Results 181-200 of 5,844 for speaker:Alan Dillon

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 16, 20 and 24 together. I thank the Deputy for submitting his question. It is probably the most topical one on the Question Paper. The increased cost of business scheme was introduced back in March 2024 and the power up grant was introduced in October of the same year. Both schemes are now closed but, in total, more than €400 million in grant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: My Department’s report on the assessment of the cumulative impact of proposed measures to improve working conditions in Ireland published last year highlighted that many of the recent cost increases for business were related to Government imposed regulatory changes. Business groups have also recently highlighted the impact of the overall regulatory burden and the administrative burden...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: From having spoken to many businesses that have applied for ICOB grants 1 and 2 and the power up grant, I am aware they were essential grants and have been hugely beneficial across all sectors. The Department approved an overall budget of €257 million as part of the ICOB scheme. Some €246 million of that was expended on the scheme in 2024. On ICOB, this week my colleague, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: I acknowledge some of the matters raised by the Deputy. The Government has made significant progress on the national enterprise hub, which has been established with a key focus on supporting business around training and grant applications. More than 250 supports are available online and are readily accessible for many SMEs and businesses. The hub covers more than 29 Departments and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Work Permits (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Back in December 2022 the Government made a decision to implement a single application process for employment permits while also ensuring that the immigration permissions are developed in tandem with that. The new system that has been introduced and is currently live provides technology similar to that currently in place within the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Work Permits (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: I look forward to the Deputy's support in the implementation of this new system. It is reflective of the success of the Irish economy with over 2.8 million people currently employed. We have skills deficits in certain areas of expertise. Not just the general work permits but also the critical skills employment permits are essential to meet our future needs. The system has now been...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Low Pay (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: To clarify, this Government is committed to the introduction of a living wage. That will happen over an extended period. Again, we are committed to taking the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission on board once we receive its report. That will inform the discussions in preparation for the budget later this year. Our Department takes the conditions of workers very seriously. We are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Work Permits (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: I thank the Deputy for his question. My Department has made significant progress in recent years in improving the employment permits processing system to ensure the service is responsive to business needs and prevailing economic conditions. Following a significant increase in demand in 2021 and 2022, the Department implemented an action plan, which increased resources to introduce effective...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Low Pay (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Government is committed to promoting positive working conditions in Ireland and ensuring access to high quality jobs. However, it is also important to maintain a regulatory environment to allow businesses to remain viable and indeed to thrive. The programme for Government outlines a strong, forward-looking enterprise and fiscal framework, prioritising economic and employment growth....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Low Pay (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from on the issue she has raised. However, Government is very conscious of the cost of doing business with the increases in the minimum wage over the past number of years. Since 2022 we have seen a 32% increase up to the current rate of €13.50. However, Government is committed to continuing to increase the minimum wage but over a longer...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Creation (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: Enterprise Ireland recently published its 2024 jobs results which show that EI supported companies recorded jobs growth for the third year in a row, despite what was a challenging year for some sectors of exporting Irish businesses. Employment in companies supported by EI increased to a record level of 234,454 in 2024 with 15,741 new jobs created, an increase of 3% on the 2023 outturn....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Relations (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: It has been the consistent policy of successive Irish Governments to promote collective bargaining through the development of an institutional framework supportive of a voluntary system of industrial relations that is premised upon freedom of contract and freedom of association. There is an extensive range of statutory provisions designed to back up the voluntary bargaining process. The...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Employment Permits Unit has informed me that the applications referenced have been assigned to processors and it is expected that they will be processed shortly. The Department has made significant progress in recent years in improving the employment permits processing system to address increasing demand. The average current wait time in respect of a new employment permit is between...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Joint Labour Committees (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) are provided for under the Industrial Relations Act 1946 and were reformed by the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act, 2012. A JLC is comprised of equal numbers of representatives of employers and workers in a sector. JLCs meet regularly, under an independent Chairperson to discuss proposals for terms and conditions to apply to specified grades or categories of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regional Development (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31, 44, 56, 61, 65, 69 and 79 together. Balanced regional development is a Government priority; a central component of the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 is to support balanced regional enterprise development. My Department and its agencies contribute to this agenda in several ways, including through the nine Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs). These...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Policies (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Government is committed to helping Irish companies navigate the evolving trade landscape and mitigate tariff effects, working with Enterprise Ireland to provide resources, guidance, and strategic supports. Enterprise Ireland has established a Trade & Tariff Response Team to brief Irish exporters on the latest developments and impacts and to date has engaged on a one-to-one basis...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: It is important to recognise that each country operates under different systems, making direct comparisons complex. Employer-paid statutory sick leave has only been in place in Ireland since 2023. My officials will keep the legislation under review to ensure it continues to be fit-for-purpose. Ireland operates a so-called hybrid approach to statutory sick leave, combining an initial...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Unions (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: The Government continues to fully support the right of any worker to join and be active in their trade union. Employees have the right under the Constitution to form associations and trade unions. Under Irish legislation, an employee cannot be discriminated against or dismissed because they are a member of a trade union. The Unfair Dismissal Acts provide for a number of grounds under which...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Vacant Properties (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: Government is committed to bringing forward measures to support small businesses in every region, county and town in Ireland. While my Department does not fund schemes to address commercial vacancy, I understand that some local authorities have introduced locally designed business incentive schemes which promote the use of vacant commercial property. These schemes are complementary to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (1 May 2025)

Alan Dillon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 52 together. The Government is committed to assisting Irish companies navigate the evolving trade landscape and mitigate the effects of tariffs and we are working with our dedicated export agency, Enterprise Ireland, to provide the necessary resources, guidance, and strategic supports. Enterprise Ireland has established a Trade and Tariff Response...