Results 8,261-8,280 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Trade Agreements (8 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In January 2020, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, commissioned independent consultancy firm, Implement Consulting, to undertake an Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the EU-Mercosur Agreement following a competitive tender process. The ESIA will consist of two equally important and complementary components, namely...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Trade Agreements (8 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In June 2019, negotiations for an EU-Mercosur Agreement were concluded, marking the EU’s largest trade deal to date. In January 2020, my Department, in conjunction with DAFM, commissioned an independent consultancy firm to undertake an Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the EU-Mercosur Agreement following a competitive tender process. In line with our...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Redundancy Payments (8 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I met with Gerry Light, Mandate and Debenham workers in July, along with Minister of State Damien English, who has responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail, and Minister of State Robert Troy who has responsibility for Company Law matters. Minister English met with ICTU in August where they outlined proposals concerning the treatment of collective agreements. Minister English...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant scheme was launched on 22 May and was live on all local authority websites from 29 May. It was advertised extensively both nationally and locally as well as across social media. By mid-June, almost 30,000 applications were received nationally and by the end of July, some 45,000 applications were received. The Scheme was initially intended to provide grants in tandem with...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Research and Development (8 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland’s overall investment in research and innovation, that is public and private investment, has been increasing steadily over the past several years. It increased from €2.56 billion in 2011 to an estimated €3.7 billion in 2018 – a rise of 44%. Ireland’s public investment in research and innovation has also been increasing over the past several years....

Brexit and Business: Statements (7 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am grateful for the opportunity to address Members on the important topic of Brexit and business. The date of 31 December 2020 is drawing in and this signals a major change for Irish businesses doing business with the UK as it exits the EU Single Market and the customs union. Businesses that move goods from or through Great Britain will be subject to a range of customs formalities,...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Third Level Institutions (7 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The main purpose of this Code of Practice is to provide guidance to employers, employees and their representatives on the general principles which apply in the operation of grievance and disciplinary procedures and the promotion of best practice in giving effect to such procedures. While the Code outlines the principles of fair procedures for employers and employees generally, it is of...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Third Level Institutions (7 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The main purpose of this Code of Practice is to provide guidance to employers, employees and their representatives on the general principles which apply in the operation of grievance and disciplinary procedures and the promotion of best practice in giving effect to such procedures. While the Code outlines the principles of fair procedures for employers and employees generally, it is of...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 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: Microfinance Loan Fund Scheme (7 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Microenterprise Loan Fund, operated by Microfinance Ireland assists businesses with fewer than ten employees. It provides much-needed funding to help microenterprises meet payments for stock, working capital requirements and other overhead expenses through the provision of low-cost lending facilities. Microfinance Ireland provides vital support to microenterprises by filling the...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Social Partnership Meetings (7 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I have publicly stated my intention to establish a Statutory Sick Pay Scheme in full consultation with employers and unions. This will build on the various improvements that have been made to social protections for workers over the last five years, including paternity benefit, parental leave benefit and the extension of social insurance benefits to the self-employed and those in the gig...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Footfall is an indicator of trading and as we continue to adhere to public health guidelines in order to protect ourselves and each other, it has declined. Businesses and traders in Dublin city, and all across the country, are facing challenges at the present time and I understand this is a difficult time for many who are facing an uncertain future. Remote working is a flexible working...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Earlier this week we announced that as of 6th October at 12 midnight all parts of the country will move to Level Three of the Government’s Framework for Restrictive Measures for a period of three weeks. I understand that these restrictions will have a significant impact on businesses and employment around the country. In recognition of the impact of these restrictions on...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Regional Development (7 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has committed to ensuring that local development plans are developed to stimulate economic activity for those areas that were expecting economic development arising from new fossil-fuel infrastructure. As part of this, the Government will consider the potential of the Shannon Estuary in terms of regional economic development across transport and logistics, manufacturing,...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Health and Safety Authority (6 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 155 together. The staff of the Health and Safety Authority is comprised of both administration and inspector grades. The inspector grades comprise of Grade I (senior inspectors) as well as GII and GIII inspectors. Inspectors operate across all mandates of the Health and Safety Authority including occupational health and safety and market surveillance...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Workplace Relations Commission (6 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 156 together. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an independent, statutory body under the aegis of my Department, established on 1st October 2015 under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. The WRC’s core services include the inspection of employment rights compliance, the provision of information, adjudicating on complaints under...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Trade Agreements (6 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In January 2020, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, commissioned independent consultancy firm, Implement Consulting, to undertake an Economic and Sustainability Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the EU-Mercosur Agreement following a competitive tender process. The ESIA will consist of two equally important and complementary components, namely...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Work Permits (6 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages, however, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Sick Pay Scheme (6 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Industrial relations are based on voluntarism. The Minister has no power to compel parties to engage with one another. Should parties wish to explore collective bargaining in an impartial environment the conciliation services of the WRC are available. I have publicly stated my intention to establish a Statutory Sick Pay Scheme in full consultation with employers and unions. This will...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Job Losses (6 Oct 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland’s employment rights frameworks are horizontal, meaning that any statutory employment right must protect all workers and cannot discriminate on a sectoral or other basis, such as where a person lives. Ireland has a comprehensive body of employment legislation, in respect of which the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is mandated to secure compliance, and we have a strong...