Results 7,221-7,240 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: What the workers will get is what they deserve, which is solidarity, support and total honesty. They may not get that from others. We will do the best we can to secure as many of the 500 jobs as possible and keep as many of the stores open as possible. We will engage with the union and, to the extent that we can, with the liquidator on that. As a Government we will ensure that the legal...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I want to once again express the gratitude of the House to all of the front-line and essential workers who continued to provide services throughout the pandemic. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 sets out an employee’s entitlement to annual leave and the terms and conditions around the taking of that leave. Under section 20 of the Act, the times at which annual leave is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Joint provisional liquidators have been appointed by the High Court to four Irish operating companies that are part of the UK fashion group Arcadia. As the matter is before the courts and not a matter for Government, it is sub judiceand I am limited in what I can say. I extend my sympathies to the workers who are in danger of losing their jobs. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Agreements (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: CETA is one of the EU’s new generation of free trade agreements. It is designed to benefit EU and Canadian companies through improved trade flows in support of increased employment for our citizens. The elimination of tariffs, reduced trade barriers and simplified customs procedures all make it easier and cheaper for Irish companies of all sizes to export to Canada and vice versa. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

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 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant Plus Scheme, which closed to new application on 31st October, was only one part of the wider range of schemes available to firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs. The new Revenue Commissioners’ Covid Restrictions...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Relations (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I extend my sympathies to the workers in Debenhams who have lost their jobs. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved and their families. The talks facilitated by the Chair of the Labour Court, Kevin Foley have now concluded and he has issued a report reflecting the outcome of that process. I want to thank Kevin Foley for his efforts and encourage all sides to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Fire Service (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The European Working Time Directive lays down minimum safety and health requirements for the organisation of working time. The Directive applies to, inter alia, minimum periods of daily rest, weekly rest and annual leave, to breaks and maximum weekly working time. The Directive applies to all sectors of activity, including retained firefighters. The Working Time Directive is transposed...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Brexit Preparations (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In order to continue to trade with the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) from 1 January 2021, all businesses large and small, must register with Revenue for an Economic Operators' Registration and Identification number (EORI). This is a basic requirement regardless as to whether a trade agreement is reached between the EU and the UK or not. This number is valid throughout the EU and businesses...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Ireland (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department and its agencies are working continuously to address the under-representation of women across the enterprise sector. Increasing female participation in enterprise is a vital way to grow the diversity and strength of our indigenous business sector. In order to optimise all available skills and talent throughout the country, Enterprise Ireland, which is under the remit of my...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am keenly aware that publicans are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities. I am committed to ensuring that the Government offers as much assistance as possible. A comprehensive range of measures is in place for firms of all sizes, including the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities and is available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Company Law (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 137 together. The State’s long-standing preventive restructuring framework, examinership, is internationally recognised and has proven to be a successful tool for restructuring in its current form. However, I know that the cost of examinership is prohibitive for smaller businesses. That is why I wrote to the Company Law Review Group in July,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Ministerial Meetings (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As I stated in my response to the Priority Question under Ministerial Questions on Tuesday, 10 November 2020, content moderators working for social media platforms play an important role in preventing the wider distribution of explicit content on these platforms. As I said in the Dáil, I will meet with these workers and/or their representatives to hear at first-hand about any...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) is the largest guarantee scheme in the history of the State. Its function is to add certainty to businesses that liquidity is available for working capital and investment purposes. Loans of up to €1 million are available for up to five and a half years. Loans under €250,000 do not require collateral or personal guarantees. The Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CCGS) is the largest guarantee scheme in the history of the State. Its function is to add certainty to businesses that liquidity is available for working capital and investment purposes. Loans of up to €1 million are available for up to five and a half years. Loans under €250,000 do not require collateral or personal guarantees. The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Brexit Preparations (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has put a wide range of Brexit enterprise measures in place, covering potential Brexit impacts. Our Brexit Readiness Action Plan sets out a broad range of changes that will occur from 31 December 2020, regardless of the outcome of ongoing EU-UK negotiations. It provides clear and concise advice on steps to be taken now by businesses and individuals in order to prepare for the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regional Enterprise Plans (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In early 2019, my Department launched nine new Regional Enterprise Plans. The principle behind the Plans is collaboration between regional stakeholders on initiatives that can help to realise the region’s enterprise development potential having regard to new and emerging opportunities and challenges, including Brexit and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These stakeholders include...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Aviation Industry (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I understand how difficult it must be for Aer Lingus employees facing renegotiations, restructuring and possibly lay-offs. The aviation industry has been devastated by the pandemic and consequently workers in the industry have been severely affected and are facing great uncertainty. In November, the Government agreed a revised €80 million funding package for Irish aviation. In...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am keenly aware that publicans are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities. I am committed to ensuring that the Government offers as much assistance as possible. A comprehensive range of measures is in place for firms of all sizes, including the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities and is available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: National Disability Strategy (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with the National Disability Authority (NDA) on this issue and in line with NDA and best practice advice, rather than delivering separate disability services, the Agency provides inclusive services while promoting awareness of entrepreneurship to the disability community. Enterprise Ireland has developed a draft “Disability Inclusion Strategy...