Results 6,181-6,200 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy again and I welcome his criticism of Hamas and of its ideology. I note that he has yet to say anything about the other occupations that exist around the world and I often wonder why so little is said about them and so much about this particular one. That does not, however, in any way take away from the fact that what is happening in Israel and what the Israeli Government...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I do, but I am bound by Cabinet confidentiality and I am not in a position to discuss them with the Deputy until they are agreed by the Cabinet next Tuesday. The Deputy knows that well, so he should stop the theatrics. The Government is making progress on housing. It is not enough, and I accept that. Family homelessness is at its lowest level in five years. The Deputy did not acknowledge...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Kelly for sharing that story. Often, it is only when we look at individual and real life examples that we understand how our policies and laws affect people and, sometimes, how they must change. I express my condolences to John, his family and the wider community in Nenagh. If I understand what Deputy Kelly said correctly, John does not qualify for the widower's pension,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Social protection is an area that is very much defined in law and by regulation. There is little or no discretion for Ministers in that regard, with the exception of exceptional needs payments. He might have already applied for that, but perhaps not. That might be one option as an interim solution. Without knowing the details of the case, I do not wish to comment on it in detail, but it...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has laid out some facts. Many of them are correct but they are also one-sided. It is true that house prices have increased by about 90% since the trough in 2013, but what the Deputy did not mention - and this is relevant - is that they are still lower than the peak 12 or 13 years ago. We certainly do not want to see them go back to that level. House prices have gone up by about...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Commercial Rates (13 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: These are difficult times and I am aware that some businesses are concerned that some landlords are continuing to insist on the payment of rents and leases as normal despite their premises being closed. The issue of commercial rents is primarily a contractual matter for the parties involved. However, the Government has urged landlords and tenants to talk to one another and come to some...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Public Procurement Contracts (13 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware from 2020 onwards there is an obligation on all Government Departments to monitor and report annually on Green Public Procurement (GPP) in their annual reports, in accordance with D/PER Circular 20/2019 “Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement”. This requirement is being met by my Department with the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Tourism Policy (12 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The impact of COVID-19 has not been uniform across areas of economic activity and affected sectors such as the events sector will continue to face challenges due to ongoing distancing requirements, changed consumer behaviour and lower demand. The outlook for internationally traded sectors is also uncertain and will depend on developments in export markets. Nevertheless, I would like to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Advertising (12 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Details of costs incurred by my Department on advertising and awareness raising initiatives related to Covid-19 from March 2020 to date are set out in detail in the attached table. Table 1 Expenditure from 1 March 2020 – 11 May 2021 Date Campaign Print/Online/Broadcast Outlet Cost € April 2020 Graphic Design of COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Losses (11 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The closure of the Aptar plant in Ballinasloe was a very disappointing development for the region and I am keenly aware of the blow this has been for the affected employees and their families. IDA Ireland has been working with the company to market the plant to potential investors, using the employee skills audit in their efforts to attract new investment to Ballinasloe. The IDA has...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has introduced a range of business supports in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including loan guarantee facilities for businesses of different sizes. This query may be in reference to either the COVID-19 Working Capital Scheme or the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, both of which offer state guaranteed lending to businesses impacted by the pandemic. The COVID-19 Working...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Funding (11 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: No funding has been allocated by my Department or the agencies under its remit to An Taisce during the years in question. IDA Ireland have informed me that they made a payment to An Taisce in 2019 in the amount of €500 as part of their Green Schools Cycle Training in Mervue Business Park, Galway.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Agreements (11 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will recall that this particular Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment consists of two important and complementary components, namely a comprehensive analysis of the potential economic benefits as well as a robust sustainability impact assessment including social, human rights and environmental impacts that the trade Agreement could have in Ireland and the Mercosur...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Agreements (11 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will recall that this Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment consists of two important and complementary components, namely a comprehensive analysis of the potential economic benefits as well as a robust sustainability impact assessment including social, human rights and environmental impacts that the trade Agreement could have in Ireland and the Mercosur countries of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Funding (11 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: While my Department does not generally provide direct funding to non-governmental organisations, it does fund the costs of Ireland’s membership of a number of international organisations (e.g. World Trade Organisation, International Labour Organisation, European Space Agency). The total funding provided to support these memberships in 2020 was €26.355 million. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (11 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Data captured as at 12 April 2021 provides for 930 employees with an annual salary cost of approximately €48M.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Contracts (11 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Within my Department’s Communications Unit, there are currently seven staff employed to deal with press and public relations. A breakdown of staff by grade is set out below. My Department has not engaged any third-party companies to deal with public relations and, therefore, no costs have been incurred. Grade Number Principal Officer 1 ...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, we have more special needs assistants working in our schools than ever before. That is a reflection of the level of need but, also, the level of commitment by Government to making sure children who have additional educational needs get the best chance in life. This matter falls under the responsibility of the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. I will take it up...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: As I mentioned earlier, I appreciate this is a big problem and a burning issue. Young people, in particular, need to be able to get on the road in rural Ireland and in urban Ireland too, so they can access job opportunities, get to college or do whatever they need to do. Yesterday, an announcement was made by the Minister for Transport that an additional 40 staff would be taken on to try to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 May 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Higgins for raising that and I know the Deputy raised it with me last night as well. I have not had a chance to follow up on it but I will. It is an important issue to which we need a solution because we need to make sure we do not miss any of those patients in groups 4 and 7, because they are the ones at highest medical need. The Deputy can be sure I will follow up on that...