Results 36,261-36,280 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: On the critical skills permits, we could certainly examine that. This falls under the responsibility of the Minister of State, Deputy English, but obviously, he reports to me. This is something we could definitely examine.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising these issues, which are important to people in Cavan and public transport users in particular. I do not have any information to hand but I will make sure the Minister for Transport knows the matter was raised in the Dáil and will ask him to contact the Deputy directly.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: That legislation is being drafted at the moment. I cannot give a definite timeline but the intention is to have that done before the summer recess so we can implement the measure this year. Reducing or abolishing out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare is an important part of Sláintecare. Abolishing inpatient hospital charges for children is an important step in that direction and I...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: These are budget matters and decisions will be made on them in the run-up to the budget in October. The programme for Government provides for a tax package every year, agreed by all three parties in the coalition. Therefore, there will be a tax package in the forthcoming budget. We just have to decide how best to do it. It should be targeted at middle-income earners, as the Deputy has...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I understand the strong case that is being made to extend the short-hop zone. My colleague Councillor Sharon Tolan has been leading the charge on this. Her argument is that if Kilcoole in County Wicklow, which is 55 km south of the centre of Dublin, is in the short-hop zone, Laytown, Bettystown and Drogheda should also be included in that zone....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I am not familiar with that individual case but I will certainly check it out with the Department of Foreign Affairs. I can unequivocally say to the Deputy that I am opposed to the death penalty. This Government is opposed to the death penalty and we call on any country that still has it on its statute books, including Saudi Arabia, to desist and not to execute any of their citizens under...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I am not sure whether the Government has made a formal decision on this matter. We need to give consideration to the fact that we will continue to need to use natural gas as a fuel for the next number of decades. We just signed off the other day on a major investment in new power plants, which we need, and those power plants will be using natural gas in the main. While natural gas is a...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I am very pleased to introduce the Sick Leave Bill to the Seanad today. The Bill has completed its passage through the Dáil, and I am keen to have it enacted before the summer recess. This Bill creates a new workers' right in Ireland. For the first time, employees will be entitled to statutory sick pay from their employers. It is one of five new workers' rights I am establishing this...

Seanad: Sick Leave Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senators for their contributions, which are very welcome. Senator Dolan asked whether we could review the impact of this in a few years' time. This would be good practice. We had intended to do so anyway. The first or second year might be too soon but perhaps it could be done in the third or fourth year. I am happy to make that commitment. I thank Senator Craughwell for his...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Workplace Relations Commission is funded under the Workplace Relations programme of my Vote. The Commission does not receive any 'capital' funding but it does receive 'current' funding to support its operations. A total of €15,931m has been provided to support the Commission in 2022. The table below outlines the estimated cost of increasing this allocation by 50% and 100%. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The funding provision to Enterprise Ireland covers two subheads on the Department’s Vote, Subheads A7 and B4, which span general supports to indigenous firms and for research and development/innovation supports. My Department has allocated a total of €332.32 million in respect of these subheads in 2022. The cost of increases of 10%, 20%, 25% and 50% are set out in the table...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Promotion (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will be aware that the funding provision to InterTradeIreland is provided on a North-South basis and annual allocations are finalised in conjunction with the Northern Administration. The allocation provided through the Department’s Vote is adjusted proportionally given the joint-funding arrangement in place. A total of €11.586m was provided by my Department to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: A total of €220.538m has been allocated by my Department to support the Industrial Development Authority for 2022. The table below sets out the estimated costings of increasing IDA funding by 10%, 20, 25% and 50% respectively. - REV Allocation 2022(€,000) 10% Increase(€,000) 20% Increase(€,000) 25%...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Living Wage (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Currently there is no official living wage in Ireland. It is important that Ireland’s statutory National Minimum Wage and the Living Wage concept are not confused. The Living Wage has no legislative basis and is therefore not a statutory entitlement. The National Minimum Wage is a statutory entitlement and has a legislative basis. The Low Pay Commission annually assesses the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Workplace Relations Commission is funded under the Workplace Relations programme of my Vote. The Commission does not receive any 'capital' funding but it does receive 'current' funding to support its operations. A total of €15,931m has been provided to support the Commission in 2022. The table below outlines the estimated cost of increasing this allocation by 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Funding to the offices in question under my remit is all by way of Current expenditure and is set out in the table below. It should be noted that funding with respect to the Data Protection Commissioner was formally from the Dept of Justice Vote and the Commission now has its own separate Vote. Subhead Current Allocation 2022 (€,000) Capital Allocation...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Data (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: From next year the Government is introducing a new permanent public holiday in celebration of Imbolc/St. Brigid’s day. This will be the first Monday in every February, except where St. Brigid’s day, the 1st day of February, happens to fall on a Friday, in which case that Friday 1st February will be a public holiday. The Government wants to ensure that the public holiday provides...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Interest Rates (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The framework contract for banking services negotiated by the Office of Government Procurement specifically provides that all accounts linked to the Paymaster General cash pool are not subject to negative credit interest. Accordingly, as a client of the framework contract the Department's own bank accounts are, therefore, not subject to negative credit interest. My Department is satisfied...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Interest Rates (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The link to the following Schedule sets out details of the negative interest rate charges incurred by the Offices and Agencies receiving funding from or operating under the aegis of the Department since the introduction of such charges by their respective financial services providers up until 30th April 2022. I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department and our Agencies are fully aware of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (14 Jun 2022)

Leo Varadkar: In response to the Deputy's question and according to records held within my Department, there are no former Secretaries General on secondment from my Department to another organisation.