Results 33,801-33,820 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies. I am certainly sympathetic to the proposal that car parking should be free for cancer patients. Everyone in this House would be sympathetic to that, although it raises the obvious question of what should happen for people receiving treatments for illnesses other than cancer. Why would they have to pay and others would not? There would be an inequity in that which...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I met with representatives of National Broadband Ireland last week to raise these issues with them. I know Deputies raise them all the time. We all support the national broadband plan, or at least we all do now, and we all want to see it rolled out as quickly as possible. However, even with the best will and the best intentions, there are technical difficulties. It is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has raised an important issue that requires a response. I will have to ask the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Butler, to make contact with the Deputy and give him a response. Unfortunately, I do not have any detail on it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I think that work is allowed and is exempt from restrictions. I will double check and find out for sure.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I will let the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, know of his suggestions and his strong support for the projects being put forward by Tralee and Killarney. As it is often the case that only one project in a county can be funded, I will not ask the Deputy to suggest whether it should be Tralee or Killarney. I am sure both are...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 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: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am acutely aware of the difficulties that the necessary ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are putting on businesses right across the country. With this in mind the Government has put in place a comprehensive package 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...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am acutely aware of the difficulties that the necessary ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are putting on businesses right across the country. With this in mind the Government has put in place a comprehensive package 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...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Creation (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The table below shows employment in agency client (IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta) companies in County Cork over the period 2011-2020. Over the period 2011 to 2020, 25,792 total net jobs have been created in agency client companies in County Cork. Employment data for 2021 is not yet available. The Deputy may wish to consult CSO figures for a broader...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I understand this is an incredibly difficult time for families and businesses across the country and I would like to thank them for their efforts at this difficult time. By each of us following the spirit of the rules and working together we can hopefully ease some restrictions soon. S.I. No. 701 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 10) Regulations...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Today (March 11th) I announced that applications are now being received by Local Authorities for phase 1 of the new €60m small business assistance 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 e.g rent, utilities and security. Wholesalers,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Enterprise Ireland has approved grant funding to start-up micro-breweries, alcohol enterprises and or distillery businesses as follows: 2020 2019 2018 Grand Total €1,873,843 €976,471 €609,678 €3,459,992 Local Enterprise Offices have approved grant funding to start-up...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Insurance Costs (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I recognise that the cost of insurance, particularly the impact of high claim pay outs, is a major issue for consumers and businesses. I welcome the adoption by the Judicial Council on the 6th March of the new Personal Injuries Guidelines. The Minister for Justice intends that the new Guidelines will apply to all cases that have not yet been assessed by PIAB. This approach will ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (11 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As Irish enterprise navigates the impact of COVID-19 and Ireland’s new trading relationship with the UK, my Department’s 2021 focus will be on building a resilient enterprise base to sustain jobs and exports. With the support of our development Agencies, my Department's strategic priorities include: - Strengthening Irish enterprise to respond to market shocks and disruption...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Intellectual Property (24 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: International Trade is a competence of the EU under the Treaties.  In exercising that competence at the WTO, the European Commission engages with Member States, including Ireland, through a variety of Committee and Working Parties/Groups, including on intellectual property.  The EU’s current position on the proposed waiver is that the WTO international agreement on Trade...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am acutely aware of the difficulties that these necessary ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are putting on all businesses right across the country.  Business owners are making sacrifices in order to protect their communities. With that in mind, I recently announced the new Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID.  This scheme is now open for applications through Local...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: From the outset of Covid-19, many employers have taken the initiative, in line with subsequent requests from the Government, to be as flexible as possible in allowing staff time off to look after their children who are not attending school or crèche. Some of the options to be considered for workers with caring responsibilities may include - - Allowing employees to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (24 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: One of the primary functions of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (‘CCPC’) is to enforce consumer protection law in Ireland. For cross border consumer protection issues, the CCPC is part of the European Consumer Protection Co-operation (CPC) Network, which is comprised of national authorities responsible for enforcing EU consumer protection laws. This...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am acutely aware of the difficulties that the necessary ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are putting on businesses and employment right across the country.  The Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), the COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Labour Market (24 Mar 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As part of its 2020 work programme, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, the independent body that advises the Government on the current and future skills needs of the Irish economy, developed and published Building Future Skills- The Demand for Skills in Ireland’s Built Environment Sector to 2030. The aim of this study was to identify the nature and quantity of the scale of...