Results 421-440 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Even in advance of the UK referendum result the analytical capacity of Government had been set in motion, identifying risks and preparing responses that would best protect the interests of Irish citizens and enterprises, regardless of out the outcome.  The Government is intensifying its focus on the economic implications of Brexit, including on domestic policy measures to reinforce...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, through the Expert Group on Future Skills (EGFSN), continuously monitors and advises the Government on future skills requirements and associated labour market issues that impact on the national potential for employment growth. The EGFSN is an independent, non-statutory body, which includes representatives from the business...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: On identifying impediments, one of the primary tools I have as Minister to hear from SMEs, who account for 99.8% of enterprises in Ireland, is through the Advisory Group on Small Business (AGSB). The AGSB was set up to give a greater voice in the development of policy to SMEs. Issues negatively affecting the growth and development of SMEs are identified, and possible solutions are suggested...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Enterprise Ireland supports companies in regional and rural areas to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future. The 5,000 manufacturing and internationally traded services companies that Enterprise Ireland works with are a critical source of existing employment and job creation in every county in Ireland. In 2016, Enterprise Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Supports (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) is globally recognised as the key economic differentiator and, as such, a very important feature of enterprise and investment in Ireland.Put simply, RDI enables Irish companies to make products and services that are innovative, competitive and more novel than those in global markets. This continued innovation helps to insulate us from market shocks,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business Regulation (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Good regulation aims to provide a stable base for economic activity and a level playing field for all businesses, while also protecting workers, consumers and the environment.  Better Regulation Policy aims to ensure that the processes for generating new regulation, and for evaluating existing regulation, are as effective and efficient as possible.  Regulation should achieve the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Since the Brexit vote outcome, my Department has had extensive engagement with business to understand what they need to help them adapt to the challenges posed by Brexit, and to provide support for diversification, development and innovation.   Brexit presents the most significant economic challenge of the past 50 years and long-term, structural and disruptive change will...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are both agencies of my Department and each has a specific and very different role to play in the context of innovation and technology.  Enterprise Ireland is primarily focussed on SMEs and indigenous enterprises, while IDA Ireland’s main objective is to encourage investment into Ireland by foreign owned companies, in the form of foreign direct...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Despite increasing international competition from across the EU and further afield for foreign direct investment (FDI), overseas companies continue to be attracted to Ireland. That is because multinational businesses value our talented workforce, membership of the EU and Eurozone as well as our proven track record as a home to FDI. The Government is very much...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Competitiveness is integral to exports, jobs growth and as a means of achieving sustainable improvements in living standards. Improving competitiveness performance is a core focus of the work of my Department and wider Government policy and is particularly vital in light of the challenges posed by Brexit. The 2017/2018 Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Rural Development (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative is a central pillar of the Government’s ambition to create 200,000 new jobs by 2020, 135,000 of which are outside of Dublin. Progress on this initiative to date is good and employment continues to grow. In the year to Q2 2017, 48,100 jobs were created across the country; four out of five of these jobs were outside Dublin. The...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Brexit presents the most significant economic challenge of the past 50 years and long-term, structural and disruptive change will emerge.  Following the UK’s vote to leave the EU, the need to accelerate and implement competitiveness, innovation and market diversification strategies at a national and company level cannot be underestimated. This is at the crux of Enterprise...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Section 9(5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is independent in the performance of its functions. While, I, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation have no direct function in the day to day operations of the Agency including in relation to its research activities, I understand that to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition and consumer law in the State. Section 9(5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of suspected breaches of competition law. As investigations...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement Legal Cases (12 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I received a report under Section 955(1)(a) of the Companies Act 2014 from the Director of Corporate Enforcement on 23rd June.  This Report addresses the issues highlighted by Judge Aylmer in his ruling in the case of DPP v Sean Fitzpatrick. The report sets out the facts relating to the case and does not purport to be an investigation or an enquiry. It covers the main issues...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will share time with colleagues. This budget helps build the republic of opportunity we are working towards. It is a fair budget, one that rewards work through tax reductions and breaks down barriers through targeted investment in public services, as well as charting a course over the next few years to provide certainty to families and businesses. The choices the Government has set...

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Today's position.

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: Its position is very strange.

Leaders' Questions (11 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: No.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: National Standards Authority of Ireland (11 Oct 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is the National Type Approval Authority for motor vehicles appointed under regulations made by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. The relevant regulation is EU Regulation 678/2011, which establishes a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical...