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

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for the Minister, Deputy Foley, and, representing Kerry, I am sure she is familiar with school transport and the issues around that. It is never an easily-solved problem. We have changed the rules on a few occasions. One rule is changed and a new anomaly or problem is created somewhere else. Then there is the difference between people who are entitled to a school pass and...

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. This is very much on the agenda of Government. We want those services to be open as soon as possible. We anticipate they will be open no later than the end of August or September. I know a lot of people want them open right away but there are different circumstances in different centres and different solutions are needed at different times. I hear what the Deputy is...

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. There is a very extensive, multibillion euro capital programme which Irish Water is implementing on an ongoing basis. Huge improvements have been made in recent years in terms of water quality, reduction in amounts of unaccounted water, reduction in number of boil notices and so on. However, a huge amount remains to be done because of the level...

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

Leo Varadkar: If my memory serves me correctly, the carer's allowance, although it was not increased this year, was increased last year. I think it was also increased each of the three years before that. The respite care grant, which was turned into the carer support grant, was restored back to what it was prior to the last financial crisis. On tax credits, I will come back to the Deputy. That is a...

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

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. This is an issue I am familiar with and it has been going on for a long time. We would very much like to see a solution to this issue, but I do not think that solution will be a legislative one. The relevant Labour Court recommendation called on the employer at the time to establish a pension scheme. The State is not the employer of CE scheme supervisors and,...

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

Leo Varadkar: This was discussed by the Cabinet yesterday. The temporary ban on evictions will not end on Monday. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, will make an announcement in early course as to what his intentions are in this regard. As the Deputy will appreciate, however, the legal advice on this is very strong and states that the ban can only be temporary and cannot continue forever, for reasons...

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

Leo Varadkar: I cannot confirm that at this point because the decisions to be made on what will and will not be in the July stimulus will not be made until a Cabinet meeting on Monday or Tuesday. We will make any announcements next week. A reduction in the VAT rate is of little use to pubs that cannot open. The best thing we can do for the sector is to get the pubs open. When a business is closed it...

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

Leo Varadkar: I know the difference between a rural pub and a nightclub. I used to have a very good social life and I know about everything in between. Indeed, I have been in the Deputy's family's pub, and a very nice evening we had. However, the assertion that was made is incorrect. We always said from day one that this was a plan that could be accelerated, slowed down or paused, based on public...

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

Leo Varadkar: -----or, more importantly, about the right behaviours on the part of us as a society in getting the virus back under control. We need to be frank about closing the ports and airports. This virus will go on for many more months, possibly years. It is not feasible to cut ourselves off from the rest of the world, to stop Irish citizens returning home, to stop people visiting their friends...

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

Leo Varadkar: They have not, actually.

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

Leo Varadkar: No, it has not. Hungary has an A list, B list and C list-----

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

Leo Varadkar: -----and there are different rules for different countries. It is not feasible for us to do that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I will be doing that next week. My meetings next week include meetings with unions, including the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. I will certainly listen to what they say in that regard. In my previous occupation I did that regularly and will do so in this role as well. I am the Minister with responsibility for enterprise, trade and employment, not just enterprise. I mean that. We...

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

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid I do not know. I will have to check with the Minister for Finance or the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Fleming, who is now responsible for insurance. I will do that today and get a further reply for the Deputy.

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

Leo Varadkar: Again, I will have to check that with the line Minister and I will do that.

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

Leo Varadkar: The short answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". It may not be specifically referenced in the programme for Government, but the new Government will want to honour the commitments the last Government made to the survivors of the Magdalen laundries. Memorialisation is part of that. What form or shape it will take will have to discussed, especially with the survivors. This issue is one of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I can understand what a hammer blow this news is for publicans and for people who run pubs, nightclubs and other venues, who had expected and hoped they would be able to open next Monday. I do not think I am the only person in the House who was looking forward to freedom pints next week but, unfortunately, this is not possible. It is not possible for a good reason,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I have no doubt the vast majority of publicans in our country are responsible people who want to open their businesses and I also want their businesses to open. However, I do need to be clear that what we are saying is that pubs and nightclubs will not open any sooner than 10 August. We are not saying they will open on 10 August, we are saying they will open no sooner...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The answer to the question is "Yes". If he looks at what we have done so far, I announced a package of approximately €12 billion to respond to the coronavirus. This is leaving aside the health costs. This approximately €12 billion is for supports for business and employees. Not all of this has been drawn down yet but the bulk of it that has been drawn...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I had a chance to speak briefly to the president of the Irish Travel Agents Association, ITAA, on a Zoom call the other day. The Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughten, whose responsibilities cover aviation and international travel will meet ITAA representatives in the next couple of days to explore what specific supports we may be able to put in place for them. Approximately...