Results 6,801-6,820 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus schemes were designed to help small and medium sized businesses get back on their feet after what has been an exceptionally difficult time. The Restart Grant scheme was launched on 15 May with a budget of €250 million. The Restart Grant Plus scheme was launched on 10 August with an additional budget of €300m from the Government’s...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: From my Department's perspective, the information which the Deputy is seeking is available, on a by-county basis, for programmes of the following bodies: - Enterprise Ireland - The Local Enterprise Office - The Local Authorities who administer the Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus schemes - The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland - Microfinance Ireland - Intertrade Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: From my Department's perspective, the information which the Deputy is seeking is available, on a by-county basis, for programmes of the following bodies: - Enterprise Ireland - The Local Enterprise Offices - The Local Authorities who administer the Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus schemes - The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland - Microfinance Ireland - Intertrade Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Foreign Direct Investment (17 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The South West Region has a dynamic and broad enterprise sector with predominance in Bio Pharmaceuticals, Technology (hardware and services) and Agri-Food, in addition to significant potential in tourism, Medical Technology, International Financial Services and Global Business Services. The South West Region comprises Cork and Kerry. Kerry has 17 IDA client companies employing 2,153 people....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19, only essential retail outlets will remain open. Further information can be found on The decision to move to full scale Level 5 was not taken lightly and all factors were considered. All measures in Level 5 will stay in place until at least March 5 2021. S.I. No. 701 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19)...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Import Costs (17 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The EU’s Safeguard Measures for steel were initiated in July 2018 in response to the United States applying a 25% tariff on steel imports originating from 3rd countries, including the European Union. The aim of the Measures is to manage the volume of steel entering the EU Single Market from 3rd countries as a consequent of the threat of EU market distortion by the dumping of steel...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Contracts (17 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has entered into one such contract since the 1st January 2021. Details of this contract are set out below. Company Purpose of Contract Value of Contract Length of Contract Matrix Internet Web Design and Development for a Climate Action HubDesign, development and hosting of an online tool to assist businesses...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Ministerial Communications (17 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Ms. Katherine Tai has been nominated by President Biden to serve as the next United States Trade Representative (USTR), a cabinet level role which will see Ms. Tai act as President Biden's principle advisor/negotiator on all US trade policy related matters. Ms. Tai can only take up her office following confirmation of her nomination by the US Senate. However, I know that EU Commission...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The Government policy and rules around this are very clear. There are only three groups of people who can receive the vaccine at present, namely, care home residents over 65 years and care home staff and healthcare workers who interact with patients. It is important to bear in mind that some administrative and reception staff engage with patients. The third group is people who are over 85...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: That work is very much under way. The Company Law Review Group has done some work on the company law aspects of it. As the Deputy knows, the Duffy Cahill report does not recommend changes to company law and points out that so-called tactical insolvencies are already illegal and that there may be some need to change employment law on redundancy. Unfortunately, in my assessment, none of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I would be happy to look at any cases or real-world examples the Deputy may have in that regard. My parliamentary party raised the issue with me as well last night. This is not the last scheme the Government will introduce to support business. I am open to the introduction of further schemes. However, I wish to be very clear; the purpose of the EWSS is to help with payroll costs. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: We are not in a position to compensate people for lost income, other than the PUP, or lost profits. If we are thinking of adjusting the scheme or bringing in a new scheme, it has to be about fixed costs. Somebody who stores stock in their own home does not have a fixed cost.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Hopefully, air pollution has reduced as a consequence of Covid and the lockdown given the significant decrease in transport-related emissions. I do not have a date for the clean air strategy. I do not know the date for its publication, but I will check it and make sure the Deputy's office is informed.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of click and collect and whether we can restore it for retail businesses. We can certainly give that some consideration, but I cannot make any promises today. One of the difficulties that arose with click and collect is that it did cause people to leave the house to make journeys and interact with other people and there is a public health risk in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies. This is obviously a matter of grave concern to people in the region. I do not have any details to hand but I will inform the Minister for Health that the matter was raised in the Chamber. I will ask him to look into the matter and get back to the Deputies directly.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: The position is that the PUP, like most social welfare payments, is subject to income tax and the universal social charge, USC, in the same way, for example, as the State pension. Child benefit is exempt, but most social welfare payments are subject to tax if one earns enough money to pay income tax and the USC. Someone who, for example, earned €36,000 last year from work pays the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am the Tánaiste so the Deputy will have to allow me take the matter up with the ambassador, rather than the Prime Minister of Israel who is no longer my counterpart. The point that the Deputy makes is exactly right. Israel is the occupying, controlling power in Palestinian territories and, therefore, has a duty and responsibility to provide basic healthcare, including vaccination...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: We are seeing increased waiting lists for procedures and for outpatient appointments across the country, not just in Waterford. That is not solely or exclusively down to reduced staff or funding because the reverse is the case. There has been a big increase in the number of staff in the health service and a massive increase in spending in recent years but because of the need to shut down...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: I am not aware of this particular situation. It certainly sounds like it is far from ideal. However, if somebody tests positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating and staying in his or her room, other people should not be at risk, provided that those infected are self-isolating and staying in their rooms. I will certainly let the Minister for Health know that the Deputy raised these...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Feb 2021)

Leo Varadkar: There is no legislation promised on that matter and I do not think I have any particular powers of intervention when it comes to such issues. I will let the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, who has responsibility for fisheries, know that the issue was raised and I will ask him to get back to the Deputy.