Results 8,941-8,960 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: On the Deputy's first question, I do not have that date but I will see if we can find that out for him. The answer to the Deputy's second question is "No, absolutely not." On the Deputy's third question, I would have to give the matter consideration but I am not sure it is practical. It is not the approach we take in healthcare, for example, or in many parts of the public service....

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Anyone over 66 is eligible for either the contributory State pension or the non-contributory State pension. Given the fact that some people may have dependants, many of those in receipt of the State pension, contributory or non-contributory, will actually get more than €350. That option is there for people who need it. What we are not doing is paying people the pension as well as...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I am happy to acknowledge the points the Deputy made, which are very well made. We do have a plan for reopening the economy and society. It is published and is being implemented. It is also, however, a living document that can be amended, updated and clarified as we go on. That is what is happening. Ultimately, any decisions made on reopening the country, the economy and society are made...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I cannot make those commitments in the Chamber but I will certainly give them consideration. On the €6.5 billion for business, what the Deputy said is a little misleading. That is for business and incudes the arts and entertainment sector. I appreciate that everyone in arts and entertainment is not a business but many are. It is also a huge industry and of course that €6.5...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The package we have put in place for SMEs is substantial. It involves a three-month rates waiver and a rates rebate of up to €10,000 to make any adaptations a business may need in order to buy new stock for reopening or to do whatever else it needs. Under the wage subsidy scheme, the Government will pay the bulk of staff wages for a period. There are also loan guarantees and credit...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: One of the things that other jurisdictions have done differently, and that we may have done differently if we had known everything that we know now, is that they did not fully close schools. In Northern Ireland and certain other parts of Europe, schools were not fully closed down but, rather, kept open for a certain number of essential workers' children and those with particular special...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy is absolutely spot on regarding this matter. Every crisis does create opportunities, and one of the opportunities that arises out of this crisis is to provide more space on our streets for pedestrians with wider footpaths as well as more space for cyclists. We have already seen a big increase in the number of people cycling into Dublin city centre in recent years, but it is still...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I acknowledge that this is a very real problem and one that we want to solve. Women who went on maternity leave and are now due to return to work want to be able to avail of the wage subsidy scheme and we want them to be able to avail of it as well. I do not need to direct the Minister to do anything about this. He is already working on it. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, the Department of...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (21 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: Déanaimid comhbhrón leis na teaghlaigh a fuair a ndaoine muinteartha bás ar an oileán de thoradh Covid-19. Táim ag smaoineamh ar na daoine atá ag fulaingt ón víreas, chomh maith leo siúd atá ag troid i gcoinne an víris gach lá. Bhuail an ghéarchéim ár dtír go trom. De réir mar a n-osclóimid ár...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (20 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has not engaged any consultants in the period since 1 January 2020.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (20 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: A whole-of-government communications response was mobilised in response to the COVID-19 emergency to formulate and implement a coordinated response that ensures maximum clarity for citizens, businesses and our wider community. This aligns with both World Health Organisation (WHO) and European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) advice, both of which emphasise the importance of ensuring the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (20 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. On 23 April, I joined fellow members of the European Council by video conference to discuss management of the coronavirus crisis and to chart a path towards economic and social recovery. This was the fourth such meeting, with previous videoconferences having taken place on 10, 17 and 26 March. In our meetings, we focussed on five strategic...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I spoke with the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday 15 May. I offered my sympathies to him on his recent illness and hospitalisation, and I also congratulated him on the birth of his son. We discussed the general Covid 19 situation and our respective experiences in seeking to contain the virus and manage its impacts. We shared information on our respective plans to start easing...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (20 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In this period, one officer, at a grade equivalent to Administrative Officer, has been formally seconded to my Department from a Public Sector organisation.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The current public health advice states that we should stay at home in all circumstances, except in the following situations: - to travel to and from work, if your work cannot be carried out from home - to shop for essential food and household goods - to attend medical appointments and collect medicines - for vital family reasons, such as providing care to children, elderly or vulnerable...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Roadmap, and the Principles of Approach to reducing measures set out therein, states that ideally a ‘whole-of-country-approach will be taken, however it also includes potential for a differentiated geographical approach depending on circumstances. Under the framework, Government will decide what restrictions to ease, at what point in time, having regard to the public health...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (20 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In 2020 so far my Department has spent €4,308.20 on social media buying. This relates to content produced in Autumn 2019. My Department is coordinating the National whole-of-government communications response to the COVID-19 emergency. There will continue to be expenditure on public information notices to ensure maximum clarity for citizens, businesses and our wider community....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (20 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: In 2020 so far my Department has spent €4,308.20 on social media buying. This relates to content produced in Autumn 2019. My Department is coordinating the National whole-of-government communications response to the COVID-19 emergency. There will continue to be expenditure on public information notices to ensure maximum clarity for citizens, businesses and our wider community. This...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out a framework and processes for assessing how we can keep the level of transmission of the virus as low as possible while balancing continuing restrictions proportionately with the positive social and economic benefits which can accrue from the lifting of some restrictions. The framework approach contains a range of indicative measures...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (14 May 2020)

Leo Varadkar: I agree with the Deputy. Water mains that need to be repaired should be repaired and replaced if they need to be replaced. Deputy Carey mentioned this to me as well. I will make inquiries at Irish Water about that and find out if we can get the work done quickly. We all know the importance of clean water in terms of public health and general hygiene. In response to Deputy Harkin, when...