Results 7,361-7,380 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 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 (16 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s Living with COVID-19 Plan recognises the need for an overall incremental approach which take account of the societal and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the varying responses required. The Living with Covid-19 plan sets out how businesses should operate at five different levels. The Country is, at present, at Level 3. Under Level 3 restrictions no...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My officials and I have been engaging intensively with businesses and with their representative bodies as the COVID-19 restrictions have fluctuated over the year. This includes engagement in fora such as the Retail Consultation Forum led by Minister English, the SME Taskforce, as well as my involvement with the Tourism and Hospitality Forum, led by Minister Martin. Participation in these...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: IDA Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Midlands Regional Team of the IDA works closely with a variety of stakeholders to ensure that client companies from across the region have access to an appropriately skilled talent pool. IDA Ireland also collaborates with the Midlands Regional Skills Manager, Education and Training Boards (ETB’s), Athlone Institute of Technology, Carlow Institute of Technology, Solas, Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: IDA Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 128 and 129 together. The primary responsibility of the IDA is to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Ireland and to retain, transform and expand the existing base of FDI companies that have already invested and located here. IDA Ireland’s strategy, Winning Foreign Direct Investment 2015 - 2019, set out challenging targets in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: IDA Ireland (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: IDA Ireland meets with elected representatives from all parties on a frequent basis, on both a bilateral and multilateral basis. Although meetings are not generally tracked, the attached Table reflects the level of ongoing engagement that IDA Ireland has with elected representatives in counties Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Work Permits (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit facilitates the temporary transfer of key personnel or trainees who are non-EEA nationals from an overseas branch of a foreign employer to its Irish branch. Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permits are strictly limited to; Senior management earning a minimum annual remuneration of €40,000; Key personnel earning a minimum annual remuneration...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am keenly aware that businesses are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities. My Department has worked to ensure that appropriate supports are in place for businesses as they develop their response to impacts arising from COVID-19. Details of the wide range of supports available are on my Department’s website at Budget 2021 provides a significant package of tax and...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Work Permits (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: There does not appear to be a current employment permit application for the named person (details supplied). An application for an employment permit by the named person will be considered should such an application be made, subject to the application fulfilling all relevant criteria. A person who entered the State, initially on a valid employment permit but who has fallen out of the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is an independent body in statute with regard to its operational matters. However the CCPC have confirmed to my Department they have not made any data access requests to telecommunications or social media companies in the past three years to date in 2020 under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am keenly aware that businesses are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities. My Department and its agencies have been focused on coming up with solutions to help businesses overcome the difficulties caused by COVID-19. Details of the wide range of supports available are on my Department’s website at and businesses are encouraged to contact the relevant Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government’s overriding objective during COVID-19 is to ensure the public’s health and safety. The guidelines in relation to retail settings are in place to prevent large indoor gatherings of people while ensuring that as many shops as possible can open. This is to prevent the spread of the virus and protect lives. Seasonal experiences and initiatives that lead to...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My attention has indeed been drawn to the concerns raised regarding difficulty in accessing capital by start-up businesses as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ireland and the subsequent public health restrictions. Regarding the points raised about the ability of start-up businesses to access capital, I would emphasise that there are supports in place to help start-ups and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the question. I am aware of this problem. Some of my constituents have been in touch with me about it too. I will engage with the Minister for Social Protection on it. It needs to be sorted out before Christmas. I agree with the Deputy in that regard. I do not understand why this is still a problem. Other employers do not seem to have such a difficulty filling in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised the legislation will be in for the next term, dealing with both cost-rental and the shared equity scheme so that more people can qualify for affordable housing.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I listened to "Newstalk" this morning and I heard the representative of My Lovely Horse Rescue setting out the animal welfare issues relating to horses, which was quite shocking. I was struck by the remark that it is possible to buy a horse in Ireland for as little as €10, which is extraordinary. I know some horses are well looked after but a lot are not and that is not right. In...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will be aware that there are 15 levels in the prioritisation schedule agreed by Cabinet last Tuesday. The schedule is based entirely on medical and scientific advice and Government did not alter it in any way. We are very much guided by the doctors and scientists regarding vaccination, starting with those at most risk, which is those aged over 65 in nursing homes, moving on to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. As I understand it, individual and one-to-one training is allowed indoors, but not groups or classes. I will, however, get that double-checked with the Department of the Taoiseach and confirm it with the Deputies as soon as possible.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I share Deputy Smith's sentiments. We all want this facility open as soon as possible. I am afraid I do not have information on this matter today, but I will let the Minister know the issue was raised by the Deputy and ask that she receive a written reply as soon as possible.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Dec 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot give as clear a reply as I would like because some of these issues are still being worked out. I can say that the cross-Border directive ceases to apply to Northern Ireland and Great Britain when those areas leave the European Union on 1 January. It will continue to apply for people travelling to other parts of the European Union, but we are trying to put alternative arrangements...