Results 8,641-8,660 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: I will certainly take that up in my engagement with the major airlines. The Government advice since the middle of March has been to avoid non-essential travel off the island but I appreciate that there are some people who made bookings long before March and now find themselves in a very difficult position. On the international travel advice, I restate that nobody should engage in...

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

Leo Varadkar: I very much agree with Deputy Doherty that the tourism, hospitality and travel sector is a significant part of the economy. A quarter of a million more people are working in that sector, which is very dependent on travel, both international and domestic. It is a sector that was hit hardest first and will probably be affected the longest as a result of this pandemic. While people running...

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

Leo Varadkar: I think there is a strong case for putting in place actions that would help to stimulate demand, but we need to be honest with people too. Stimulating demand will be no good to a pub or nightclub that is closed or to a wedding venue that cannot hold weddings for more than 50 people. That approach has its benefits but it also has its limitations. I have no doubt Deputy O'Reilly will produce...

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

Leo Varadkar: There is a limit to how much one can have in any stimulus package.

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

Leo Varadkar: We want to keep borrowing to no more than €30 billion this year. We will take in about €50 billion in tax and we will spend €80 billion. A €30 billion deficit is pretty huge. It may be the biggest we have ever had. We are spending a lot of money. We are borrowing a lot of money. That is the right thing to do but it is wrong to suggest the money is unlimited...

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

Leo Varadkar: In terms of Deputy Doherty's question on pubs, NPHET has not been asked to advise on that. I understand the point the Deputy makes and I think it is a valid one. If we could open pubs with very strict social distancing, that could potentially work. The problem we have seen on a number of occasions is that when people are consuming alcohol, for example in house parties, on the streets or...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has introduced a €12bn package of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, the pandemic unemployment payment for the self-employed, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs. Full details on all COVID19 supports for business are available at:...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Recent global developments – both as a result of Brexit and of the COVID-19 pandemic – have undoubtedly complicated the market for international foreign direct investment (FDI). The challenges presented by Brexit in that context are well-known. The UK’s withdrawal from the EU does create commercial uncertainty and may affect investor decisions until there is clarity...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department is currently engaged in final preparations on the July stimulus package and on preparations for the announcement of the National Recovery Plan on budget day in October. The purpose of the July package will be to save jobs and businesses, create new ones and to get people back to work. The National Recovery Plan will include the need for a major reskilling programme, as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has already committed to a €12 billion package of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, the pandemic unemployment payment - available to the self-employed, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs. As businesses are reopening, what is now...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IDA Ireland (16 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together. There have been 31 site visits to County Tipperary since Continental Promotion International Limited dissolved in 2016. Specific information is not, however, available on IDA client site visits to the site in question or to other individual locations. The Agency compiles such data on a county-by-county basis only in the interests of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As stated in the Programme for Government, we will bring forward a Jobs Stimulus this month to boost our economy and help restore employment. This July Stimulus will extend, enhance and add to the existing measures totalling €12 billion in supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses already announced. The Restart Grant was launched on 22 May 2020 and is a critically important tool to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: On 5 June, the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was extended by the then Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform to31 August 2020. Businesses re-opening, who were not previously registered for the scheme, can now apply to join the scheme, provided they meet the relevant eligibility criteria. The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme will be available to employers who keep employees on the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In response to recognised business needs at that time, the Business Continuity Voucher (BCV) scheme was launched on 26th March last. The BCV Scheme provided up to €2,500 in consultancy costs, to develop short and long-term strategies to respond to the initial pandemic and to plan for the eventual recovery and reopening of the economy. The purpose of the scheme was to provide expert...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Liquidations (15 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The case in question is a court-supervised liquidation, subject to oversight of the High Court and accordingly is sub judice. The procedures for liquidations are set out in Part 11 of the Companies Act 2014. In general terms, a company is permitted to initiate a winding up where it has complied with the requirements of the Companies Act 2014. A company, both during normal operation and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government identifies a number of groups which will be led by Government in shaping the engagement of enterprise and SMEs in the formulation of the policy responses at the different stages of the recovery. These include an SME Growth Taskforce, a time limited body that will design a National SME Growth Plan mapping out an ambitious long-term strategic blueprint beyond...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Programme for Government provides for measures to assist in the formulation of policy responses at different stages of the recovery. These include the formation of an SME Growth Taskforce, a time limited body that will design a National SME Growth Plan mapping out an ambitious long-term strategic blueprint beyond COVID-19. This Plan will be brought to Government for approval as part of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Since I took up the role of Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, my focus has been on preparing the July Stimulus Package which will be radical, of scale and far-reaching. Not only must we overcome the current challenges, but we must also look ahead and set our economy on the right course for the future. My Department has developed a range of proposals which I have brought to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has developed a range of proposals which I have brought to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment for consideration. These proposals, along with others from Ministerial colleagues, will be developed and adjusted further for the Government’s consideration of an ambitious stimulus package which will be announced shortly. It would be inappropriate to set...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Diversifying our economy in order that over time, it becomes less and less dependent on trade with Britain is an enormous part of our work, not just in the Department and the Government as a whole but also for the trade section of my Department, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. If one looks back far enough, Britain was once our only significant trading partner and it now makes up about...