Results 1-20 of 2,955 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Restriction of Imports (States in violation of obligations under the Genocide Convention and Occupied Territories) Bill 2024: First Stage (8 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: No.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (8 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) provide direct grant assistance to small businesses operating in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors. Professional services including Financial Advisors are not be eligible for LEO grant assistance. Financial advisors may apply for many of the other supports available through LEOs , including the broad range of management training...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (8 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are Units within the 31 Local Authorities nationwide and act as a ‘first stop shop’ providing advice and guidance, financial assistance, and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business. The LEOs provide a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports available to the SMEs and can provide...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (8 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: In order to work in the State non-EEA nationals are required to hold either a valid employment permit from this Department or relevant immigration permission from the Minister for Justice allowing them to enter and work in the State without the requirement for an employment permit. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has responsibility for economic migration policy and the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Policies (8 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: The importance of the hospitality sector to the Irish economy and communities in every corner of Ireland is well understood. I am acutely aware that many businesses in all sectors are facing difficulties due to the cost of doing business. With this in mind, as part of the Budget 2024 package, and in order to help businesses with their increasing overheads, the Government announced the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (8 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: Placing digital transformation at the heart of enterprise policy is a priority of the White Paper on Enterprise and Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are actively engaged in supporting businesses in their twin transitions of digitalisation and decarbonisation. National campaigns, such as the ‘All in a Day’s Work’ campaign by LEOs draws attention to the benefits of making a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (2 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: The EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages includes two key areas: Minimum Wages, and Collective Bargaining. The Directive must be transposed into Irish law by 15th November 2024. My Department has received legal advice on the minimum wage elements of the Directive that Ireland’s current minimum wage setting framework, namely the Low Pay Commission, is largely already in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (2 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: As you will be aware, as part of Budget 2024, the Government signed off on a package of €257 million for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant as a vital measure for small and medium businesses. Local Authorities, funded through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, are administering the grant to qualifying businesses on behalf of the Department. Local...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (2 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: The latest employment survey results from Enterprise Ireland present a positive outlook for the Irish economy, particularly in the sectors under its remit. According to the Annual Employment Survey 2023, there has been a notable increase in employment levels across industrial and service companies. This growth is not just confined to the capital city but is spread across the country, with...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (1 May 2024)

Emer Higgins: This Government is committed to backing business and will continue to work closely with small businesses nationwide to support their growth and assist them in remaining competitive and resilient. As you are aware the ICOB grant has a budget of €257 million which is designed to assist small and medium businesses operating directly within a premises that is commercially rateable by...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (30 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: The occupation of Food Process Operative, which is the job category for workers involved in the processing of fish, is currently on the Ineligible Occupations List and, as such, employment permits cannot be granted for this occupation. The outcome of the most recent review of the occupations lists for employment permits was announced last December. The review comprised a public...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Correspondence (30 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: This correspondence refers to the 2021 Private Members Bill on Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) sponsored by a number of Deputies. It is a matter for the Deputies to progress the Bill. Last April, the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, met with a group of representatives of Retired Associations in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Correspondence (30 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Government is acutely aware that many businesses in all sectors are facing difficulties due to the cost-of-living crisis. With that in mind, as part of Budget 2024, the Government signed off on a package of €257 million for the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant as a vital measure for small and medium businesses. Local Authorities, funded through the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Brexit Supports (30 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) was allocated to a suite of measures implemented by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the Department. These supports can be grouped under two broad headings: 1) Supports for enterprises to prepare for Brexit in order to mitigate the possible risk of impact and; 2) Supports aimed at mitigating the impact of Brexit by helping firms to compete, innovate...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Visa Agreements (30 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: My Department has responsibility for economic migration policy and the employment permits system which facilitates non-EEA nationals the opportunity to take up employment in the State for the benefit of the economy. Visa processes for any individuals seeking to enter Schengen countries are not within the responsibility of my Department. I have been informed by officials in the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (30 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Government is acutely aware that many businesses in all sectors are facing difficulties due to the cost-of-living crisis. On March 5th 2024, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and the Department of Social Protection published an assessment of the combined impact of proposed measures to improve working conditions in Ireland. Reflecting the findings of this assessment,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Local Authorities (30 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: My Department provides funding through the A8 Subhead to Enterprise Ireland to support the operation of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) based within each of the 31 Local Authorities. However, my Department does not directly fund Local Authorities. On an annual basis, Enterprise Ireland transfers any balance of unused funds from the A8 Subhead back to my Department. These funds include...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (30 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: EU Directive 2019/1152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions in the European Union has been transposed. The European Union (Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No 686 of 2022) became law on 16 December 2022. The EU Commission has been informed that S.I. No 686 of 2022 was signed...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (30 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: Council Directive 96/71/EC on the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services was transposed into Irish law via the Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act 2001. Accordingly, the full range of Irish employee protection legislation applies to workers posted to work, or otherwise working, in the State. A "posted worker" is an employee who is sent by their employer to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (25 Apr 2024)

Emer Higgins: My Department does not provide any specific grants or supports to businesses for the refurbishment of vacant or derelict properties. I understand that several Local Authorities do offer a range of grants to businesses to encourage them to occupy vacant commercial premises within their local authority area. On the topic of vacant property more generally, the Department of Housing,...