Results 33,601-33,620 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to check up on that and revert to the Deputy. I am not familiar with that one. I dare say it does not fall under the remit of my Department but I might find that it does so I will check.

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: That is a scheme under the remit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Finance is heading up that. He has made the application for funding under the SURE scheme. As I understand it, it involves borrowed money. It is an EU fund from which we can borrow money for schemes such as the EWSS, but it is at a blended rate. We can actually borrow more cheaply from the markets than from EU funds. It is more expensive to borrow through the SURE scheme...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: When I say we will not let Aer Lingus fail, I do not want to create the impression that it is in any way about to fail or anything like that, just in case I am misunderstood. What I am saying is that we are providing a lot of financial support already through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and the EWSS. We will provide more to enable us to retain essential connectivity with Heathrow,...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to the redundancies at Rehab Enterprises Limited, the total number of people employed in Rehab Logistics Limerick is 37, 36 of whom are currently supported under the wage subsidy scheme for people with disabilities. It has now been proposed that the company will make 37 positions redundant. Over time, Rehab Logistics in Limerick has attempted to maintain its business. This has...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I will make sure those notes to which Deputy Ó Murchú referred are brought to my attention. I am genuine in what I say about wanting to help out firms that are, perhaps, falling between the cracks and not receiving any help with fixed costs. It is always hard to design a scheme that works for everyone but we will do our best to design future schemes. The note the Deputy is going...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: These are areas under the remit of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, but I am taking an interest in them. For the taxi industry, a package was put in place by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that is worth about €15 million. Also, in the budget the rules around...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister of State, Deputy Troy, might come in on the .ie domain names as he has responsibility for digital and company regulation but I think that is owned by University College Dublin. It is not Government controlled but I will come back to the Deputy on that. I am always afraid to speculate about the future when it comes to what might or might not be possible this summer but I hope...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Leddin for those supportive words. I am due to meet Insurance Ireland in the next couple of weeks and if the Deputy can pass me on a bit more detail about those e-bike companies on greenways, I will take it up with Insurance Ireland directly and see if something can be done in that regard. I would have thought it is an insurable risk that could be covered and I do not see why...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: If I ever heard a red herring argument against CETA, that is one. First of all, companies can sue states. Companies sue states and governments all the time. One can go down to the commercial court and see many examples of companies suing the State. It does not mean they are successful. If the best example Deputy Farrell can come up with as an argument against CETA is that a company sued...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Matters relating to tourism and the media are mainly under the remit of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. She would probably be able to give the Deputy a better reply than me, but I will do the best I can with the knowledge I have. Regarding local newspapers and radio, newspapers have benefited from the reduction in the VAT rate to 9%. It was never increased for them. They can...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Some of these issues were raised and answered earlier and I do not want to use up my time giving the same answers again. When it comes to the pandemic unemployment payment people are allowed to do some work and not lose the payment. I do not think it is just restricted to musicians. I think it is more general. Off the top of my head, I think people can earn up to as much as €480 a...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to check with the Minister for Finance, but my understanding is that if a bank gives somebody a payment break that does not affect his or her credit rating. I will double check that. We no longer have blanket payment breaks for everyone who requests them. People have to need them. My understanding is that once it is granted, it does not affect a person's credit rating. I will...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy correctly pointed out, travel agents qualify in levels 4 and 5, but would not if we went to level 3. I believe they should because in level 3 one must stay in one's county. Logically, hotels and travel agents should continue to receive CRSS if they are in level 3. I am currently arguing this with the Revenue Commissioners and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. However, even if...

Covid-19 (Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: That is a complicated area which we will return to at another time. I am not convinced that any of the legislative solutions Members have put forward would have made a difference or would make a difference in those scenarios. It is worthwhile to read the report of the chairman of the Labour Court on that. The Minister of State, Deputy English, might assist me regarding the trading...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Credit Guarantee Scheme (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: A new COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) was developed and launched in September 2020. Loans of up to €1 million are available for up to five and a half years at reduced interest rates for working capital and investment purposes. Loans under €250,000 do not require collateral or personal guarantees. The Scheme was developed in accordance with the European...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I understand this is an incredibly difficult time for businesses and families across the country. The Government has put in place a comprehensive range of measures to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), low-cost loans, the deferral and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Funding (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has recently established an Enterprise Information Centre to provide information to the public on the wide range of supports that are available to help businesses. Contact details are available at the following link: The Enterprise Agencies under the remit of my Department manage a range of direct grants, loans and other tailored supports to businesses. Contact details for the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has put in place a comprehensive range of measures to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19 Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates. Details of the wide range of...