Results 36,421-36,440 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (12 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The answer to this PQ is deferred to allow for clarification with agencies under the remit of the Department. My Department will supply the information requested once it has been collated.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: State Bodies (12 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: IDA Ireland continued throughout the pandemic to promote Ireland as an attractive location for investment to new and existing clients. As a result of the severe restrictions on international travel over the last two years, the ability to host in-person site visits was severely limited. However, IDA did innovate significantly in how it engaged online through e-visits with potential investors...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (12 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: We now have more people employed in this country than at any other point in the history of the State. Over the last year, there has been strong jobs growth across all regions, while female labour market participation is at a record high and the youth unemployment rate is at a record low. IDA Ireland launched their 2021 Annual Report on Wednesday, 6 July confirming the announcements made in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: State Bodies (12 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The IDA continued throughout the pandemic to promote Ireland as an attractive location for investment to new and existing clients. As a result of the severe restrictions on international travel over the last two years, the ability to host site visits was severely limited. However, IDA did innovate significantly in how it engaged remotely with potential investors and the success of these...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Brexit Issues (13 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office compiles statistical data in relation to goods exports and imports. These statistics can be found on the website www.cso.ie. My Department is monitoring the performance of various sectors as trade with the European Union, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world continues to be impacted not only by Brexit but also by the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (13 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Remuneration of all staff of my Department and its Offices is as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) in line with Government policy. The rates of remuneration of the Secretary General and Assistant Secretaries at my Department are based on the DPER sanctioned pay-scales, with the Secretary General at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment being...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Medicinal Products (13 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: In 2020, in response to public consultations run by the European Commission, my Department prepared input on the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe from an enterprise perspective. Officials from my Department attend an interdepartmental stakeholder group on the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe, chaired by the Department of Health. My Department has not had any engagement with the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Medicinal Products (13 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: In 2020, in response to public consultations run by the European Commission, my Department prepared input from an enterprise perspective on the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe Roadmap. Officials from my Department engaged with the Department of Health to share views and information. The Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe was published in November 2020. It aims to ensure access to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Medicinal Products (13 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department’s agency IDA Ireland last week reported record results for 2021, securing 249 investments, of which 104 were new name investors. The level of total direct employment in IDA client companies grew by 7% in 2021, to 275,384. Over half of all projects went to regional locations. When we look at the base of FDI Biopharma companies established here, we can see that this...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Medicinal Products (13 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe was adopted in November 2020, and aims to create a future-proof regulatory framework and to support industry in promoting research and technologies that reach patients in order to fulfil their therapeutic needs while addressing market failures. It is my understanding that work on some areas of the Strategy is already under way. The implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Medicinal Products (13 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe was published in November 2020. It aims to ensure access to affordable therapies for patients, to addressing unmet medical needs, to supporting competitiveness, innovation and sustainability of the EU’s pharmaceutical industry and the development of high quality, safe, effective and greener medicines, along with other measures in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (13 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Public Appointment Service (PAS) is responsible for undertaking a significant proportion of external recruitment of staff for my Department. The Department fully supports the PAS’ “Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy” and will continue to partner with PAS to proactively support recruitment of a workforce that is responsive, accessible, resilient, and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The buildings and premises under the remit of my Department and its Offices, which include the Companies Registration Office, the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland, the Labour Court and the Workplace Relations Commission, fall under the direct responsibility of the OPW who oversee the property portfolio for State bodies within Ireland. While most of the buildings within my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy states that Departments and Agencies will actively engage people with disabilities through consultative committees and/or other appropriate fora. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is committed to inclusion, with equality of opportunity for all, regardless of disability, gender, civil or family status, sexual...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Doherty very much. The numbers from the CSO this morning indicate that inflation has now risen to 9.6%, which is the highest rate of inflation we have experienced in 40 years. I think it confirms what people are experiencing in their daily lives. We see it at the fuel pumps, in the supermarkets and in our utility bills. The price of everything is going up and the price of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: -----compared with €100 here. People will see in the next few weeks, for example, an increase in the SUSI grant for those attending third level. The budget in September will introduce a series of measures that people will see in their pockets within weeks, and then another set of more regular measures that will take effect in January 2023. Therefore, far from not responding to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: That is a false narrative. It is also a populist narrative. I spend as much time outside this House as the Deputy does, as do my colleagues on these benches. I spend as much time talking to my constituents - working people, middle-income people, business people and people from all backgrounds - as the Deputy does. I do not know what the Deputy will be doing through July or August, by the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. It is one I am very familiar with in my constituency as well, where a large number of apartments have apartment defects. People have been sent bills, sometimes for €10,000 and sometimes for as much as €60,000 per apartment, to carry out necessary repairs. The inevitable happens. Some people can afford to pay, some cannot...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I have not seen the report yet so I am not sure what measures, actions or remedies are being suggested. I do not want to comment in detail until I have. However, I understand the point the Deputy is making with regard to some degree of retrospection. I mentioned some of the blocks I am familiar with in my constituency where people have paid or are paying the levy and others have not paid...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. As the Deputy knows, Hungary is holding up the European ratification of the international agreement on tax at the moment. Their decision to do so has consequences. The United States, for example, has indicated that it will suspend its double taxation agreement with Hungary. One can imagine that if we were to adopt the same approach and...