Results 7,701-7,720 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is not giving any consideration to putting the Army on the Border between the North and the South. We struggled and fought too hard for too many decades to take all armies off the Border and we certainly do not want to be the jurisdiction that puts uniforms on the Border again. That is not something to which we are giving consideration. The point raised by the Deputy is a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the questions. The CMO was consulted. The matter was discussed at the Cabinet sub-committee on Covid. We were both present and we discussed it. I recall that at the time the CMO said he was not particularly concerned about international travel. As we get the numbers down, it becomes a greater concern for reasons which the Deputy will understand. I do not know...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Some modelling has been done on the possibility of a third wave in January and February, which has been published by NPHET or Professor Nolan. I do not know to what extent international travel feeds into that modelling. I will have to check that. In terms of the European regulation that we have adopted and signed up to, that does not require a double test. It falls within the discretion...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: A person who tests positive is not supposed to travel.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: That is what we have to work on.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I will do that and I will read the independent review. When we find failings or shortcomings in any particular hospital it is important to apply scrutiny nationwide. If things are going wrong in one hospital it is wrong to assume that everything is okay everywhere else. Too many times we have learned that failings identified in a particular hospital or service are not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I support the thrust of the campaign and the intentions behind it. The matter of how this can be achieved requires a bit more discussion. There is always the law of unintended consequences. We all know of children, young people and teenagers who were born in Ireland, who know no other home and who speak with Dublin, Wicklow or Kerry accents - not that someone's accent...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot say whether we can support it at this time, but I will take a look at it. I will speak to the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee, who I expect to be the Minister addressing it in the Seanad, to see what we can do. Perhaps we will not oppose it and attempt to find a solution on Committee Stage. Senator Bacik is one of the best legislators in these Houses so we would always...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising the serious issue of the review of gynaecology services in Letterkenny University Hospital where women experienced delayed diagnosis. Obviously, as a result of that, in some cases they did not get the treatment they should have as soon as possible. I want to express my deep sorrow to any of the women affected and also to any of their families and friends...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Under Level 5 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19, only essential retail outlets will remain open. S.I. No. 448 of 2020 Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (No. 8) Regulations 2020 clearly sets out the temporary restrictions under Level 5 of the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID. A list of essential services can be found at and the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Office of Public Works (OPW) manages and oversees the State's property portfolio. Accordingly accommodation for my Department and its Offices is provided by the OPW in buildings which are either State owned or leased by the OPW on our behalf. My Department has no dealings with real estate companies on such matters.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Accommodation for my Department and its Offices is provided by the Office of Public Works(OPW) in buildings which are either State owned or leased by the OPW on our behalf. The Department nor its Offices does not lease additional office space outside of that provided for by the OPW.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Work Permits (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In March 2020, the Employment Permits Section of my Department implemented a COVID-19 contingency plan to ensure that the employment permit regime could continue to operate throughout the crisis. Since 30th March, the employment permit system has been operating fully remotely and online. Operational practices have been adjusted to replace the paper-based elements of the service to allow...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Employment Regulation Orders (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am informed by the Labour Court of the following position: The Labour Court on 14 October 2020received 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...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Following the advice of NPHET, the Government made the decision to move the entire country to Level 5 of the Framework for Living with COVID-19 for a period of six weeks (Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19). While essential retail and services including schools, early learning and childcare will remain open, all non-essential services must close. A list of...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As part of the internal health and safety internal response to COVID-19 my Department and its Offices have installed additional hand sanitisation and a range of PPE products across our 11 buildings around the country. To date, none of the products distributed across our buildings have been subject to a product recall.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Brexit Issues (12 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together. The decision to migrate the Central Securities Depository (CSD) used by Euronext Dublin (formerly the Irish Stock Exchange) was a market and industry decision made in 2018 which will result in the transfer of the settlement of trades in Irish equities and other exchange traded instruments from Euroclear UK and Ireland to Euroclear Bank...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: We know the Level 5 restriction is having a significant impact on businesses. In order to reduce transmission of this disease quickly this decision was taken now so we can return to a lower level of the Living with Covid-19 framework. I am keenly aware that businesses are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities and I am committed to ensuring that the Government will offer as...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Commercial Property (11 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together. Roche Ireland established its pharmaceutical operation in Clarecastle, County Clare in 1974. In November 2015, Roche announced that it planned to close its Clarecastle facility after a review of Roche’s worldwide manufacturing network for small molecules. While the announcement of the closure of the plant was very...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Nov 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is currently at Level 5 of Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 - the Plan for Living with COVID-19. At Level 5, only essential retail outlets and essential services are allowed to open to the public. The list of essential services that can remain open during Level 5 includes therapy services provided by a member of a designated profession within the meaning...