Results 33,061-33,080 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 148 and 180 together. As our country continues to navigate Covid-19, remote working has become more important than ever before. To date, my Department has had a strong focus on the topic of remote work. In December 2019, my Department published the Remote Work in Ireland report which outlined the prevalence and types of remote working...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The pandemic has caused untold damage to people's lives and livelihoods. I know that too many businesses have been 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 provided a significant additional package of tax and expenditure measures to build the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Agreements (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, commonly known as CETA, is one of the EU’s new generation of progressive free trade agreements. CETA is designed to benefit EU and Canadian companies through improved trade flows in support of increased employment for our citizens. The elimination of tariffs, reduced trade barriers and simplified customs procedures that flow...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) is the largest guarantee scheme in the history of the State. Its function is to add certainty to businesses that liquidity is available for working capital and investment purposes. Loans of up to €1 million are available for up to five and a half years. Loans under €250,000 do not require collateral or personal guarantees. The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Brexit Issues (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In 2018, my Department published a Report entitled "Strategic Implications for Ireland arising from changing EU-UK trading relations". The study undertaken by Copenhagen Economics examined the implications of Brexit for the Irish economy and trade, quantifying the impact of possible new barriers to trade which might emerge due to Brexit. The study examined the likely impact of Brexit on...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Company Liquidations (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Joint provisional liquidators have been appointed by the High Court to four Irish operating companies, that are part of the UK fashion group Arcadia. As the matter is before the courts, it is sub judice. I extend my sympathies to the workers who are in danger of losing their jobs. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved. It is important to note that a provisional...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Brexit Preparations (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 164 together. Brexit, in whatever shape it finally takes, will have a significant impact on the Irish economy, fundamentally changing the trading environment for businesses trading with the UK, excluding Northern Ireland. With just two weeks until the UK leaves the Single Market and the Customs Union, work to ensure Government, business and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to enhancing and reforming the role of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The PIAB model delivers major benefits by providing a low-cost, quick and impartial assessment in injury compensation. However, there has been a decrease in the number of claim settlements reached through PIAB in recent years and an increase in the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) is the largest guarantee scheme in the history of the State. Its function is to add certainty to businesses that liquidity is available for working capital and investment purposes. Loans of up to €1 million are available for up to five and a half years. Loans under €250,000 do not require collateral or personal guarantees. The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Data Centres (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In June 2018, my Department published the ‘Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Policy’. It sets out the strategic importance of data centres to Ireland’s enterprise policy and to attracting foreign investment in the ICT sector. The Statement followed an agreement of the Government, in October 2017, to create a strategic policy...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Foreign Direct Investment (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department, along with the enterprise agencies under my remit, are doing everything possible to sustain businesses through the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and get people safely back to work. The best way to attract further foreign direct investment into Kerry is to continue assisting IDA Ireland in their efforts to generate new investments and jobs in the County....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent statutory office under the aegis of my Department. The WRC plays a vital role in Irish society in delivering fair and compliant workplaces and the non-discriminatory delivery of services. The services of the WRC are key in maintaining industrial relations stability, mediating and adjudicating in individual disputes, raising awareness...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Measures (17 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 that leave. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Company Liquidations (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 178 together. The Government has committed in the Programme for Government to review whether the current legal provisions surrounding collective redundancies and the liquidation of companies effectively protect the rights of workers. I have asked the Company Law Review Group to undertake an expedited review of this commitment as it relates to company...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Relations (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I extend my sympathies to the workers in Debenhams who have lost their jobs. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved and their families. The talks facilitated by the Chair of the Labour Court, Kevin Foley have now concluded and he has issued a report reflecting the outcome of that process. I want to thank Kevin Foley for his efforts and encourage all sides to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Measures (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Due to the uncertainties caused by Brexit, many European Employee Fora and European Works Councils (EWCs) currently situated in the UK are reconsidering their location and many are now considering Ireland as a location post-Brexit. Ireland has proven to be an attractive destination for EWCs for a variety of reasons including the fact that we operate a common law legal system, have a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Measures (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149, 166 and 183 together. Directive 2019/1/EU empowers the competition authorities of the Member States to be more effective enforcers and to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market. It is more commonly known as the “ECN+ Directive” and it is due for transposition by 4 February 2021. In Ireland, it is intended to transpose the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus schemes were designed to help small and medium sized businesses get back on their feet after what has been an exceptionally difficult time. The purpose of the schemes was to help with the cost of reopening or adapting business premises so that normal business could resume. Grant payments were administered by the Local Authorities via the commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Údarás na Gaeltachta (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not provide any money directly to Udaras na Gaeltachta. However, Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta have an agreed Memorandum of Understanding to enable Údarás to optimise the resources available to its indigenous client companies through supports and programmes administered by EI. The Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Brexit Preparations (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I can assure the Deputy that I, and my Government colleagues, continue to engage actively with our EU counterparts across a number of different fora. I very much welcome the solidarity and strong support shown by EU colleagues throughout the period since the UK decided to leave the EU. Following engagement between my predecessors and Executive Vice President Vestager it was agreed...