Results 8,161-8,180 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (15 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: This Government places SMEs and micro-enterprises centre stage in many areas of our Programme for Government, given the critical role which SMEs and micro-enterprises have always played in the economy and will play in the recovery as the “backbone” of our economy and as key drivers of employment. Our enterprise policy gives significant attention to ensuring that our...

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

Leo Varadkar: I am acutely aware that until a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment is widely available, the necessary responses to protect public health will continue to impact economic activity. I would remind the Deputy that much has already been done to assist enterprises through the crisis. Ireland came through the initial economic shock with unparalleled levels of State intervention aimed at...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Government made the decision that from midnight on the 6th of October, all remaining counties were to be placed on Level 3 for a period of 3 weeks until midnight on 27th October 2020, at which point we will again review the situation, based on the status of the virus and public health advice. I understand that these restrictions will have a significant impact on businesses and...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Industrial Disputes (15 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: AWAITING REPLY FROM DEPARTMENT.

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 71 together. I intend to introduce an SI in early November to bring in new Biological Agent regulations in line with the European Union Directive (EU) 2020/739. These new regulations require employers to carry out a Biological Risk Assessment in locations where there is an occupational risk of exposure to SARs-CoV-2 (the virus that causes the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Job Losses (15 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: AWAITING REPLY FROM DEPARTMENT.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Brexit Supports (15 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Since the initial Brexit vote in 2016, the Government has worked to ensure that appropriate support is in place for businesses exposed to the economic impacts of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. All Government Departments, agencies and regulatory bodies, including those under my Department, are preparing for the end of the transition period. The Brexit Readiness Action Plan published...

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

Leo Varadkar: As part of Budget 2021, my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Transport Eamon Ryan TD is introducing a number of specific measures for taxi and hackney businesses. The Minister is providing the necessary funding to the National Transport Authority to enable it to waive annual vehicle licence renewal fees for 2021. In addition, as part of Budget 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Trade Agreements (15 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular format as follows: Country Status Next Steps Australia Officials from the European Commission and Australia held the 8th round of negotiations for a trade agreement between the European Union and Australia from 14 to 25 September 2020 by a series of video-conferences....

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Health and Safety Inspections (15 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Health and Safety Authority has completed 98 inspections and investigations (13 of which were revisits) of Meat and Food Processing Facilities since the Return to Work Safely Protocol was introduced on the 18thMay 2020, including those connected with COVID-19 outbreaks. Of the total number of inspections carried out, 30 inspections were announced. These announced inspections took place in...

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

Leo Varadkar: I am keenly highly aware that those businesses in the hospitality sector are making a massive sacrifice to protect their communities and I am committed to ensuring that the Government will offer as much assistance and support as possible. On Friday 9 October last I co-Chaired the first meeting of the Government's new Hospitality and Tourism Forum with my ministerial colleague, Catherine...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (15 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I understand this is a difficult time for many businesses, especially those heavily impacted by the crisis who are facing an uncertain future. I know that some firms are concerned about how they are going to continue to pay the rent due for their business premises. Throughout this crisis, the Government has been encouraging commercial tenants and landlords to engage with each other and have...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Government made the decision that from midnight on the 6th of October, all remaining counties were to be placed on Level 3 for a period of 3 weeks until midnight on 27th October 2020, at which point we will again review the situation, based on the status of the virus and public health advice. I understand that these restrictions will have a significant impact on businesses and employment...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Trade Missions (15 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Since 2016 there has been one Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia and one to Bahrain with Ministerial and/or Department Official attendance as follows: Saudi Arabia In 2016, an Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Charlie Flanagan, T.D. with Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation official representation on the Trade...

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

Leo Varadkar: In the context of the ongoing COVID-19 situation, officials in my Department have been liaising with the Registrar in relation to practical difficulties being experienced by entities who have not been in a position to hold physical meetings. Considerations are ongoing in relation to potential legislative change to allow for such meetings to be held remotely, thereby facilitating the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Public Sector Pensions (15 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: There are 8 non-commercial semi-state bodies under the aegis of my Department, listed in the table below. Pension abatement as per Section 52 of the of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012, is a standard feature of the pension schemes applicable to each body listed. My Department does not directly fund any commercial state bodies, however the Design...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Living with COVID-19 Plan is the Government’s roadmap for living with the next phase of the pandemic. It has three broad strands which are, Staying Healthy, Keeping our Businesses Strong and Keeping our Communities Resilient. The Plan sets a Restrictive Measures Framework composed of five levels which recognises the need for an incremental approach which takes account of the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Brexit Preparations (15 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 81, 84 and 87 together. A no trade deal between the EU and the UK is not in anyone's interests. It is for this reason that the EU continues to negotiate in good faith to try to achieve the type of future partnership with the UK that was described in the Political Declaration, agreed less than a year ago. The aim is for a zero tariff zero quota Free Trade...

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

Leo Varadkar: The pandemic has caused untold damage to people's lives and livelihoods. I know that 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 support those businesses affected. Budget 2021 provides a significant package of tax and expenditure measures to build the resilience of the...