Results 4,441-4,460 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

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...

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: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Given that the Deputy is seeking data that spans in excess of eleven years and encompasses the Department and its Offices, it is not yet possible to provide the information to the Deputy in the timeframe available. The information being sought is being collated from across the Department and our Offices, which include the Companies Registrations Office, the Intellectual Property Office of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Public Sector Staff (23 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: IDA acknowledges the Cyber Security Manager is a critically important role to the organisation from a number of perspectives. In June 2020 IDA recruited a Cyber Security Manager to the IDA IT Team. The post has been vacant since January 2022. My Department and the IDA are fully focused on filling this vacancy as a matter of priority. The table below shows the number of full-time IT...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Losses (23 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I extend my sympathies to all employees of Roadbridge whom have been affected by this decision by the Company to go into receivership and I know that this news will be very concerning for all the workers involved and their families. My officials have been monitoring the situation carefully and have been working closely with the Department of Social Protection in order to assist affected...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Contracts (23 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not have any contracts with the company in question.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: With regard to Deputy Paul Murphy's comments, what P&O Ferries has done to its staff is appalling. I am glad that those who are employed under Irish law could not be treated in this way and have not been. I understand that some Irish seafarers who are based in other jurisdictions are affected. What P&O Ferries has done is wrong. I understand that the UK Government is...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. We have spoken a number of times about the impact of high fuel prices on hauliers and road transport operators and also on the agricultural sector. I will ask the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to come back to the Deputy with a little more detail, but in regard to the fuel rebate for hauliers, we are providing a grant of €100 per truck in addition to the...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. As a Government, we acknowledge the massive increase in input costs for farmers and how that is affecting their bottom line. A few weeks ago, we announced funding for pig farmers as part of a scheme to help that sector. As the Deputy will know, we have had a pro ratareduction in the cost of green diesel. Today, the Government made a decision to incentivise farmers to...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is absolutely right. The company is in receivership, not liquidation. I may have said the latter earlier, so I am happy to correct the record. I acknowledge the Deputy's engagement with my office last week and the previous week, particularly in the context of ensuring that the workers were able to take up new employment without losing their redundancy rights. I assure the...

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I agree that a delay of that nature is not acceptable. I do not know the details, but I hope that the person affected is doing okay and the delay did not impact adversely on his health. The Minister for Health is not in the Dáil today but I will let him know that the issue was raised and ask him to contact the Deputy directly.

An tOrd Gnó (Atógáil) - Order of Business (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I cannot give the Deputy a timeline for publication, but we intend to publish it soon. It was done before Christmas and party leaders and senior Ministers have it and have been briefed on it, so it would be appropriate that the committee should see it soon. The big dilemma is what to do with the TV licence and what model might work best. We need to think that through. I hear...