Results 3,501-3,520 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (12 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Following detailed consideration of the issues surrounding the implementation of the statutory sick leave scheme, the Sick Leave Act will commence on 1st January 2023. The Act is intended to provide a level of protection to employees who do not currently have employer-paid sick pay schemes, many of whom are low-paid and cannot afford to miss work. As a starting point, this scheme will...

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...

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

Leo Varadkar: Each year, Enterprise Ireland offers a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to grow business overseas and increase domestic employment. In recent years the majority of Ministerial-led trade missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represented...

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

Leo Varadkar: Accommodation for my Department and its Offices is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in buildings which are either State owned or leased by the OPW on our behalf. The Department and its Offices are located in 10 locations across the country. Typically, the Department and its Offices are in shared accommodation, either with other Government Departments, public bodies or the private...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: 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 Public Expenditure and Reform: 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 Housing, Planning, and Local Government: 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 Foreign Affairs and Trade: 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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection: 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 Justice and Equality: 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 Health: 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: That is just not accurate. Those power plants in the midlands were closed on foot of a court order in a planning decision. It was not an evil plot by the Green Party or the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. That is just not true.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: They were closed on foot of a court decision. We are going to use the infrastructure there for battery storage, which will be helpful for dealing with our energy needs and energy security. The reasons the demand for electricity has increased so much in Ireland are simple: our population is growing rapidly, our economy is growing fast and we are moving away from fossil fuels to electric...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry but I did not get the question.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I might ask the Minister for Finance to come back to the Deputy on this, given that it falls under his remit. My understanding is that this was well flagged a number of years ago and is designed to align the benefit-in-kind system with environmental objectives. It was designed to encourage company cars to be electric or low emission and it was well flagged a number of years ago. That is my...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware of the increase in overcrowding in our emergency departments in recent weeks. We are concerned going into winter, with Covid cases rising again and the risk of a flu season, that our hospitals could be extremely busy. With that in mind, the Minister for Health and the HSE have developed a winter plan and there will be bespoke plans for particular hospitals and regions. That is...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Oct 2022)

Leo Varadkar: To respond to Deputy Martin Browne, the budget provides for a €500 payment for carers, not means-tested, which they will receive before Christmas, and a €12 increase in the carer's allowance and the carer's benefit from the new year. There is additional funding for respite too. I fully appreciate how important it is that carers be able to get a break from caring. That is...