Results 33,741-33,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as a gcuid ceisteanna. I am told the Garda Síochána Bill will be published in this session, an seisiún seo. On Deputy Bruton's question, there are two ways we can deal with this. In the first instance, it is a question of Garda action. It is unlawful both to organise and participate in these gatherings so Garda action to prevent...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to acknowledge that today is World Engineering Day. I acknowledge the enormous contribution that engineers make to strengthening our economy and making it a better place, particularly when it comes to housing and infrastructure. I very much agree that finding a sustainable model for higher education is essential because we need to continue to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I very much appreciate the sentiments. I am sympathetic to them. At the moment, it is too soon for us to make those kinds of decisions and calls. The next decision date is 5 April. In the run-up to that date, the decisions in question are the kinds of decisions we will consider in consultation with NPHET, the public health doctors and the scientific advisers. There...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I have come across similar cases. I am not sure if it is the exact same constituent. I will raise it with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on behalf of us both. It is a hard one to solve because any time a boundary is moved, the same issue arises. If the Dublin 15 figure is applied in Clonee, why not apply it to Dunboyne and then Dunshaughlin?...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am sure the Deputy will not begrudge Kilkenny being one of the eight areas that benefited from those grants, but she makes a reasonable point as to why Carlow should be included as well. I will take that up with Fáilte Ireland. On the small business aid scheme that Deputy McAuliffe raised, that will be launched next week or so and it is a cash grant to help those businesses with...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for raising this issue and acknowledge his interest in issues relating to people with disabilities and his advocacy in this area. I checked in advance and that Bill has not been restored to the Order Paper when the new Dáil was formed. There are issues around policy and principles that need to be worked out. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: On that latter question, if I recall correctly from my time as Minister for Social Protection, someone in receipt of the disability allowance can move over to the back to enterprise allowance and receive both social welfare payments and grant support to get their business up and running. Perhaps I will come back to the Deputy with some more information on that On the issue raised by...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Data Centres (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment does not collect or store the type of detailed information requested on data centre location, or their stage in the planning process. There may be some scope for different definitions of what could be considered a data centre or multiple data 'halls' on particular sites might be counted. Nonetheless, it is clear that the vast majority of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Data Centres (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland has one of Europe’s largest clusters of data centres as a stable energy grid, temperate climate and significant skills base makes Ireland an attractive country for this form of investment. Data centres are an increasingly important part of the digital and communications sectors and are core infrastructure in the remote working and digital services economy. The 2018 Government...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the enormous difficulties the wedding industry is facing as the pandemic rolls on. I fully appreciate that it is one of the industries worst affected and for the longest and know that as we enter a second year of restrictions many in the sector must be fearing for their future. The financial support the Government is providing businesses and workers affected by the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the enormous difficulties the wedding industry is facing as the pandemic rolls on. I fully appreciate that it is one of the industries worst affected and for the longest and know that as we enter a second year of restrictions many in the sector must be fearing for their future. I do hope that once the pandemic is over the wedding sector will have a number of good years with so...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: In March 2020, the Employment Permits Section of my Department implemented a COVID-19 contingency plan to ensure that the employment permit regime could continue to operate throughout the crisis. Since 30th March, the employment permit system has been operating fully remotely and online. Operational practices have been adjusted to replace the paper-based elements of the service to allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Credit Guarantee Scheme (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme is the largest loan guarantee scheme in the history of the State. The Scheme provides €2 billion in lending, for terms up to five-and-a-half years and offers a range of lending products between €10,000 and €1 million. It is available to SMEs and small mid-caps (business with less than 500 employees), including primary producers...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Research and Development (4 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Government provides a range of programmes, principally through my Department and its agencies, to support companies in the area of technological development. A number of EU programmes also exist to support companies and researchers to develop new products, processes and services. These programmes are documented by Knowledge Transfer Ireland and on the websites of IDA Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Issues (10 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the Deputy may be referring to the EU Commission’s forthcoming proposal on sustainable corporate governance expected in Summer 2021. As outlined by the EU Commission this may include measures to require companies to take actions to address their adverse impacts on social and environmental matters including human rights by way of a due diligence duty. Certainly, the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: S.I. No. 701 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) Regulations 2020 and S.I. No. 4 of 2021 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 () clearly sets out the temporary restrictions under Level 5. A list of essential services can be found at and the list of essential retail outlets at...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Redundancy Payments (10 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I extend my sympathies to the workers in the Rehab Group who are in danger of losing their jobs. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved and for their families. The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes a number of obligations on employers who are proposing collective redundancies including an obligation under sections 9 and 10 to engage in an information...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Economic Data (10 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Digital Economy and Society Index Report (DESI) is a composite index that summarises five relevant indicators (Connectivity, Human Capital, Use of Internet Services, Integration of digital technology by businesses, Digital public services) on Europe’s digital performance and tracks the evolution of EU member states in digital competitiveness. Ireland is now ranked in 6thplace, an...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (10 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 140 together. The employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, however, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As you are aware, I recently announced a new €60m Covid Business Scheme. The aim of this scheme is to provide grants to businesses ineligible for the Government’s other existing schemes such as CRSS and is designed to help with fixed costs. Wholesalers, suppliers, caterers and events companies down 75% or more in turnover and in receipt of a rates bill may benefit, including...