Results 7,601-7,620 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Regional Enterprise Development Fund (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I intend to make a significant announcement of funding for Enterprise Centres very shortly. This funding will be crucial as the Centres continue to offer services to local businesses during what is an exceptionally difficult time. It will help the Centres implement a recovery plan for businesses within their remit over the next six to twelve months.  It will help enterprise centres all...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Regional Development (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As part of the proposed multi-billion Digital Europe Programme (DEP), the European Commission and EU Member States will establish and fund a network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). In the recent Budget, €3 million was allocated to support Ireland’s participation in this network in 2021. These hubs will support digital transformation in SMEs and public sector...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Local Enterprise Offices (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: It is a priority that the 31 Local Enterprise Offices, as the first stop shop for business, are sufficiently resourced in order to support businesses and protect jobs as the country deals with the dual challenges of COVID-19 and Brexit. In Budget 2021 the Local Enterprise Offices are provided with a capital increase of €6 million and a further €5 million will be made available...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Contracts (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In the time available,  it has not  been possible to compile the information requested.  I will arrange for this material to forwarded to the Deputy as soon as a possible.

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

Leo Varadkar: In the reply to Oral PQ 83 of 10 November it was outlined that, since the introduction of level 5 restrictions on the 21 October 2020, the Health and Safety Authority had, at that point, carried out 13 inspections of meat processing plants. I have been advised by the Health and Safety Authority that 10 Reports of Inspection (ROIs) issued arising from these 13 inspections. Inspections...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Company Liquidations (19 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I extend my sympathies to the workers in Debenhams who have lost their jobs. It is disappointing that the recent Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) facilitated talks did not succeed in agreeing a way forward.  I would urge both sides to re-engage in a constructive manner with a view to finding a mutually acceptable resolution.   The Government is...

Working from Home (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle agus leis na Teachtaí. I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue and I thank the Labour Party for using its time to discuss it today. The Government wants remote working, homeworking and blended working to become part of the new normal based primarily on choice. If done right the benefits will be significant in...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Copyright Infringement (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In general, the playing of music in public places is an act governed by copyright law.  The Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000 (the CRRA) gives the owners of copyright works, which includes musical works, certain rights over the use of their works.  The legislation provides that users of musical works (such as broadcasters, owners of licensed premises, retails outlets and other...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In March 2020 the Government introduced an emergency amendment to the Redundancy Payments Act 1967 which effectively suspends an employee’s entitlement to claim redundancy from their employer following certain periods of lay-off or short-time work due to Covid-19 during the emergency period.  The Government was concerned that the financial impact of significant redundancy...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: IDA Ireland (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: When it comes to foreign direct investment (FDI), site visits represent a valuable tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in regional areas. However, site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as a significant percentage of all new FDI comes from existing IDA client companies. COVID-19 has presented undeniable challenges to our ongoing efforts to...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Since the outcome of the UK referendum in 2016 confirming the UK’s intention to leave the European Union, the Government has, while fully respecting that decision, acknowledged that it is regrettable.  Whatever the outcome of the ongoing future partnership negotiations between the EU and the UK, we are preparing for the fact that the UK will leave the Single Market and the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Labour Court (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that the Labour Court on 14 October 2020 received proposals from the Security Industry Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the adoption of proposals to amend S.I. 231 of 2017 Employment Regulation Order (Security Industry Joint Labour Committee) 2017.     Having examined the proposals and the report of the Chairman of the JLC submitted in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Labour Court (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Chairman of the Labour Court wrote to me on the 4 November 2020 confirming that the Court has adopted proposals for an employment regulation order ('ERO') in the contract cleaning sector. Accordingly, I have received draft recommendations and a statutory report supporting the legal basis for the ERO. I am giving the matter due consideration.  I understand that a draft ERO...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together. Budget 2021 provides a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the economy and to help vulnerable but viable businesses across all sectors including a new payment structure for the PUP and amendments to the EWSS. We are providing more and cheaper loan finance through MicroFinance Ireland, SBCI and the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Wage Subsidy Scheme (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which is administered by the Revenue Commissioners, was introduced under the Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Act 2020. I would encourage the Deputy to raise this issue with my colleague, the Minister for Finance, who has the EWSS under his remit.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am pleased to present my Department’s further Revised Estimate for 2020 to the committee. I express my appreciation to the committee for taking our Revised Estimate this evening. The further Revised Estimate presented today seeks to incorporate into our Department’s Vote the €1.969 million in funding arising from the transfer of certain functions to my Department;...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Covid-19 life sciences products scheme gives IE and the IDA money, essentially, to either encourage foreign direct investment to develop in Ireland and make products that will be helpful when it comes to Covid-19, or for EI to do the reverse with indigenous products. It was always envisaged there would be a pipeline. The money was only announced in the past few months. It is really...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is correct; they definitely need more funding and staff. Any time we launch a new scheme to provide money to business, somebody must administer it; that is the staff in EI, LEOs and InterTradeIreland. This Estimate, therefore, provides additional current funding for staff costs in those agencies. There will be more money next year. We will see how it goes. In the budget for...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Yes, I am. Some €3 million additional current funding is approved for this year, which I hope the committee will approve this evening. There is more money for 2021 and there is a possibility to dip into that fund for more funding for staff if needed. We will keep that under review. I would be dishonest if I said I could guarantee that every agency will say it is adequately staffed....

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (18 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The scheme is run by the Revenue Commissioners through the Department of Finance rather than my Department but I am across it as I must be because it impacts on business a great deal. While it is a tax credit, and it is taxable, businesses will only end up paying it back if they start making profits so in many cases it will not be paid back. If companies return to profit in the years ahead,...