Results 34,381-34,400 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: Delivering balanced regional growth is a core objective in the Programme for Government.  Overseen by my Department, nine new Regional Enterprise Plans to 2024, including for the North West, are currently being developed by regional stakeholders which will identify growth opportunities, recognise vulnerabilities, and enable job creation across the regions. The new North West Plan...

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...

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

Leo Varadkar: The total number of Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) applications received for the SBASC grant for Sligo is 45.  Of that figure to date 23 have been approved for payment, and 16 are still being assessed.  6 applications have been refused.  For County Leitrim the total number of applications received is 34, to date 10 have been approved and with 18...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 86 together. The closure of the Aptar plant in Ballinasloe was a very disappointing development for the region and I am keenly aware of the blow this has been for the affected employees and their families. IDA Ireland has been working with the company to market the plant to potential investors, using the employee skills audit in their efforts to attract...

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

Leo Varadkar: I have already responded to the Deputy’s colleague on this question via Parliamentary Question 29941/21. To reiterate the points made: The WRC Inspectorate is staffed by civil servants of my department. As of 31stMay 2021, there are a total of 53 WRC Labour Inspectors. These are supervised by 3 Assistant Principals and 1 Chief Labour Inspector. There are currently 60 sanctioned...

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

Leo Varadkar: Driving balanced regional enterprise development is a priority in the Programme for Government and also a core goal of the enterprise agencies. Enterprise Ireland works with approximately 660 client companies in the North East and North West regions with employment of almost 25,000 in 2020 and direct Government funding of €39 million between 2018 to 2020. The Border Enterprise...

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

Leo Varadkar: The total number of Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) applications for County Clare is 97.  Of that figure to date 75 have been approved for payment, and one is still being assessed.  21 applications have been refused.  Refusals have occurred due to eligibility requirements such as businesses not meeting the turnover criteria, turnover was not down 75%...

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

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on EU Affairs has been considering CETA over the last several weeks with various interests setting out their perspectives and debating the terms of the Agreement with Oireachtas Members.  I myself participated last week in a good engagement with the Committee. I have previously set out the case for ratification by Ireland...

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

Leo Varadkar: My Department is represented on the Expert Advisory Group on Travel which provides advice to the Chief Medical Officer in relation to the designation and de-designation of countries for the purpose of mandatory hotel quarantine as provided for in the Health Act, 1947. My Department is also represented on the Senior Officials Group on COVID and International Travel which carried out the...

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...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID was introduced to help businesses not eligible for the Government’s COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and the Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity grant or other direct sectoral grant schemes. The Scheme was launched on 9th March 2021 through the Local Authorities, with a closing date of 21st April for applications for Q1...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has asked for the number of IDA client companies located in each county over the past 5 years, details of which are set out below: County 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 Carlow 5 5 5 7 7 Cavan 9 8 7 7 7 ...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Loan Guarantee Schemes Agreements (Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland) Act 2021 was signed into law by the President on the 25th of May 2021 and I will be signing the Commencement Order that brings this legislation into effect this week. This legislation will provide myself and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with the powers to enter into a legal agreement with the...

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...

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

Leo Varadkar: The total number of Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) applications for County Limerick is 306.  Of that figure to date 113 have been approved for payment, and 37 are still being assessed.  156 applications have been refused.  Refusals have occurred due to eligibility requirements such as the business’s turnover not being down 75% during the eligibility...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 200 together. The Government is committed to introducing a statutory sick pay scheme and work is well underway in this regard. Following a public consultation, regular consultation with the social partners, discussions with an interdepartmental group on sick pay and an international review of best practice, draft Heads of Bill are currently...

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

Leo Varadkar: As this is a duplicate question from Deputy Louise O'Reilly today, I am including below the answer provided by my colleague Minister Damien English to the same question: The past year has been a difficult year for most businesses, including those in the Irish retail sector. The impact of both the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit have posed significant challenges for businesses and it is vital...

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

Leo Varadkar: As the largest private sector employer, and a key element in providing for the needs of society and indeed other sectors of the economy, it is vital that retail continues to develop capability and remain competitive.   Trading online is a very important route for retail businesses to grow and improve and will be an important element in their recovery over the longer term. The COVID-19...

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

Leo Varadkar: The total number of Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) applications for County Carlow is 56.  Of that figure 35 have been approved for payment.  21 applications have been refused.  Refusals have occurred due to eligibility requirements such as businesses not meeting the turnover criteria, turnover was not down 75% during the eligibility period, incomplete...

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

Leo Varadkar: My Department is committed to facilitating remote work adoption in a way that reaps the many benefits and mitigates any potential negative impacts. Many actions to facilitate remote working will also facilitate hybrid working. To promote remote work, my Department launched a Guidance for Working Remotely webpage (enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Remote...