Results 36,801-36,820 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: In regard to the N24 and N25 we will seek a clear reply from the Department of Transport for Deputy Shanahan on that. Thankfully, debt levels for Irish SMEs are quite low. Most Irish businesses have no debt which is unusual for a developed country. I will check into the issue raised on warehoused tax liabilities because that could be an emerging issue given that we are heading into another...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to the TBESS, our intention is not to exclude companies that have warehoused tax debts. It is to exclude companies that have not paid their taxes. It would not be the intention to exclude them but I thank the Deputy for flagging the issue. I will make sure it is on my list of matters to discuss with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, so that when we design the scheme...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: That is the role the food ombudsman will take on. We will see whether primary producers are getting prices similar to what they get in other jurisdictions. That office will be of great help. In regard to the LEEF, as I mentioned earlier, there is a long list of organisations that would like to be on the LEEF. For example, from the union side, only ICTU is on it, and there might be many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I think the Small Firms Association and Chambers Ireland would disagree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I would not say I am comfortable but it is important to understand what businesses are facing. Even with the support we are going to provide in helping to subsidise their energy bills, there will still be companies facing losses which may have to lay off staff or reduce hours. The subsidy is not so huge that it will make businesses phenomenally wealthy. Businesses face massive increases in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I might ask Ms Coogan to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Whether we like it or not, sometimes companies that sue the State turn out to be correct in law. If it turns out that there is a flaw in our legislation, we cannot just wave a stick ant somebody and tell them they not allowed to challenge us. Under the Constitution, people are entitled to have recourse to the courts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: That is where we are.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It is before the courts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: There are separate schemes. Some are SEAI, LEOs or Enterprise Ireland. Some are for large companies and others are for small companies. The main thing we want to do is get information out there so that companies know what is available. Some are for energy audits and others are for capital investment. There might be a case for streamlining the schemes. That is one option. Rather than...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator. I do not recall receiving the letter.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It may have been diverted to the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, for whom this is his delegated area. I meet union leaders all the time and none of them have raised this with me. It may have been replied to at official level. I will ask Ms Coogan to come in on this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It is only a draft directive at this stage. We have a long way to go yet. Again, it is under the COMPET council, which the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, attends rather than me. I will ask Mr. Newham if he wants to add to that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It is fair to say that Clonmel has a great reputation as a place to invest and grow. We see that with Abbott, Boston Scientific and MSD. It is one of the reasons IDA Ireland acquired new land around Clonmel so that we can get further investment into the town and south Tipperary. We plan, under the regional property programme, to develop that site and make it available, and secure another...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: We need to ensure we have investment and job creation in all regions of the country, including the west and north west. The Senator will know many of those analyses are based on GDP, which can be very distorting in Ireland. The presence of just one or two very large companies in Cork makes the south west one of the wealthiest regions in the State but is it really? The same thing can apply...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Update on Quarters 1 and 2: Discussion (5 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy says "potato", I say "potahto"; he says "half-empty", I say "half-full". There has been phenomenal investment in roads and infrastructure in the south east, and not just in the motorway all the way to Waterford. There is the New Ross bypass, and the N11 bypassing Gorey and going all the way through to Wexford. The largest bridge in the country is part of the New Ross bypass....

Creeslough Community: Expressions of Sympathy (11 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: On Friday, our worlds stopped. Our hearts stopped as we learned of the terrible tragedy that was unfolding in Creeslough, a tragedy which makes no sense and whose only lesson is pain and loss. Since then, we have seen the best of each other. A small country becoming one big community to search together, to grieve together and to heal together. This week the world is watching us and it is...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Transport (11 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has a dedicated Policy on all matters relating to official travel by staff of the Department and its Offices, including air travel. The Policy is framed on the relevant circulars and advice from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and reflects the general principle of achieving efficiency and value for money and minimising travel and subsistence costs. The Policy is...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: This is a difficult time for many businesses, especially those businesses heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and facing an uncertain future in light of recent global developments. My Department introduced the Covid-19 Loan Scheme (the ‘CLS’)on 4thJuly 2022 to ensure that an appropriate option for access to finance remained in place for Covid-19 impacted SMEs. The Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Low Pay Commission (11 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Pursuant to S.I. No. 72/2019 - National Minimum Wage (Prescription of percentages of hourly rates of pay) Order 2019, an age-based system currently applies to the payment of the National Minimum Wage to those aged under 20 years of age. This age-based system was introduced following recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission in 2017 on subminimum rates of the National Minimum Wage. On...