Results 8,701-8,720 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services (14 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 soon. There are some welcome signs of...

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 range from a minimum of €2,000 up to €10,000. The scheme was devised in recognition of the fact that micro and small businesses were and are particularly vulnerable to the economic effects of Covid-19. ...

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

Leo Varadkar: In the wake of COVID19, our country is approaching a new normal. In this new normal remote work will be more important than ever. If implemented correctly, remote work can stimulate regional growth, support the transition to a greener economy, reduce business costs and improve employees’ work-life balance. For this to be possible, the necessary supports must be in place for business...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will be aware that there is a delicate balance to be struck between providing necessary survival assistance to firms and ensuring that both deadweight and displacement are avoided. The vast majority of businesses are microenterprises, estimated at over 200,000, employing less than 10 people and certainly evidence suggests that these firms will not be in a position to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland has one of Europe’s largest clusters of data centres as a stable energy grid, temperate climate and significant skills base makes Ireland an attractive country for this form of investment. Data centres are an increasingly important part of the digital and communications sectors, and are core infrastructure in the remote working and digital services economy. The 2018 Government...

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

Leo Varadkar: The agriculture sector, unfortunately, remains one of the most high-risk sectors in terms of workplace fatalities and injuries. So far this year, of the twenty-nine workplace fatalities reported to the Health and Safety Authority fourteen have been in that sector and tragically, three of these involved young children. The agriculture sector is different to other sectors in a number of...

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

Leo Varadkar: Horizon 2020 is the EU Programme to support Research and Innovation. It is one of seven flagship initiatives in Europe 2020, the European Union’s ten-year jobs and growth strategy. Horizon 2020 is the eighth Framework Programme (FP8) developed by the European Commission. The Programme has a budget of €75 billion and runs from 2014 to 2020. An interim evaluation of Ireland's...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Health and Safety Inspections (14 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, there is a whole of Government approach to monitoring compliance with the Return to Work Safely Protocol. The Health and Safety Authority inspectorate has been supplemented by approximately 500 other inspectors from across the system to monitor the application of the Return to Work Safely Protocol. These additional inspectors are drawn from the Workplace Relations...

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

Leo Varadkar: In June 2019, the EU reached political agreement in their trade negotiations with the Mercosur region (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay). The EU-Mercosur Agreement is the EU’s largest trade deal to date. The Agreement covers a population of over 770 million with trade in goods and services valued at €122 billion. It aims to reduce and, in some areas, eliminate trade...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant is just one part of a wider assistance package for business and 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. Within the funding available, the priority has...

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

Leo Varadkar: The briefing for the new Minister prepared by my Department will be published on my Department's website in the coming days.

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together. My Department is working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to agree the details of functions to be transferred to my Department, in line with the Taoiseach’s announcement of changes to Department structures. This will inform the delegation of functions to the Ministers of State in my Department. I will request the...

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

Leo Varadkar: I understand the critical role SMEs must play in the national recovery and I welcome all suggestions and inputs such as these proposals referred to by the Deputy. The Government listens carefully to all such suggestions and will consider them as we develop responses to the crisis and put our economy on the path to recovery. Indeed, previous suggestions by this group, such as an SME and State...

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

Leo Varadkar: As Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I am acutely aware that COVID-19 has brought particular challenges for retailers - large and small, across the country. In order to assist businesses to address the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of supports for firms of all sizes, which includes the wage subsidy scheme,...

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

Leo Varadkar: On 19thJune, the Government, having considered the expert public health advice provided by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), approved the rephasing of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. Apart from some exceptions, the reopening of most sectors was brought forward to Phase 3, which began on Monday 29th June. This includes theatres, concert halls, music venues and...

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

Leo Varadkar: The national Return to Work Safely Protocol should be used by all workplaces to adapt their procedures and practices to comply fully with the necessary COVID-19 public health measures identified by the HSE and the Department of Health. It operates in parallel with existing statutory workplace health and safety requirements. The Protocol clearly sets out for employers and employees the steps...

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

Leo Varadkar: Innovation 2020, the national strategy for research and innovation, recognises that for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader, our research and innovation system must be open with strong international collaboration links. Membership of leading international research organisations is an important mechanism for facilitating this engagement. For this reason, the Government gave a...