Results 8,681-8,700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: What we are doing to demonstrate that we have the backs of electrical contractors and workers on this issue is appealing the High Court decision. We do not have to appeal it but we are choosing to appeal it because we think it is the right thing to do. We will look at the legislation produced. I have not seen the Bill yet, but we will examine it. Deputy Ó Ríordáin has been...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: There is a big difference between intent and sincerity on the one hand and virtue signalling and critical messaging on the other. One is good and the other is phony. We will look at the legislation Deputy Nash has produced. We did look at the Bill he produced before Christmas, which was unconstitutional. We will give the Bill serious consideration and see if it is defective or not. What...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy O’Reilly for this important and timely question. I congratulate her on her appointment as Sinn Féin spokesperson for enterprise trade and employment. I look forward to tangling with her for the next two and a half years. In June, the High Court found that SI 251/2019 was made outside of the powers of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015. It was also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The last Government and the one before it increased the minimum wage four times, having reversed the earlier cut in the minimum wage. Notwithstanding the earlier comments of the Deputy's party leader, we increased the minimum wage to one of the highest levels in the European Union and to a much higher level than that in Northern Ireland, where the Deputy's party is in power. Legislation to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will know, many of the sectors referred to in the question relate to policy responsibilities of other Ministers but I am happy to outline my position on how best to assist enterprises in the current circumstances and into the future. Firstly, I would remind the Deputy that much has already been done. Some of the supports already available include: - the Temporary Wage Subsidy...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 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. It will provide 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...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: SMEs play a pivotal role in our economy and their role will be essential in getting people back to work and helping our economy to grow again. Therefore, helping our SMEs is central to my role as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. As you will be aware the Local Enterprise Offices operate in every county in Ireland including border counties and provide...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Measures (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Debenhams is a court-supervised liquidation, subject to oversight of the High Court and accordingly is sub judice. Under the Companies Act 2014, I have no power to intervene in a court-supervised liquidation. The Duffy-Cahill report found in overall terms that “the provisions of the Companies Act 2014 that are already available do not appear to be in need of amendment, but more in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 37 together. Ensuring fair competition while protecting consumer welfare is vital for the continued growth of the economy. When I become aware of serious issues of concern, I may invoke the powers under Section 10(4) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 to request that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) conducts...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Priorities (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The new Programme for Government clearly sets out that this will be a Government of enterprise, creating new jobs, preparing for the jobs of the future, driving our economic recovery and improving the quality of life for all our people. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Enterprise Development Fund (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department’s Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) was introduced to support the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that can sustain and add to employment at county, regional and national level. The REDF, which is administered by Enterprise Ireland, has been an effective instrument of policy particularly as a complement to my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has put in place a range of measures to assist firms to deal with the impacts of COVID 19 on their businesses, to reopen and to sustain employment. We are developing the July stimulus which will be ambitious and radical in deepening and widening the impact of the range of measures we have in place. Covid-19 Working Capital Scheme The Covid-19 Working Capital Scheme is offered...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Retention (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I understand that staff at Aptar have been informed that the company is reviewing its operation at Ballinasloe. While no decision has yet been taken, I am informed that this review could lead to redundancies later this year. IDA Ireland are in close contact with the firm and are working to try avert, if possible, any potential job losses. The uncertainty the situation has created is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 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. Grant payments available range from a minimum of €2,000 up to €10,000 available. The scheme was devised in recognition of the fact that micro and small businesses were and are particularly vulnerable to the economic...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department and its agencies have worked with businesses across all sectors since the arrival of Covid 19 to help businesses overcome the challenge presented by the pandemic. The Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of supports for firms, which includes the wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities. These supports...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment my focus is to lead our country through the economic crisis that has been caused by the pandemic to get our businesses open and our people back to work. My Department, IDA Ireland and the other enterprise agencies under my remit are doing everything possible to support businesses and get people safely back to work, whether in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Strategies (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As our country enters a new normal, remote working is now more important than ever. Last December my department published the Remote Work in Ireland report. This outlined the prevalence and types of remote working in existence in Ireland. It also identified influencing factors on the part of both employers and employees. One of the findings of the report was the need for further guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Preparations (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department and its agencies have put in place extensive supports, schemes and advisory resources to ensure that businesses around the country are prepared for Brexit. These measures aim to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions they can take in response to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. InterTradeIreland’s [ITI] Brexit...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 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. Grant payment available range from a minimum of €2,000 up to €10,000 available. The scheme was devised in recognition of the fact that micro and small businesses were and are particularly vulnerable to the economic effects...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In June, the High Court found that Statutory Instrument 251 of 2019 was made outside the powers of the Industrial Relations Act 2015. It was also found that the legislative framework governing the sectoral employment process is unconstitutional. This is because of the manner, in the judge’s ruling, in which the process is delegated to bodies outside these Houses and the lack of clear...