Results 4,481-4,500 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Finally, to address Deputy Michael Healy-Rae's point, as I said, there is a planning application extant on this particular terminal. If it is the case that it can be repurposed for hydrogen, that adds merit to the proposal, but that is something that is disputed. It is not as straightforward as using the same pipes and the same silos and containers for hydrogen as is the case for natural...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I believe the record will reflect I gave a substantive reply to Deputy McDonald, to Deputy Shortall and to Deputy Lowry-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The fact the Deputy did not like or understand the reply is more of a reflection on him than it is on me, quite frankly. In respect of the programme for Government, it is there in black and white. Anyone can read it. It is clear what the programme for Government states on LNG, and that programme for Government was approved after a democratic vote by the Oireachtas Members of my party,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: As I indicated earlier, the Government is examining this matter to see what is being done in other European jurisdictions and how we might do something similar here in the Irish context. Officials from the Department of Finance have met with Insurance Ireland on this. They will also be willing to meet with the Irish Cancer Society to pursue it further. Insurance Ireland advises that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: We have set aside funding for the Covid-19 contingency. The pandemic is not over yet, so we may need that money for Covid-19. We are not yet in a position to dedicate that to this response. We need also to bear in mind that was to be a one-off spend for this year. I expect whatever we will have to do to help Ukrainians will be a recurring spend for a number of years because tens of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge Deputy Lowry for raising this important issue and for his ongoing advocacy for people who have cancer and those who have survived it. Friday is Daffodil Day, and I commend the Irish Cancer Society on its decades of advocacy and service provision to people with cancer and cancer survivors. Successive national cancer strategies have delivered continuing improvements in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: As of this morning, more than 10,000 Ukrainians had arrived in Ireland and registered for international protection. We expect that number will rise to 20,000 by the end of the month. It is reasonable to assume that figure will probably hit approximately 40,000 by the end of next month, although nobody can know for sure. What we are seeing is effectively a 1% increase in our population in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I have been informed by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, that the community call initiative will be reactivated, as suggested by the Deputy, to mobilise the generosity and capacity of the nation to help with this enormous international crisis. Consideration is being given to using section 181(2) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, which confers emergency powers....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: We all agree that households, families and businesses are suffering from the increase in energy costs. The Deputy mentioned the measures the Government has already approved and we all agree that this is greater than anything Sinn Féin has done in Northern Ireland. That is being seen in the reduction in excise on petrol and diesel; in the €200 being taken off people's electricity...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: At the outset, I acknowledge the fact that energy prices are rising in Ireland. We are seeing an unprecedented increase in the cost of energy, not just in Ireland but also around the world. We see that in the increase in the cost of petrol, diesel, natural gas, electricity and home heating oil. That is really squeezing people. It is making bills very hard to pay and squeezing many...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: That is €1 billion that has already been dedicated to helping people with the cost of fuel and energy. That is significant. Contrast that with Northern Ireland, where Michelle O'Neill has praised Sinn Féin for giving a €200 deduction to low-income households only, and nothing to those on middle incomes. Our response here has been much greater than the response in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: European Union (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, the European Union imposed Safeguard Measures on steel imports into the EU in July 2018 in response to the United States applying a 25% tariff on steel imports originating from 3rd Countries, including the European Union. As a result of the US Measures, there was an increased risk of steel originally destined for the US market being diverted to the EU and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department responded swiftly and effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the primary focus being on public health.  Set out in the table below are the expenditure details by supplier regarding the procurement of face masks and face shields undertaken by the Department and its Offices since February 2020 which is when the pandemic hit Ireland.  The Offices of the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department responded swiftly and effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the primary focus being on public health.  Set out in the table below are the expenditure details by supplier regarding hand sanitiser and related products, including dispensing units, pumps and stands, undertaken by the Department and its Offices since February 2020 which is when the pandemic hit...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Missions (22 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Traveller Community (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: There are no specific recommendations in the report that fall under the remit of my Department.  The agencies of my Department, such as Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, provide a range of supports designed to assist entrepreneurs, sole traders and small and medium enterprises to establish and grow businesses. These supports are available to members of the Travelling...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: World Economic Forum (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Managing Director of the Centre for the New Economy and Society, World Economic Forum, was a key note speaker at the Future Jobs Ireland Summit 2019 organised by my Department in collaboration with the Department of the Taoiseach. In the period from March 2019 to May 2019, there was correspondence and discussions between officials in the Digital Economy Policy Unit of my Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is committed to providing emergency support to meet the immediate needs of those fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. My Department will be working alongside the Department of Social Protection and other relevant Departments in facilitating full access to the labour market for those arriving from Ukraine, as guaranteed under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive. I...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Company Closures (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is in ongoing consultation with the IDA regarding the factory closure at Tosara Pharma Ltd. in Baldoyle. Tosara has informed my Department, through IDA Ireland, that it is on track to cease activity in the plant in November 2022 and the facility will be decommissioned in Q1 2023. From my understanding, Tosara intends to sell the site as is and marketing materials will be...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Losses (22 Mar 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I extend my sympathies to the employees of Roadbridge Limited who are at risk of redundancy at this time. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved and for their families. The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes a number of obligations on employers who are proposing collective redundancies. It includes an obligation to engage in a 30-day information...