Results 8,761-8,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In regard to the Deputy's earlier remarks, we all need to be very careful and responsible in how we use international comparative data relating to Covid. We all need to take the information we see on websites like Worldometer for what it is, which is not a like-for-like comparison between countries. Every county is at a different stage in this pandemic. Things look very different in Israel...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I was involved in the country's response to Covid from day one. I was at all the meetings where the big decisions were made and I can assure everyone in this House that our overriding concern always was to reduce the number of people who got infected and to minimise the number of deaths in all settings, whether in the community, in care homes or in hospitals. We know now from the data on...

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

Leo Varadkar: As I said to the Deputy earlier, I have not seen the minutes and I am not a spokesperson for Brian Hayes. I related to the Deputy my recollection of the meeting and I related to him what I think is the most important thing here, namely, that the banks should not think that they can in any way make an extra profit or get some type of bonus or premium out of the fact that some people are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this really important issue. She does so at a good time because this is going to be really important as we head into the winter. We are very closely watching what is happening in the southern hemisphere, where countries are now entering the winter flu season. We need to watch what happens there in order to inform what we do here. Everyone knows that the flu...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. The figures I have been given refer to 1.35 million doses of the quadrivalent vaccine. That will be sufficient for a 90% uptake among at-risk groups, including healthcare workers. There are 600,000 doses for children between two and 12 years of age, which equates to a rate of 75%. I will double-check those figures.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know if there is an estimate for demand, but there is enough to provide for a 90% uptake.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: No.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will know, the flu vaccine for the northern hemisphere is formulated based on what the flu looks like in the southern hemisphere, because it starts there and spreads to the northern hemisphere. It may be the case - I might be wrong - but I suspect that the vaccine has not yet been formulated, let alone produced. It would not, therefore, be possible for us to have secured a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy. We have had a look at what has been done in other countries around Europe and the way the Deputy has presented it in interviews and so on does not tell the full story. Different countries are doing different things but it is broadly in line with what is happening in Ireland. There are some hardship cases, for example, in Belgium where they are treating it differently...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The fundamental point for me, and for customers and people who have availed of a payment break, is whether the banks will make any extra money out of this. If somehow they make extra money out of it by making some sort of Covid premium or Covid bonus for the banks, that is not acceptable and we will deal with that but that is what has to be worked out because that is what matters. It...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. All of us in this House will have had many similar stories related to us by our constituents and many queries coming through our constituency offices which are very similar. As I believe everyone in the House will appreciate, many normal health, education and disability services had to be suspended, discontinued or curtailed during the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am reluctant to give the Deputy a date because if I give him one it is a date I want to stand over. The worst thing one can do in a circumstance like this, other than failing to provide the service, is to give a date that one cannot then deliver. That would raise people's hopes and they would be let down even more and I do not want to do that today. I can assure the House that this is a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and his ongoing interest and work on behalf of consumers and bank customers. As the Deputy and the rest of the House are aware, banks are offering mortgage holders and businesses loan breaks of between three and six months. This is very welcome as it gives people breathing space if they are struggling to pay their mortgage or business...

Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (7 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: They do not pay rates. We are going to take a look at that.

Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Order for Second Stage (7 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (7 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring forward the Microenterprise Loan Fund (Amendment) Bill 2020. This is the first Bill introduced into this House by the new Government. It is important legislation and forms part of the Government's efforts to help our smaller enterprises meet the enormous challenge presented by Covid-19. The purpose of the Bill is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business Regulation (7 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The challenges that many businesses face in accessing State supports due to the EU definition of 'Undertakings in Difficulty' is a matter the Department is very much aware. Over the last 2 months, the Department has made a number of formal written submissions to the Commission in relation to the difficulties that arise for enterprises, particularly those high growth/high performance...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (7 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 11, inclusive, 20, 29 and 30 together. The High Court has ruled that the Sectoral Employment Order (electrical contracting sector) Order (SI 251 of 2019), providing minimum rates of remuneration and other matters for workers in the electrical contracting sector was made ultra vires, that is, outside the powers of the parent legislation. Accordingly,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: On June 19th 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, most sectors have been brought forward to Phase 3, which began on Monday 29th June. Under the rephased Roadmap, all indoor and outdoor amenities for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (7 Jul 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Restart Grant support is just one part of the wider €12bn package of supports for commercial firms of all sizes, which includes grants, low-cost loans, write-off of commercial rates and deferred tax liabilities, all of which will help those businesses to continue trading and to maintain employment. This package is a significant step-up in the supports available for all businesses...