Results 5,921-5,940 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Workplace Relations Commission (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy and colleagues for taking the third question first. I tried to get here in such a hurry that I managed to walk up to the higher level and then had to come back down again. The WRC is an independent statutory body under the aegis of my Department. It was established on 1 October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. On its establishment, sanction for 60 labour...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Workplace Relations Commission (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: There are 200 staff in the WRC. The number of inspectors currently sanctioned is 60. Ninety is an old figure that predates the reform of the five bodies. We merged five into two, thereby reducing some of the requirements for staff. That is not to say we will not go above 60 but the figure of 90 is no longer one we recognise. To return to what I was saying about the meat plants, I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Workplace Relations Commission (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am not saying we do not need more labour inspectors; we may well do. I am just saying the figure of 90 is an historic one and not one that is committed to by the Government or one that is mentioned in any existing agreement with the trade unions. We anticipate that as we move out of Covid, we will be able to reduce the number of Covid-related inspections and increase the number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Job Losses (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I will be very happy to work with all the local representatives in the area and on a cross-party basis on this matter. If the Deputy has any helpful leads on investors interested in the sites, I would be very happy to explore them. I thank the Deputy for his recent letter to me on job losses in the area. As I said in my reply on 20 May, I was very disappointed to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has approved measures, based on public health advice, allowing for the planned reopening of the hospitality sector, this summer. As the roll out of the vaccination programme progresses over the coming months, restrictions can be relaxed which will enable the hospitality sector to open up on a phased and safe basis, to avoid losing the progress society has made over the last 6...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Living Wage (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: One of the legacies of the pandemic must be a more inclusive society that rewards work and enterprise better. That means better terms and conditions for lower paid workers. Moving to a living wage is an important part of this. Of course, in doing so we need to recognise that many businesses are closed and are now loss-making, so we must do it in way that that does not cost jobs or cause...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Government announced a new Economic Recovery Plan this week, with €3.5 billion of stimulus to fuel the economy and help businesses to recover and rebuild. Across 2020 and 2021, €38 billion was provided to help our people and businesses cope with the pandemic. There will be a number of changes to the current financial assistance as public health restrictions unwind. - The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The newly published Economic Recovery Plan sets out the roadmap for business supports over the coming months. The Government was clear that there would be no cliff edge to this assistance and that businesses would be given as much certainty about the levels of help which will be available in the future as this pandemic allows. The Economic Recovery Plan provides this certainty and a clear...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was introduced as an emergency response to support workers who lost their jobs as a result of business closures due to Covid-19. On 25 May 2021, there were 333,993 people in receipt of the PUP, with steady declines recorded throughout the months of March, April and May. This compares to 598,000 workers that were in receipt of PUP on 5 May last year. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: It is well known that Ireland is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in the pharmaceutical sector and in the broader life sciences sector. In recognition of the critical work of those Irish-based companies, last October I convened a series of short meetings with several of IDA Ireland’s biopharmaceutical client companies to hear about the crucial role they are playing...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 76 together. A 'Plan for Action on Collective Redundancies following Insolvency' was presented by Minister English and Minister Troy to the social partners last week. I understand it was well-received. I intend for the Plan to be published shortly. The Plan details short and medium-term measures that will further enhance the protection of employees who...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) is the largest loan guarantee scheme in the history of the State.The Scheme provides €2 billion in lending, for terms up to five-and-a-half years and offers a range of lending products between €10,000 and €1 million at interest rates below market rates for similar type loans. It is available to SMEs and small mid-caps (business...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Creation (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Economic Recovery Plan published on Tuesday sets an ambitious target to exceed pre-crisis employment levels by having 2.5 million people in work by 2024 and in more productive and resilient jobs. As SMEs account for over two thirds of total employment, a strong focus on indigenous SMEs is critical to a jobs-led recovery. The Government is pursuing a two-pronged recovery approach; a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Cybersecurity Policy (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: My Department adopts a defence in depth approach to cyber security. This approach uses multiple layers and disparate systems to deliver security which is not dependent on any single component. Given the heightened level of risk which currently exists, my Department’s technical staff has adopted a posture of increased vigilance and oversight of systems. My Department is taking advice...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I meet with the Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Licensed Vintners Association and the Restaurants Association of Ireland on an ongoing basis through the Hospitality and Tourism Forum, which I jointly chair with Minister Catherine Martin. The forum met again yesterday to discuss the reopening of the economy and the Economic Recovery Plan. At each point of closing or re-opening of the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: IDA Ireland issued a request for tender for a part-time Israel based Business Development Consultant on 26 April 2021. The Business Development Consultant will be expected to identify Israeli-headquartered target companies with potential for investing in Ireland, engage with senior decision-makers in these companies and present Ireland’s value proposition as an investment location. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I meet with the Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Licensed Vintners Association and the Restaurants Association of Ireland on an ongoing basis through the Hospitality and Tourism Forum, which I jointly chair with Minister Catherine Martin. The forum met again yesterday to discuss the reopening of the economy and the Economic Recovery Plan. At each point of closing or re-opening of the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Youth Unemployment (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Pillar 2 of the Government’s recently published Economic Recovery Plan commits to helping people integrate into the workforce, through the provision of opportunities to reskill and upskill, minimising long-term unemployment and supporting individuals to secure sustainable and quality employment. The Plan’s overarching ambition is to have 2.5 million people in work by 2024,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Agreements (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 64, 82 and 105 together. CETA - the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement - includes commitments towards the sustainable management of forests, fisheries and aquaculture. It also reinforces the Parties' commitments to multilateral environmental agreements to which it is a party, including the Paris Agreement, which is an important...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Data (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Central Statistics Office compiles statistical data in relation to Goods Exports and Imports. Statistics are collated in relation to the overall value of trade between Ireland and the Occupied Palestinian Territory; statistics are not available in relation to import and export trade with individual businesses. In 2020 , the annual value of goods exports from Ireland to the Occupied...