Results 33,121-33,140 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government. Consideration is now being given to how best to take forward this initiative. I previously confirmed that consideration is being given to transforming the Low Pay Commission into a Living Wage Commission. I recently met with the Low Pay Commission to discuss the role they can...

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

Leo Varadkar: It is important to note that for the purposes of the Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus Scheme, each Local Authority is the decision maker in relation to initial applications and appeals. The Department has no role in relation to individual applications. The Restart Grant Plus scheme has closed to new applications since 31 October 2020 and there are currently no plans to reopen the...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) is the national body for the commercial development of Irish designers and makers, stimulating innovation and championing design thinking. DCCI's activities are funded by my Department via Enterprise Ireland. DCCI currently has 59 member organisations and more than 3,000 registered clients. The DCCI budget was increased in Budget 2019 by an...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Company Liquidations (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...

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

Leo Varadkar: I cannot intervene with a liquidator, who has a statutory duty to realise assets and distribute to creditors in accordance with the law. It would also be inappropriate for me to comment on a decision of the High Court. Ireland’s system of industrial relations is essentially voluntary in nature. Responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers rests...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government committed to establishing an SME Growth Taskforce to design a National SME Growth Plan that will map out an ambitious long-term strategic blueprint beyond COVID-19 and Brexit. I appointed the members of this Taskforce in September, which includes over 20 entrepreneurs and business leaders, contributing expertise from a broad range of sectors. The Taskforce is...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to progress to a living wage over the lifetime of the Government. Consideration is now being given to how best to take forward this initiative and I recently met with the Low Pay Commission to discuss options for progressing this commitment and the role the Commission can play in meeting the commitment to progress to a living wage. I...

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

Leo Varadkar: There has been ongoing dialogue with both employee and employer representative groups on the continued operation of the emergency provision 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 decision to extend this provision until 31st March 2021 was a difficult...

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: 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 Restart Grant scheme was launched on 15 May with a budget of €250 million. The Restart Grant Plus scheme was launched on 10 August with an additional budget of €300m from the Government’s...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s overriding objective during COVID-19 is to ensure the public’s health and safety. The guidelines in relation to retail settings are in place to prevent large indoor gatherings of people while ensuring that as many shops as possible can open. This is to prevent the spread of the virus and protect lives. Seasonal experiences and initiatives that lead to...

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

Leo Varadkar: The 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide are a ‘first-stop-shop’ for providing advice and guidance, financial assistance and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business and act as a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports available to the SME sector and provides information/referrals to other relevant bodies under agreed...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s Living with COVID-19 Plan recognises the need for an overall incremental approach which take account of the societal and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the varying responses required. The Living with Covid-19 Plan sets out how businesses should operate at five different levels. The country is, at present, at Level 3 and within Level 3 people should...

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

Leo Varadkar: Ireland has a comprehensive body of employment legislation, in respect of which the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is mandated to secure compliance. Ireland’s employment rights legislation protects all employees, including posted and migrant workers, who are legally employed on a contract of service basis. This is specifically set out in Section 20 of the Protection of Employment...

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for her correspondence which has added to the information my officials and I have gathered concerning businesses that face difficult trading conditions because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but do not qualify for the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS). Under the Scheme, a qualifying person is one who carries on a business activity that is impacted by COVID-19 related...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Employment Permits section of my Department inform me that a standard application for a General Employment Permit for the person concerned (details supplied) was received on 26th November 2020. An acknowledgement issued by e-mail at 12.06pm on 26th November 2020, to the applicant who in this case is the employer (details supplied). My officials have re-issued this acknowledgement to the...

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

Leo Varadkar: The announcement last week by Viatris, that it will be closing its plant in Baldoyle, was very disappointing. I understand that while staff were informed last Friday, the majority of the jobs will remain until late 2022. As always in these situations, our primary concern is for the workers and families affected. Every State support will be made available to those workers to help them...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 224 together. Joint provisional liquidators have been appointed by the High Court to four Irish operating companies, that are part of the UK fashion group Arcadia. 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...

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

Leo Varadkar: I am conscious that the delays to the Brexit process may have caused businesses to defer their Brexit preparations. The added disruption of the pandemic has meant that many businesses have had to focus their efforts through much of 2020 on successfully navigating an unforeseeable crisis. However, Brexit will mean change for Irish businesses. I am encouraging businesses to carefully consider...

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

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to foreign direct investment (FDI), site visits represent a valuable tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas. However, site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant percentage of all new FDI comes from existing IDA client companies. 2020 has presented undeniable challenges to our ongoing efforts to...