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

Leo Varadkar: The Government has already 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, repayable advances, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help to improve cashflow amongst SMEs. As Tánaiste and Minister for...

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

Leo Varadkar: Brexit, in whatever shape it finally takes, will have a significant impact on the Irish economy and fundamentally change the trading environment for businesses trading with the UK. My Department undertook a 2018 report entitled "Strategic Implications for Ireland arising from changing EU-UK trading relations" which examined the implications of Brexit for the Irish economy and trade. ...

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

Leo Varadkar: I brought proposals to Cabinet yesterday, which were approved by Government, for the priority drafting of proposed amendments to the Companies Act 2014 to take account of the continuing impact of Covid-19 on our economy. The proposed amendments to the Companies Act follow extensive engagement by my Department with the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) and are designed to help companies...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (14 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. 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 measures totalling €12 billion in supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses already...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I guess that report is now lying on the desk of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I am sure he will want to bring it to Government and make it public as soon as is feasible. I will get my office to check in with his after this.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The role of the banking sector, credit unions and other non-bank lenders in our economy and society is to provide credit in the form of mortgages to people who want to buy a home, credit to businesses, and loans to people who need them. However, they also need to be prudent. Banks and lenders need to know the money will be repaid or at least in almost all cases the money is repaid. Banks...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware of the mudslide that occurred in Leitrim and the flooding that occurred in Wexford a few weeks ago. My sympathies go out to the communities and the people who were affected. I want them to know that Government is here to help them through the various schemes we offer, particularly through the Red Cross. Flood works are now a matter for the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. I...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy has raised a very relevant question. Many people's financial circumstances are dramatically different now from what they were last year. People who previously would not have qualified for medical cards now will. People who do not qualify for SUSI grants now probably should. Obviously budgets are limited, notwithstanding the extent of borrowing that is happening. However, it is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware of the issue. I am not aware of the specific report although I did see the news from the UK yesterday. It is my view that Irish women who had an operation involving this mesh and experienced very severe pain and life-changing difficulties as a result should certainly be treated no less favourably in Ireland than they are being treated across the water in Britain. I am sure the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the question. The contract for the national broadband plan was signed last year. I was in a rural part of west Wicklow to sign it. I remember my Secretary General saying to me at the time that I had got a lot of abuse about it and there had been a lot of controversy, but I would never regret signing the contract. This national broadband plan will bring high-speed...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. Primary legislation is required to change those income limits upwards for people over 70 and also to provide for the expansion of free general practitioner care to children up to the age of 12. That legislation has been approved by Cabinet. It is intended to take it through the Dáil and Seanad before the recess, to get it done this month. That will allow the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. I agree that this is a problem in our shared constituency and indeed in other parts of the country. We are working on the legislative schedule. It will not be possible to bring in legislation on that matter in July but we are working towards the possibility of having that legislation for the autumn session.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, formerly the Competition Authority, falls under my Department. I am still finding my way around the brief in the Department so the Deputy will forgive me if I am incorrect in saying that I think there was a competition investigation carried out. Perhaps it was years ago and it did not have adverse findings. The Competition and Consumer...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I will ask the Minister for Health to provide him with an accurate update about the progress of the projects to expand capacity in University Hospital Limerick in correspondence.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: This is a very important issue for those whose pay and terms and conditions are governed by sectoral employment orders, including electrical contractors, construction workers, some engineers and contract cleaners. I have considered the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy English, and sought the advice of the Attorney General. I can confirm to the House that it is our intention to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I know she will acknowledge that this is a new Government and we are all still finding our feet. The Government, working with the Business Committee and the relevant legislative committee, should be able to clarify in the coming weeks which Bills will be brought forward. The Bill to which she referred will form part of that consideration.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As I understand it, the pay and conditions of existing workers in these sectors cannot be diminished unilaterally by their employers. As such, the orders stand until such time as the Supreme Court hears the appeal and adjudicates on them. Obviously, labour rights are enforced in the normal way and should be enforced fully. As is often the case when the Government is appealing a decision of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I had the privilege of visiting Age Action a few months ago, in the early phase of the pandemic, to see the work it does and to thank its staff personally for their work. I think State funding was provided to the fund, but I will have to double-check that. If my recollection is correct, State funding was provided. The Government can certainly give consideration to whether additional...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Foley, and her team are working on this issue. We wish to ensure that all children return to school in August and that they have a means of getting there, which of course involves the provision of school transport. There will be real difficulties because capacity on school transport may be considerably reduced compared with previous years. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I think the Deputy indulged in some selective history-making there. The VAT rate on tourism and hospitality was 13.5% for a very long time and was reduced to 9% by a Fine Gael-led Government on a temporary basis to get the tourism and hospitality sector going again. In the year in which tourism reached a record high, it reverted to the previous rate of 13.5%. Those are the facts. We are...