Results 8,601-8,620 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant was launched on 22 May 2020 and is a critically important tool to support small businesses to reopen their doors and get back on their feet. The scheme was devised in recognition of the fact that micro and small businesses were and are particularly vulnerable to the economic effects of COVID19. The Restart Grant is just one part of a wider assistance package for business and...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department complies with guidance from the Office of Government Procurement when seeking to enter into contracts for the procurement of goods, works or services and adheres to best practice in the application of public procurement rules in relation to the purchase of goods and services. Details of the value of contracts awarded to the company in question, and its subsidiaries, by my...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As stated in the Programme for Government, we will bring forward a Jobs Stimulus very shortly to boost our economy and help to maintain and restore employment. It will be of a scale to meet the challenge. Helping our SMEs is central to this, given their pivotal role in the economy and employment. This July Stimulus will extend, enhance and add to the existing actions for COVID-19 impacted...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation I am acutely aware that COVID-19 has brought particular challenges for retailers - large and small, across the country. Trading online is a very important route for retail businesses to grow and improve their business in the current crisis and will be an important element in their recovery over the longer term. The...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Food Prices (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I have no legislative power to impose a ban on below-cost selling of any grocery good. The Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 was revoked by section 4 of the Competition (Amendment) Act 2006 (No. 4 of 2006) because the Order was considered to be anti-competitive and therefore not in the best interests of consumers. Relationships between suppliers and buyers are based on commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The company in question made an application for Restart Grant funding to Fingal County Council. It is my understanding that the applicant was informed that they were being awarded a grant on the 14thJuly 2020, with grant funds scheduled to be transferred to their bank account on 17thJuly 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Employment Rights (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As set out in the House on July 9thand again on 14th, following discussion with Minister English and consultation with the Attorney General, it has been decided to appeal the High Court decision which maintains that the legislative framework governing the SEO process is unconstitutional because it delegates law making powers to others outside the legislature. We have compelling grounds to...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Court Judgments (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Mr. Justice Garrett Simons informed the parties on July 14ththat he was agreeable to an extension of time to 24th July with regard to the matter of settling of the Orders that will give effect to his Ruling. It is expected that parties will appear before the judge on this matter soon thereafter. The Government has 28 days from the date when the Orders giving effect to the High Court ruling...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Ministerial Meetings (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I intend to meet with representatives of the workers concerned very shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The new €2 billion COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme announced by Government forms a major component of the Government’s strategy to aid SMEs in these difficult times by providing critical support to ensure businesses are facilitated in having access to credit facilities to assist a return to a more regular trading environment. It is a further development of the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As stated in the Programme for Government, we are bringing forward a Jobs Stimulus shortly to boost our economy and help restore employment. This July Stimulus will extend, enhance and add to the existing measures for COVID-19 impacted businesses already announced. The Restart Grant was launched on 22 May 2020 and is a critically important tool to support small businesses to reopen their...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Employment Rights (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Employment rights are largely created by statute. The scope of such statutes extends to ‘workers’ who have valid contracts of employment with an employer. The current legal situation is that non-EEA persons who do not have an entitlement to work in this jurisdiction, i.e. they do not hold a valid employment permit or a residency visa which allows for work in limited...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Staff (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government sets out a number of reforms to be implemented in order to ensure openness and constructive cooperation within government. These include the establishment of an Office of the Tánaiste and an Office of the Leader of the Green Party within the Department of the Taoiseach, located in Government Buildings. The Office of the Tánaiste will consist of a private...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval. It should be noted that the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Ministerial Staff (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As a constitutional appointment as Tánaiste I am required to act in place of the Taoiseach during his temporary absence. Under the Partnership Government, there is a plan in place to facilitate a rotating Taoiseach. The current Taoiseach will become Tánaiste and vice versa. Furthermore, the Taoiseach and I as Tánaiste will both be conducting a number of public roles including...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together. The Restart Grant scheme is just one part of the wider €12bn suite of measures for firms of all sizes, which includes grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs. This package is a significant step-up in assistance available for all...

Written Answers — Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment: Departmental Funding (21 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Enterprise Ireland is an agency of my Department with responsibility for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. It provides a particular suite of supports aimed at developing High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Companies with the potential to develop an innovative product or service for sale on international markets and the potential to create 10 jobs and €1m in...

Ban on Rent Increases Bill 2020: First Stage (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The legislation we will introduce next week will not make that distinction, but I do not rule out the possibility, further down the line, of having different rules for different regions and different parts of Ireland. However, this is not straightforward. If we open pubs in one part of the country, we will see people travelling from other parts to where the measures are less restrictive....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputies for raising the important issue of younger people in nursing homes. There are also younger people staying in hospitals for a prolonged period, months or years in some cases, because there is nowhere for them to go other than a nursing home, which is inappropriate. This is an issue we will talk about a good deal in the next couple of months. The Ombudsman is doing a...