Results 33,321-33,340 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Consumer Protection (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Consumer Protection Act 2007 (Grocery Goods Undertakings) Regulations 2016, S.I. No. 35 of 2016 entered into force on 30 April 2016. The Regulations apply to retailers and wholesalers of food and drink operating in Ireland, who have, or are part of a wider group that has, a worldwide turnover in excess of €50 million. 21 undertakings are currently subject to the Grocery Goods...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Proposed Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Casual Trading Act 1995 provides for a control and regulatory system for people trading in public places and involves the issuing of licenses to traders by local authorities who administer the regime in their own respective areas. In August 2018, my predecessor, Minister Humphreys, launched a public consultation process for the Casual Trading Act 1995 to determine its continued...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 Jan 2021)

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 financial supports are in place for businesses that require finance as they develop their response to their exposure to impacts arising from...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Job Losses (27 Jan 2021)

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. While the Government cannot interfere with the High Court-overseen liquidation process, it has always sought to ensure that the concerns of workers are heard, and that the State’s welfare, employment and training services...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Health and Safety Inspections (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Between the 1 January 2020 and the 31December 2020, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) carried out 9,135 inspections across a wide range of NACE sectors. The number of inspections carried out in each sector is shown in the table attached. 2020 Sector breakdown of Inspections carried out by the Health and Safety Authority (Provisional) - NACE SECTORS ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Meetings (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, a date has been set for a meeting with content moderators and their representatives. I understand that the organisation referred to by the Deputy is also aware of the arrangements for the meeting.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Job Creation (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Delivering balanced regional growth through a coherent policy approach to the enterprise needs of every part of Ireland is a stated objective within the Programme for Government. My Department’s Regional Enterprise Plans are focused on region-specific enterprise development challenges and opportunities and provide a mechanism for joined up responses at the regional level,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Job Creation (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Delivering balanced regional growth through a coherent policy approach to the enterprise needs of every part of Ireland is a stated objective within the Programme for Government. My Department’s Regional Enterprise Plans are focused on region-specific enterprise development challenges and opportunities and provide a mechanism for joined up responses at the regional level,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Covid-19 has and will continue to have very serious impacts for the whole of society. My Department has been to the forefront of the response to Covid-19 to develop appropriate measures to cushion the impacts of the pandemic on enterprises, workers and consumers. In 2020 my Department secured an unprecedented increase of almost €1 billion in additional funding as part of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The number and percentage of persons with disabilities employed by my Department in each year from 2015 to 2019 is set out below. Data for 2020 is not yet available; this is compiled every year in advance of a 31st March deadline for reporting as set out by the National Disability Authority. Please note that as the data is collected on an anonymous basis I cannot provide details on whether...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Appointments to State Boards (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Since the current Government took office, a total of 16 appointments have been made to State and semi-State Boards under the aegis of my Department. Below are the numbers of appointments made to each relevant Board, and the remuneration level associated with each post. Please note that not all appointees may be in receipt of this remuneration in line with the 'one person one salary'...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Bodies (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Please find below a list of all State and semi-State boards that fall under the aegis of my Department, and the level of remuneration being paid in each case. Please note that under the 'one person one salary' principle it is a requirement that public servants and public sector employees (with the exception of worker directors of commercial state bodies) who sit on State Boards may not be...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: All expenditure incurred by my Department on COVID-19 communications was funded from the original budgetary allocation my Department received for Advertising and Information Resources. It is from this budgetary sub-head that all communications related expenditure is made. As part of the broader Government’s COVID-19 Communications campaign, my Department promoted COVID-19 supports for...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The amount of funding spent by my Department on the Covid-19 communications strategy since the beginning of the pandemic is €7,466.16. The attached table sets out details of the costs incurred. As part of the broader Government’s COVID-19 Communications campaign, my Department promoted COVID-19 supports for business, and raised awareness around the Return to Work Safely...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. All of us in this House acknowledge that the cost of housing in Ireland is far too high, particularly for those who want to buy their first home. Those costs are very high relative to people's incomes. That is particularly so in the cities, especially in central Dublin to where the report the Deputy referenced refers. I note that the whole premise of the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: For anyone who decides to write or review this debate, the record should state that it was the Deputy who got personal, both towards Deputy Eoghan Murphy and me. It was the Deputy who was partisan, attacking Fine Gael, my party, by name rather than talking about the Government. It is important that is recognised. Having been personal and partisan, it is only fair that I should be allowed...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The fact is that the Deputy's party, Sinn Féin, has been in government for 13 of the past 20 years in Northern Ireland. It has been in government on this island longer than my party has in the past 20 years. Sinn Féin is a party of government, an establishment party north of the Border. When it comes to social housing, its record is not good. It built fewer social houses in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Sinn Féin also opposed the help-to-buy scheme, which has helped thousands of people to buy their first home.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: You need to take something to calm down. You are a very angry man.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jan 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I welcome the constructive suggestions that have come from the Labour Party in recent weeks. He is right; neither the Government, the Opposition, any government, NPHET nor any expert has got everything right when it comes to managing this pandemic. What we all hope is that when this is over we will have been seen to have got most things right most of the time. I know...