Results 5,981-6,000 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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...

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

Leo Varadkar: I am, of course, aware of the recent Motion that was passed by the House on 26th May last and the Government support for the Motion outlined in the debate by my Colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Minister Coveney set out the Government's position in some detail and the work he and his Department has undertaken at EU level as well as in the UN Security Council in this matter....

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

Leo Varadkar: I have regular engagement with the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy, Diane Dodds, in particular through the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC). Cross-border collaboration has and continues to be of great benefit for both jurisdictions and the Government is focused on working with the Northern Ireland Executive, through the NSMC to preserve and strengthen North-South co-operation...

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

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, the Tánaiste met with a number of content moderators, and their representatives earlier this year, and followed up directly with the company on whose behalf content moderation work is carried out. I am aware of the genuine concerns of social media content moderators and recognise the important service these workers provide in keeping us all safe. Ireland has...

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...

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

Leo Varadkar: The SBASC was introduced to help businesses not eligible for the Government’s COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and the Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity grant or other direct sectoral grant schemes. The Scheme was launched on 9th March 2021 through the Local Authorities, with a closing date of 21st April for applications for Q1 2021.  As you may be aware I recently...

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

Leo Varadkar: The mobilisation of large fiscal support to limit the economic disruption from the pandemic has resulted in an increase in public indebtedness. At end-2020, Ireland’s outstanding general government gross debt stood at €218.2 billion, an increase from €204 billion in 2019. This is expected to increase further in 2021 to €239bn or 62% of GDP and Ireland is not...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 194 together. Since the start of this pandemic, the Government has provided unprecedented levels of aid to businesses aimed at ensuring that viable businesses will survive this pandemic. 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...

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

Leo Varadkar: I am keenly aware of the difficulties that the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are placing on businesses right across the country. It is a challenging time for small business owners, employees and their families. That is why the Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the...

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

Leo Varadkar: UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted on 23 December 2016, calls on all States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, and will continue to do so. In keeping with differentiation, Ireland’s...

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

Leo Varadkar: Delivering balanced regional growth is a core objective in the Programme for Government. The National Planning Framework sets out in detail our vision for our rural areas, towns and cities. The revised National Development Plan that the Government is currently developing is a further opportunity to deliver on this vision.  The Government is committed to the development of a...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 193 together. My Department published ‘Making Remote Work’, the National Remote Work Strategy on January 15th, 2021. The objective of the Strategy is to ensure that remote work is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace in a way that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. The report is built on three pillars which are...

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: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Jun 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The total number of Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) applications for County Tipperary is 137. Of that figure to date 73 have been approved for payment, and 22 are still being assessed. 42 applications have been refused. Refusals have occurred due to eligibility requirements such as businesses not meeting the turnover criteria, turnover was not down 75% during the...

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...

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

Leo Varadkar: IDA’s new strategy 2021-2024 ‘Driving Recovery and Sustainable Growth’ has been developed in the context of the Government’s National Economic Plan. This strategy positions IDA to respond to the emerging trends that are accelerating as a result of the Covid-19 global pandemic. The new strategy will be delivered through a focus on five pillars: Growth,...

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

Leo Varadkar: The €2 billion COVID Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) is the largest such scheme in the history of the state. Its purpose is to facilitate additional liquidity to SMEs, primary producers and Small Mid-Caps (i.e. companies with fewer than 500 employees). It has given certainty to the lending market that funding is available and operates in accordance with the European Commission’s...

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

Leo Varadkar: Ireland is a major global centre for Biopharmaceutical manufacture and supply.  In 2019 Ireland was ranked the 5th largest exporter of biopharmaceutical medicines globally with exports of €80 billion. There are 85 IDA supported companies in the sector in Ireland employing over 37,000 people. Pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in Ireland play a key role in the global supply...

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

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will appreciate, Brexit has fundamentally changed the trading relationship between Ireland and the UK and will continue to impact that trading relationship. Since the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement came into force, there has been some short-term disruption arising from the new requirements around customs and SPS checks and controls. Businesses are however gradually...

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

Leo Varadkar: COVID-19 has presented challenges to our ongoing efforts to sustain and grow foreign direct investment in Ireland. The introduction of travel restrictions has disrupted the way in which IDA Ireland engages with investors, resulting in fewer site visits and client meetings. The pandemic has impacted investor confidence and has likely caused some investment decisions to be delayed or postponed....