Results 32,901-32,920 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: There are already established reporting mechanisms in place for COVID-19 infections in Ireland.  All COVID-19 infections are firstly reported to Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and to Health Protection Surveillance Centre/Health Service Executive, as with other public health infectious diseases. The current reporting obligation on employers under occupational safety...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Employment, I have engaged with my counterparts in Northern Ireland at meetings of the North South Ministerial Council in July and November. We discussed measures in place to support communities and businesses on both sides of the border but did not specifically discuss cross-border shopping trips.  Retailers in Ireland are key...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Advertising (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Under the EU's Single Market rules Member States are prohibited from discriminating between the purchase of each others' products.  Nevertheless, Governments can advocate for buy local campaigns.  Buying locally sustains local economies and the growth of jobs and vibrant communities throughout Ireland. In November, I launched the "Look For Local" campaign which is a new national,...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant Plus was just one part of the wider range of schemes available to firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs.  The Restart Grant Plus scheme, which replaced the original Restart Grant scheme, closed to new...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Enterprise Ireland (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Enterprise Ireland is currently not in a position to support companies active in the area of cannabis-based products. Enterprise Ireland’s position is based on the fact that, while EU regulations permit a threshold of 0.2% of THC in hemp products, products containing any trace of THC are considered as a controlled drug in Ireland under the Misuse of Drugs Orders. In other words, there...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Enterprise Ireland (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: AgriBioTech Partners trading as Floreo Botanicals have been engaging with their Local Enterprise Office in Offaly.  I also understand that Floreo Botanicals is a Botanicals Company and they use many plants in their products including Flax, Nettle, German Chamomile and Hemp.    Hemp is a cannabis-based product and for the purposes of Enterprise Ireland and Local...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Employment Rights (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As our country continues to navigate Covid-19, remote working has become more important than ever before. In December 2019, my Department published the Remote Work in Ireland report which outlined the prevalence and types of remote working arrangements in Ireland as well as the factors influencing its adoption.  This year, as a response to COVID-19, my Department launched a new...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Following the ending of the 6-week period of Level 5 restrictions, the Government made the decision to move the entire country to Level 3 of the Framework for Living with COVID-19. The first phase of the gradual reopening coming into effect on Tuesday the 1 December. Further information on the measures in place from 1stDec can be found at . Businesses should carefully review measures above...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Outdoor markets are permitted under the current restrictions, and fall under the responsibility of the Local Authorities, who must be satisfied that they can be run safely and in line with local authority planning, retail guidance and, in particular their plans to manage public areas in busy town centre areas. In line with updated Government Health measures, available at: , businesses must...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 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 for extra days' leave above what is statutorily required by the Act. Section 19 of the Act provides that an employee shall be entitled to paid annual leave equal to: (a) 4 working weeks...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 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. The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out the five stages for unlocking the restrictions put in place to contain the Coronavirus, at three week intervals. The...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 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. The Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out the five stages for unlocking the restrictions put in place to contain the Coronavirus, at three week intervals. The...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: IDA Ireland (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 96 together. Attracting investment and creating new jobs in regional locations, including County Donegal, is a major priority for both myself and my Department. The IDA has a significant role to play in helping us achieve that objective. The Agency has been working hard, through its staff both here and abroad, to encourage overseas investors to locate...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Enterprise Ireland (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department, working through our agency Enterprise Ireland, supports companies throughout the country to start, scale and succeed in international markets. To support companies start, a range of financial and non-financial supports are available through Enterprise Ireland, including: - Enterprise Ireland’sNew Frontiers Development Programme, the national entrepreneur development...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Local Enterprise Offices administer the Trading Online Voucher Scheme on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This scheme offers skills training, mentoring and financial support of up to €2,500 to help eligible businesses to develop their ecommerce capability, but does not cover the capital cost of equipment. However, businesses already...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Enterprise Ireland (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Media organisations whose content is of international interest so that it could credibly generate revenue in non-Irish markets may seek assistance from Enterprise Ireland on the basis of its ambition to provide sales in non-Irish markets through the development of a credible business plan.  A local or regional media organisation, supplying a local market which does not provide an...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant Plus was introduced as part of the response to the effects on business of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The Scheme has been operated by the 31 Local Authorities on behalf of my Department, and closed to new applications on 31 October 2020. It was effectively replaced as part of Budget 2021 with the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated by the Revenue...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Enterprise Ireland (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Enterprise Ireland is currently not in a position to support companies active in the area of cannabis-based products. Enterprise Ireland’s position is based on the fact that, while EU regulations permit a threshold of 0.2% of THC in hemp products, products containing any trace of THC are considered as a controlled drug in Ireland under the Misuse of Drugs Orders. In effect, there is no...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Staff (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Data on the number and percentage of persons employed in my Department who have declared a disability is currently being collated for end of 2020. This data is being prepared for submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Monitoring Committee by the 31st March 2021. This data is based on self-declaration of disability, so can only be compiled through an all-staff census...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will be aware that my Department has national policy responsibility for health and safety in the workplace. We have been working closely with the Health and Safety Authority and across Government to ensure that the “Work Safely Protocol” is up to date and aligned with the latest public health advice and Government’s COVID-19 guidelines....