Results 32,941-32,960 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is right about the major issue with poor customer service from telecommunications companies, which has been highlighted by all Deputies. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and I met the CEO of Eir to discuss this matter a few weeks ago. ComReg and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission need more powers to levy administrative fines. I will be preparing that legislation...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. As I understand it, individual and one-to-one training is allowed indoors, but not groups or classes. I will, however, get that double-checked with the Department of the Taoiseach and confirm it with the Deputies as soon as possible.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I share Deputy Smith's sentiments. We all want this facility open as soon as possible. I am afraid I do not have information on this matter today, but I will let the Minister know the issue was raised by the Deputy and ask that she receive a written reply as soon as possible.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot give as clear a reply as I would like because some of these issues are still being worked out. I can say that the cross-Border directive ceases to apply to Northern Ireland and Great Britain when those areas leave the European Union on 1 January. It will continue to apply for people travelling to other parts of the European Union, but we are trying to put alternative arrangements...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: There has been a deterioration in air quality recently. Some of that is down to meteorological conditions, but obviously the backdrop is pollution from cars, which has probably gone down because fewer people are travelling in their cars, and the increased burning of smoky solid fuels now that more people are at home. The difficulty is that this is not just because of smoky coal. A large...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: We can certainly look at that. As the Deputy knows, however, the review is underway and I do not know what the outcome will be. The issue raised by the Deputy can certainly be examined.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. I am not across the details, but I will let him know this issue was raised and ask him to contact Deputy O'Rourke.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I met with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, last night on this issue of school places in the Dublin 15 area, with particular emphasis on Edmund Rice College and Pelletstown Educate Together National School. Those projects need to go ahead. Work needs to start on the new schools on the new permanent sites. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has agreed to come back to me on the matter as...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the question. I am aware of this problem. Some of my constituents have been in touch with me about it too. I will engage with the Minister for Social Protection on it. It needs to be sorted out before Christmas. I agree with the Deputy in that regard. I do not understand why this is still a problem. Other employers do not seem to have such a difficulty filling in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised the legislation will be in for the next term, dealing with both cost-rental and the shared equity scheme so that more people can qualify for affordable housing.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I listened to "Newstalk" this morning and I heard the representative of My Lovely Horse Rescue setting out the animal welfare issues relating to horses, which was quite shocking. I was struck by the remark that it is possible to buy a horse in Ireland for as little as €10, which is extraordinary. I know some horses are well looked after but a lot are not and that is not right. In...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will be aware that there are 15 levels in the prioritisation schedule agreed by Cabinet last Tuesday. The schedule is based entirely on medical and scientific advice and Government did not alter it in any way. We are very much guided by the doctors and scientists regarding vaccination, starting with those at most risk, which is those aged over 65 in nursing homes, moving on to...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am acutely aware of the difficulties that communities and voluntary organisations have faced in recent months due to the impact of social distancing requirements. The Government’s 'Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19, the operation and reopening of Ireland' will be guided by the need to manage risk and repairing the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 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. My Department has worked to ensure that appropriate supports are in place for businesses as they develop their response to impacts arising from COVID-19. Details of the wide range of supports...

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

Leo Varadkar: Professional fees are paid in my Department in line with Circular 47/2001: Reimbursement of Professional Membership Fees. The reimbursement of fees are initially paid, where there is a mandatory condition for appointment to the role advertised during the recruitment campaign. In an effort to ensure the highest level of professionalism in certain areas of the Department and as part of...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant Plus Scheme for B&Bs, while funded through my Department, is administered wholly by Fáilte Ireland on its behalf.My Department has no role in relation to individual applications. I would therefore encourage the proprietor to liaise directly with Fáilte Ireland with regard to payment of the grant. Fáilte Ireland's...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (OWTA) sets out an employee’s entitlement to annual leave and the terms around the taking of same. Under Section 20 of the Act, the times at which annual leave is taken is ultimately determined by the employer subject to the leave being granted within the leave year to which it relates, or, with the consent of the employee within the period of...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: IDA Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Midlands Regional Team of the IDA works closely with a variety of stakeholders to ensure that client companies from across the region have access to an appropriately skilled talent pool. IDA Ireland also collaborates with the Midlands Regional Skills Manager, Education and Training Boards (ETB’s), Athlone Institute of Technology, Carlow Institute of Technology, Solas, Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: IDA Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 128 and 129 together. The primary responsibility of the IDA is to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Ireland and to retain, transform and expand the existing base of FDI companies that have already invested and located here. IDA Ireland’s strategy, Winning Foreign Direct Investment 2015 - 2019, set out challenging targets in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: IDA Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: IDA Ireland meets with elected representatives from all parties on a frequent basis, on both a bilateral and multilateral basis. Although meetings are not generally tracked, the attached Table reflects the level of ongoing engagement that IDA Ireland has with elected representatives in counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.