Results 34,341-34,360 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As I understand it, the scheme is run by PDFORRA and is based on the cross-border directive, which has probably been disrupted by Brexit. I hope that it can continue, but I cannot give a specific commitment in that regard. The bigger issue, which was in my party's manifesto and has been included in the programme for Government, is that we should provide much better healthcare and access to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. At this stage, I hope that we have managed to cover almost everyone who has been left out of the CRSS with different schemes. We are considering including event catering in the new events scheme, which will be published later this month. The "B-RSS", "BRSS" or whatever we are going to call it will have a much wider reach than the CRSS. It will be for companies whose...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I would not accept that characterisation. This is a tender to extend local employment services into parts of the country where they do not currently exist. It is an improvement and expansion of services. It is open to a local employment service in one county to tender for the contract to provide services in another county. Payment by results is not a bad idea. It has proved its worth...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate the need to get driver testing going again, both the theory test and the practical test. This is being provided for as part of the reopening that will occur across June and July. Approximately 40 more driving testers are being recruited. I am not familiar with the issue at the centre the Deputy mentioned, but I will let the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, know that he...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am pleased to hear the Deputy is not the only Deputy in Kerry who fills potholes. I imagine he does not charge as much as the others, but I am sure whatever they charge is a fair price. The LIS is essential for rural Ireland in improving roads that are not taken in charge but are effectively public roads. Funding for it has now gone up to €10.5 million for this year, which is up...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I agree that students and leaving certificate students have had a very difficult year. In fact, this year's leaving certificate students have had two years of disrupted learning as a consequence of the pandemic. The news that the results are coming late, in the first week of September, is unwelcome, but I understand that despite the best efforts of everyone involved it is the quickest it...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I will have to check that with the Minister for Health. It might not require legislation in the House because it is a European regulation and, therefore, may have direct effect. Thankfully, the systems that issue the Covid and vaccine certificates have not been affected by the cyberattack so we should be able to issue the digital green certificate, at least for people who are fully...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for Kildare County Council rather than central government, but the closure of a playground for 18 months, without any alternative arrangements being made, sounds a very long time. It is not a matter over which we have any jurisdiction, but I will certainly make enquiries and ask Kildare County Council to look again at its plans.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I understand exactly where the Deputy is coming from. We want to improve our outdoor facilities so we can enjoy a safe outdoor summer. Everything from playgrounds and play areas to public spaces and hospitality venues should be able to operate outdoors. The grant is administered by Fáilte Ireland, which is under the remit of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport...

Acquisition of Development Land (Assessment of Compensation) Bill 2021: First Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has approved measures, based on public health advice, allowing for the planned reopening of the hospitality sector, this summer. As the roll out of the vaccination programme progresses over the coming months, restrictions can be relaxed which will enable the hospitality sector to open up on a phased and safe basis, to avoid losing the progress society has made over the last 6...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Living Wage (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: One of the legacies of the pandemic must be a more inclusive society that rewards work and enterprise better. That means better terms and conditions for lower paid workers. Moving to a living wage is an important part of this. Of course, in doing so we need to recognise that many businesses are closed and are now loss-making, so we must do it in way that that does not cost jobs or cause...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Government announced a new Economic Recovery Plan this week, with €3.5 billion of stimulus to fuel the economy and help businesses to recover and rebuild. Across 2020 and 2021, €38 billion was provided to help our people and businesses cope with the pandemic. There will be a number of changes to the current financial assistance as public health restrictions unwind. - The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The newly published Economic Recovery Plan sets out the roadmap for business supports over the coming months. The Government was clear that there would be no cliff edge to this assistance and that businesses would be given as much certainty about the levels of help which will be available in the future as this pandemic allows. The Economic Recovery Plan provides this certainty and a clear...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as an emergency response to support workers who lost their jobs as a result of business closures due to Covid-19. On 25 May 2021, there were 333,993 people in receipt of the PUP, with steady declines recorded throughout the months of March, April and May. This compares to 598,000 workers that were in receipt of PUP on 5 May last year. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: It is well known that Ireland is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in the pharmaceutical sector and in the broader life sciences sector. In recognition of the critical work of those Irish-based companies, last October I convened a series of short meetings with several of IDA Ireland’s biopharmaceutical client companies to hear about the crucial role they are playing...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 76 together. A 'Plan for Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency' was presented by Minister English and Minister Troy to the social partners last week. I understand it was well-received. I intend for the Plan to be published shortly. The Plan details short and medium-term measures that will further enhance the protection of employees who...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) 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 at interest rates below market rates for similar type loans. It is available to SMEs and small mid-caps (business...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Creation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Economic Recovery Plan published on Tuesday sets an ambitious target to exceed pre-crisis employment levels by having 2.5 million people in work by 2024 and in more productive and resilient jobs. As SMEs account for over two thirds of total employment, a strong focus on indigenous SMEs is critical to a jobs-led recovery. The Government is pursuing a two-pronged recovery approach; a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Cybersecurity Policy (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: My Department adopts a defence in depth approach to cyber security. This approach uses multiple layers and disparate systems to deliver security which is not dependent on any single component. Given the heightened level of risk which currently exists, my Department’s technical staff has adopted a posture of increased vigilance and oversight of systems. My Department is taking advice...