Results 7,241-7,260 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Relations (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. I extend my sympathies to the workers who are in danger of losing their jobs. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved. I understand that it is hoped to procure the sale of the Irish operations as part of an overall...

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

Leo Varadkar: Enterprise Ireland’s Powering the Regions plan provides an overarching national plan underpinned by nine regional specific plans, to grow and sustain jobs, and to expand the reach of the Enterprise Ireland client base in every county and region in Ireland. The plan proposes six new national initiatives which aims to futureproof the regions through enhanced productivity and resilience,...

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

Leo Varadkar: From 1 January next, EU consumer rights will no longer automatically apply when EU consumers buy from UK based retailers including those operating online. After that date, EU consumers who purchase goods from UK based businesses will only have the protection of UK consumer legislation. For these reasons, and especially in the run up to Brexit, the Competition and Consumer Protection...

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

Leo Varadkar: Since the UK decision to leave the EU in 2016 my Department has, through Enterprise Ireland, been actively working on a strategy of market diversification. Ireland's overall export performance over the last 10 years has been marked by year-on-year growth with total exports of goods and services reaching further record levels of €374 billion in 2019. The overall scale of the...

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: Flexible Work Practices (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 148 and 180 together. As our country continues to navigate Covid-19, remote working has become more important than ever before. To date, my Department has had a strong focus on the topic of remote work. In December 2019, my Department published the Remote Work in Ireland report which outlined the prevalence and types of remote working...

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

Leo Varadkar: The pandemic has caused untold damage to people's lives and livelihoods. I know that too many businesses have been severely impacted by the restrictions needed to ensure public health safety during the pandemic. Our response to COVID-19 will continue to assist those businesses affected. Budget 2021 provided a significant additional package of tax and expenditure measures to build the...

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

Leo Varadkar: The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, commonly known as CETA, is one of the EU’s new generation of progressive free trade agreements. CETA 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 that flow...

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 Issues (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In 2018, my Department published a Report entitled "Strategic Implications for Ireland arising from changing EU-UK trading relations". The study undertaken by Copenhagen Economics examined the implications of Brexit for the Irish economy and trade, quantifying the impact of possible new barriers to trade which might emerge due to Brexit. The study examined the likely impact of Brexit on...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Company Liquidations (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, it is sub judice. I extend my sympathies to the workers who are in danger of losing their jobs. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved. It is important to note that a provisional...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 164 together. Brexit, in whatever shape it finally takes, will have a significant impact on the Irish economy, fundamentally changing the trading environment for businesses trading with the UK, excluding Northern Ireland. With just two weeks until the UK leaves the Single Market and the Customs Union, work to ensure Government, business and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Personal Injuries Assessment Board (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government sets out a commitment to enhancing and reforming the role of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The PIAB model delivers major benefits by providing a low-cost, quick and impartial assessment in injury compensation. However, there has been a decrease in the number of claim settlements reached through PIAB in recent years and an increase in the number of...

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: Data Centres (17 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In June 2018, my Department published the ‘Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Policy’. It sets out the strategic importance of data centres to Ireland’s enterprise policy and to attracting foreign investment in the ICT sector. The Statement followed an agreement of the Government, in October 2017, to create a strategic policy...

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

Leo Varadkar: My Department, along with the enterprise agencies under my remit, are doing everything possible to sustain businesses through the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and get people safely back to work. The best way to attract further foreign direct investment into Kerry is to continue assisting IDA Ireland in their efforts to generate new investments and jobs in the County....

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

Leo Varadkar: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent statutory office under the aegis of my Department. The WRC plays a vital role in Irish society in delivering fair and compliant workplaces and the non-discriminatory delivery of services. The services of the WRC are key in maintaining industrial relations stability, mediating and adjudicating in individual disputes, raising awareness...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (OWTA) sets out an employee’s entitlement to annual leave and the terms around the taking of that leave. Under Section 20 of the Act, the times at which annual leave is taken is ultimately determined by the employer subject to the leave being granted within the leave year to which it relates, or, with the consent of the employee within the...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 178 together. The Government has committed in the Programme for Government to review whether the current legal provisions surrounding collective redundancies and the liquidation of companies effectively protect the rights of workers. I have asked the Company Law Review Group to undertake an expedited review of this commitment as it relates to company...

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...