The budget for 2021 includes increased capital spending and a bigger capital budget for Irish Water, which will allow the company to make some real improvements throughout the country.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: If the Deputy can provide me with the details, I will check out the legality of that example. It may already be against the law. We are now under level 5 restrictions. We hope to move to level 3 next week. At level 3, inter-county travel is allowed for work, education and essential purposes such as medical appointments or caring for elderly relatives or children who cannot be cared for by...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. The report issued by the EPA in recent days highlights how much work we all need to do to improve air quality. As he rightly pointed out, air quality has a direct impact on health, particularly for those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD. It is linked to higher mortality. This is a life-and-death health...

Organisation of Working Time (Amendment) (Carryover of Annual Leave) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: First Stage (26 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Judicial Appointments (26 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: There is no such correspondence.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Employment Rights (26 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 sets out the key parameters around the taking of annual leave and payment of same. The terms and conditions of individual employment contracts may provide additional specifics within those parameters such as stipulations in relation to the entitlement to extra days' leave above what is statutorily required by the Act. Section 19 of the Act...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: State Bodies (26 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Since the start of the pandemic, my Department and agencies have swiftly put in place measures to keep businesses informed of supports available to them through call centres and complemented by comprehensive up-to-date information on dedicated web-pages provided on the websites. As a direct response my Department established the COVID-19 Business Supports Call Centre in March. Through a...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 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. My Department and its agencies have been focused on coming up with solutions to help businesses overcome the difficulties caused by COVID-19. Details of the wide range of supports available are...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (26 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant was introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to provide a contribution towards the cost of re-opening or keeping a business operational and re-connecting with employees and customers. It closed for applications on 31 October 2020. Budget 2021 provides a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Pharmaceutical Sector (26 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am informed by the IDA that Roche remains the owner of the site and buildings at Clarecastle. Following the decision to close the facility in 2015, the company is now focusing on remediation and decommissioning of the site. The company is awaiting a planning decision from Clare County Council which I understand is due in January 2021, after which an application will be made for an EPA...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (26 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19, only essential retail outlets will remain open. S.I. No. 448 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 8) Regulations 2020 clearly sets out the temporary restrictions under Level 5 of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID. A list of essential services can be found at and the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Work Permits (1 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: All applications for employment permits are processed in line with the Employment Permits Acts and associated Regulations which lay down in legislation the criteria in relation to the application, grant and refusal of an employment permit.  All employment permits are employer and location specific.  Any new employment requires a new employment permit.   Generally where an...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Redundancy Payments (1 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In March 2020 the Government introduced an emergency amendment to the Redundancy Payments Act 1967 which effectively suspends an employee’s entitlement to claim redundancy from their employer following certain periods of lay-off or short-time work due to Covid-19. The Government was concerned that the financial impact of significant redundancy claims at this time would have a serious...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Employment Rights (1 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Employment Rights (1 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Awaiting reply from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme was launched by Government in September to support those businesses that have been negatively impacted as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19. It is the biggest ever state-backed loan guarantee Scheme in Ireland. The Scheme was originally scheduled to run until 31 December 2020 in line with the requirements of the Temporary Framework on State Aid....

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Job Losses (1 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Section 12 of the Protection of Employment Act 1977 provides that employers proposing a collective redundancy must notify the Minister of the proposed collective redundancy.  The Department monitors that the legislative requirements for consultation and notification of potential redundancies to the Minister are complied with. Information on collective redundancy...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government agreed, on Friday 27th November, the approach for easing restrictions, including a phased move to Level 3 nationally, with a number of exceptions in place for the Christmas period. From 1 December, under Level 3, as set out in the Plan for Living with COVID-19 non-essential retail may reopen. Under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19, only essential retail outlets...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Company Liquidations (1 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Debenhams Retail (Ireland) Limited is a court-supervised liquidation and subject to oversight of the High Court.  This Court process remains ongoing and accordingly is sub judice.  Under section 624 of the Companies Act 2014, it is the statutory duty of a liquidator to administer the property of the company; this includes ascertaining the extent of the property and...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As part of Budget 2021, my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Transport Eamon Ryan TD is introducing specific measures for taxi and hackney businesses. The Minister is providing funding to the National Transport Authority to enable it to waive annual vehicle licence renewal fees for 2021. In addition, Minister Ryan is allocating €15 million...