Results 34,041-34,060 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: There is no official Fine Gael policy regarding the Clonburris SDZ. I am sure, however, that Deputies and councillors act in the best interests of their constituents in any observations they may make to An Bord Pleanála.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate how difficult the past year has been for people working in the aviation sector. I represent Dublin West, a constituency where many people work in Dublin Airport and for airlines. While they were able to get by for a few weeks or months, it has become much more difficult because their income has been hit so hard for more than a year. A lot of financial support is being given to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: To which scheme is the Deputy referring?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: We can. It does not fall under my remit. I am not sure under which Department's remit it falls. I will certainly find out and ask the line Minister to reply to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to check with the HSE about the situation in respect of SouthDoc in Blackpool. I do not want to give the Deputy an answer now, off the cuff, without knowing the facts. I will check with the HSE and revert to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The NTPF has had a considerable increase in its budget. I believe its budget is now well over €100 million a year. It is tasked with buying healthcare and health services for patients, from both private and public hospitals, using additional capacity where it is available. I strongly encourage any public hospital and also consultants to make use of this budget and service. If a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy and appreciate that she has raised this issue previously. I know that it is a priority for her. I am glad to hear that a site has now been identified in Tullow for the new primary care centre. When such centres are built around the country, and there are two or three in my constituency, they really do enhance primary care services, so the more we have, the better. As...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: This issue has come up a lot in the past week. Indeed, it was discussed at my party's parliamentary party meeting last night. The latest update I received is that approximately 1,000 housebound people are still waiting to receive their vaccine. Generally, older people will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in most cases because it is the easiest one to transport. That work is being done by...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As I understand it, the applications are received by the Department of Rural and Community Development, which has a scoring system. It is against this scoring system that projects are assessed and a decision is made on which ones to fund. I cannot answer as to why no projects in the Deputy's constituency have been funded. There must be a reason and those who have put forward those projects...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am afraid I do not have an update to give him, but I know he would not raise it on the floor of the Chamber unless it was something of real importance to him and his constituents. I will ask the line Minister to prepare a reply for him and I hope it will be satisfactory. I know how much parents worry when they cannot get a place in a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am not familiar with the particular services the Deputy mentioned but I appreciate the importance of the issue. The fact he is raising it today is evidence of that. He mentioned that the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has made a commitment in regard to funding. I am sure any such commitment will be honoured. I will be seeing her in the next couple of days and will mention that this...

Planning and Development (Strategic Housing Developments) (Amendment) Bill 2021: First Stage (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: It is not opposed.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has introduced a range of business supports in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including loan guarantee facilities for businesses of different sizes.  The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme makes up to €2 billion in lending available to businesses that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.  As a result of the high level of the State guarantee,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I understand the importance of this Programme for Government commitment for the Shannon Estuary and surrounding area. Terms of Reference for the Taskforce are being finalised and I hope to make an announcement shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As outlined in relation to PQ No. 13952/21 on French leaseback properties, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Transport Policy (22 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Notwithstanding the current public health advice for staff to continue to work from home at this time, my Department and its Offices, has a number of initiatives to promote staff wellbeing and our internal Green agenda, both areas which can involve using active travel as part of any commute to and from work for staff, depending on their circumstances. In Spring 2020, the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: IDA Ireland (28 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Regional development is at the centre of IDA’s new strategy, Driving Recovery & Sustainable Growth 2021-2024. IDA Ireland is committed to the pursuit of more balanced, compact regional development which can deliver complementary efficiency and equity gains, with the overall impact of helping to advance national development. The IDA will target half of all investments (400) from...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Irish Language (28 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together. My Department is fully committed to its 2019-2022 Irish Language Scheme, which was prepared in accordance with Section 15 of the Official Language Act 2003.  The Scheme sets out in detail the extent to which services are currently available through Irish in my Department and identifies areas for future enhancement.  The Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Contracts (28 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Details of external contracts entered into by my Department and the agencies under its aegis in relation to the reaction to and the management of COVID-19 are set out in the table below. Department/Agency Purpose of Contract Company Contracted Value of Contract Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment SME Business Supports ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (28 Apr 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Trading Online Voucher Scheme was originally launched in 2014 by the then Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources as part of the National Digital Strategy and was designed to encourage and support small and micro-businesses in Ireland to trade online. In January of this year the policy, budget and operational responsibility for the scheme was transferred into...