Results 4,561-4,580 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Whatever we decide to do, we will do on a European level because that is the only way it is going to be effective. We need to hit Russia and we need to hit Putin where it hurts, and that is going to include financial sanctions and sanctions against the flow of money and banking activities. That may have a negative impact on our State, but we have to do it because it is the right thing to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It was the Attorney General in the previous Government who determined that inquests should take place in regard to the Stardust fire and tragedy. I very much support that decision. The Government wants to make sure the inquests happen and that they are conducted quickly and conducted properly. We fully support the work of the coroner in that regard. It is not something we can interfere...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The lights are not going to go off. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has signed off on the commissioning and construction of nine new gas plants in Ireland in the coming years. We acknowledge that natural gas is a transition fuel that we are going to need over the next 20 or 30 years while we decarbonise the country and the economy. If the crisis and the war in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Thankfully, we do not import very much gas at all from Russia. Roughly half our gas supplies come from our own source north of Mayo and the other half comes from the UK, mainly via Qatar and the North Sea. Thankfully, we are not particularly dependent on Russian gas in this country, but obviously if the gas were to stop flowing into eastern Europe, that would have an effect on the price and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is correct that these are emerging technologies, but they are not that far away. There is enormous confidence that we can do what we want to do off the west coast, which is a floating offshore wind plant plugging into Moneypoint and Tarbert where the grid connection exists and where we can store wind energy in the form of battery power and hydrogen. It is not our intention to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: It is here, and the Taoiseach raised it previously. I have never said anything about it. For a long time, the Deputy's party has been soft on Russia. As recently as three years ago, Sinn Féin described the expulsion of a Russian diplomat as a violation of our neutrality. I welcome that on this issue Sinn Féin has finally come to its senses and finally realises what Putin is and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My understanding is that waiver is in place as of today. There are a small number of Irish citizens in Ukraine. We need to make sure that they can leave if they choose to do so and we also need to make sure that their families can get out if they need to do so. There is ongoing engagement today involving the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, and the Minister for Justice, Deputy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I agree that we have the benefit of a Ukrainian community here in Ireland who are an important part of our country and have served us well, not only during the pandemic but also before. We are keen to make sure the family members of Ukrainian citizens who have settled here in Ireland are also assisted to leave Ukraine if they need to do so. It will be complicated. We have a very small...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I want to say on behalf of the Government that today we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Ireland is militarily neutral, but in this conflict Ireland is not neutral at all. Our support for Ukraine is unwavering and unconditional. At this moment, in a European nation not too far from here, families are leaving their homes, children are being bundled into cars and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Events are happening very quickly, as the Deputy will appreciate, and the Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I need to speak today. I think it is fair to say we are all united in our abhorrence of what is happening in Ukraine, and Ireland will not be putting any selfish or economic interests ahead of a response that is required. We will support...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme which makes up to €2 billion in lending available to SMEs and small mid-caps has been operating since September 2020. Up to the end of January 2022, loans with a value of €640.8 million have been drawn or approved by 9,186 businesses. Loans up to €1 million are available for terms up to 5.5 years. Loans under €250,000 do not...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Meetings (24 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Officials from my Department met with a representative of the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) on 22nd July 2021 to discuss the work of the Balance for Better Business group. On the 13th January 2022, I and officials from my Department had a virtual meeting with the NWCI and discussed the issue of legislative quotas for gender balance on boards and the work of the all-island women's...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Protected Disclosures (22 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 protects workers in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors from retaliation if they speak up about wrongdoing in the workplace. Persons who make protected disclosures are protected by law and should not be treated unfairly or lose their job because they have made a protected disclosure. The Health and Safety Authority has systems and procedures...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Advertising (22 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has paid for neither advertising nor features in Public Sector Magazine.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (22 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Central Pharma took a long-term lease on the Advance Technology Building in Tralee. I understand the company subsequently experienced delays in progressing its plans in part due to Covid-19 restrictions preventing work on site from commencing. I am told Central Pharma’s total investment into the facility to date (including construction, rent and salaries paid) is approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (22 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. IDA Ireland is committed to building a new Advanced Technology Building in Tralee. I am advised that the IDA is continuing to engage with stakeholders to seek a suitable site for this proposed building. Securing planning permission and the construction of the building will take time, but it is intended that the building will be...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Public Services Provision (22 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has not won any award from the publication in question.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Communications (22 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: I do not use WhatsApp on my Department issued mobile phone. I do have WhatsApp on my personal phone but do not use it for Government business.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Bodies (22 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: Enterprise Ireland have the following vacancies. Note that Enterprise Ireland have approximately 846 staff. Enterprise Ireland Vacancies Job Title No of vacant positions When vacancies will be filled Ireland Based Posts Executive Assistant 9.5 Q1/Q2 - 2022 Assistant IT Specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Bodies (22 Feb 2022)

Leo Varadkar: IDA Ireland have the following vacancies. Note that IDA Ireland have approximately 355 staff. IDA Ireland Vacancies Job Title No of vacant positions When it is expected that vacancies will be filled Technologist 1 Qtr 2, 2022 Project Executive 1 Qtr 1, 2022 Project Executive 1 ...