Results 35,881-35,900 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Energy Prices (29 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council provides advice to the Taoiseach and the Government, through the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on key competitiveness issues facing the Irish economy and offers recommendations on the policy actions required to enhance Ireland’s competitive position. The NCPC’s main functions are: to diagnose and analyse...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (29 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I and the Government are acutely conscious that many workers place huge social value on workplace flexibility, and remote working plays a central role in enabling that increased flexibility to support a better work/life balance. There has been a significant long-term shift in attitudes to remote work amongst both employers and workers throughout the country. Remote work is already a key...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (29 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Within the definition provided by the Deputy, that a retainer is a fee to a company to secure their availability should they be needed, I can confirm that my Department has no such retainers in place with outside organisations.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Consultations (29 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace and this is highlighted in our People Strategy launched in November 2021. In implementing our People Strategy, in 2022 the Department will develop an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Officials in my Department are working in partnership with the Irish Centre for Diversity to develop the Strategy. This will...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (29 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: There are no staff of my Department on secondment to the private sector. There are a number of staff on secondment to agencies under the remit of my Department, including the Competition and Consumer Protection Authority, IDA Ireland, and the Health and Safety Authority strengthening links between the Department and its agencies. There are also a number of staff seconded to other...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Gender Equality (31 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced a legislative basis for gender pay gap reporting in Ireland and reporting by organisations with over 250 employees will begin this year. Regulations to give effect to this legislation are in preparation and will be published in the coming weeks together with guidance for employers by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Transport Policy (31 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Department is a strong advocate of the Green and Wellbeing agendas, areas which are of relevance to active travel. Over the last few years our cross-Departmental "Green Team" has been strengthened with representation in membership across all locations, including our Offices. These include the Companies Registration Office which incorporates the Registry of Friendly Societies and the...

Address by H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (6 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank President Zelenskyy for joining us today and sharing with us the heartbreaking and inspiring story of his people's courage and endurance in the face of a grotesque and appalling aggression. It is fair to say that his words moved, inspired and shamed us and the rest of the world for not doing more sooner. Thankfully, because of the brave Ukrainian resistance there is still time. In...

Address by H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (6 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: But for those responsible for this conflict, we have a simple message from this House. Your actions will never be forgotten. They will never be forgiven. Thanks to the power of modern media, we have seen what you have done. You have made yourselves outcasts in the international community. You have strengthened the Ukrainian national identity. You have united Europe and the West. You...

Seanad: Comhshuí de Dháil Éireann agus de Sheanad Éireann - Joint Sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas - Address by H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (6 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank President Zelenskyy for joining us today and sharing with us the heartbreaking and inspiring story of his people's courage and endurance in the face of a grotesque and appalling aggression. It is fair to say that his words moved, inspired and shamed us and the rest of the world for not doing more sooner. Thankfully, because of the brave Ukrainian resistance there is still time. In...

Seanad: Comhshuí de Dháil Éireann agus de Sheanad Éireann - Joint Sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas - Address by H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (6 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: But for those responsible for this conflict, we have a simple message from this House. Your actions will never be forgotten. They will never be forgiven. Thanks to the power of modern media, we have seen what you have done. You have made yourselves outcasts in the international community. You have strengthened the Ukrainian national identity. You have united Europe and the West. You...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Public Sector Staff (5 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department operates within the Disciplinary Code, the Dignity at Work and other relevant HR policies developed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for use in the Civil Service.Any instances of suspension or workplace disputes are managed through the processes as set out in these HR policies. At present there are no staff in my Department or the agencies under the remit of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: National Planning Framework (5 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland's first National Plan on Business and Human Rights 2017-2020 was launched by the Department of Foreign Affairs towards the end of 2017. Ireland was the 19th country in the world to publish such a plan in response to the endorsement of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the Human Rights Council in 2011. The implementation of this...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: National Planning Framework (5 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland's first National Plan on Business and Human Rights 2017-2020 was launched by the Department of Foreign Affairs towards the end of 2017. Ireland was the 19th country in the world to publish such a plan in response to the endorsement of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the Human Rights Council in 2011. The implementation of this...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (5 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Since the start of the pandemic, mSy Department has made significant efforts to facilitate remote working for staff, and to invest in assisting staff to work safely and productively from home. Building on the National Remote Work Strategy launched in January 2021, my Department fully supports the move to a blended working environment. In finalising our longer-term policy, and transitioning to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Economic Sanctions (5 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: EU sanctions are given legal effect via EU Regulations. These Regulations have direct effect in all Member States of the EU, and, as such, are legally binding on all natural and legal persons in Ireland. Private companies, therefore, have an obligation to ensure that they are in full compliance with these new measures. A natural or legal person who contravenes a provision of an EU sanctions...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (5 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The revised Regional Aid Guidelines (RAG), adopted by the Commission on 19 April 2021 and in force since 1 January 2022, enable Member States to support the less advantaged European regions in catching up and reducing disparities in terms of economic well-being, income and unemployment – cohesion objectives that are at the heart of the Union. They also provide increased possibilities...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Contracts (5 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Details of expenditure by my Department on external consultancy contracts during the period in question are set out in tables at the link. /ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/202 2-04-05_pq158-05-04-22_en.docx">Consultancy Contracts

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (7 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The promotion and protection of human rights is a foreign policy priority for the Government. We consistently raise our concerns on human rights through the most effective and appropriate channels, including bilaterally, particularly through our mission network. The Deputy will be aware that international trade is a competence vested in the European Commission under the EU treaties,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (7 Apr 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The way we structure free trade and our trade relations is on a number of tiers. We have the European Union, which is a free trade area of which we are part. It is a single market with unrestricted trade. There is a series of countries with which we have free trade agreements. Very often in these agreements there are chapters on human rights, trade and labour rights. There are the...