Results 2,041-2,060 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, my focus is on improving Ireland’s competitiveness performance. Ensuring Ireland is a competitive location to establish and run a business is essential for job creation. Brexit means we must do more across a wide range of policy areas to enhance our attractiveness as a location to start and locate a business relative to the UK. The...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Jobs Data (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My priority is to deliver on the Government’s goal to help create 200,000 additional jobs by 2020, including 135,000 jobs outside Dublin. I am working closely with the Minister for Social Protection to ensure we can provide every opportunity for those unemployed to secure a job. In September 2013, in the context of maximising the employment of appropriately skilled people from the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: EU Directives (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Some provisions of Directive 2014/104/EU on certain rules governing actions for damages under national law for infringements of competition law provisions already exist in national legislation or in existing court rules. The other provisions of the Directive that need to be transposed are being addressed in the transposing legislation and by amending certain court rules. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Film Industry Development (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Ardmore Studios is a commercial concern owned 68.33% by private shareholders. Enterprise Ireland’s 31.67% stake in the ownership of Ardmore Studios is a legacy shareholding acquired as a result of an equity investment and a loan by Nadcorp (a predecessor State Agency) under an Agreement that dates back to 27 August 1986. The sale of the Ardmore Studios is a commercial decision by...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: There is a whole of Government approach in place focusing on Brexit issues and my Department and its agencies are to the forefront of this effort. We are very much at the start of a process that will lead to the UK renegotiating its relationship with the EU and it is unclear how, or when, this will be finalised. What is clear is that any changes in the UK’s relationship with the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: CETA was discussed at the Informal Trade Council meeting in Bratislava on 23 September 2016. Member States highlighted the high quality of the Agreement reached with Canada and reaffirmed their desire to work towards signature. To meet the political concerns of certain Member States, the European Commission and Canada have agreed a Joint Interpretative Instrument to provide further...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Meetings (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I have met with a wide range of representative organisations since the result of the UK referendum in June In early October I met with ICTU senior executives and other Union representatives in the context of my preparation of the Action Plan for Jobs for 2017. At that meeting we did discuss the concerns of ICTU in relation to Brexit, and the issues raised are being considered in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Taxi Regulations (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Since taking office neither I nor my officials have been specifically lobbied by the company referred to in relation to the regulations that govern the Irish taxi industry. I should make clear as well that my Department has no function or responsibilities in relation to the regulation of that industry in this country. It is well known that the company in question has established a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Tax Code (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The goal of this Government is to support the creation of an additional 200,000 jobs by 2020 with 135,000 outside Dublin, achieve sustainable full employment and attract back 70,000 emigrants. The Action Plan for Job is delivering on these targets. There is demand for a range of skills and experienced professionals across the economy. But recent analysis by the Irish Tax Institute...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition and consumer law in the State. Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the Commission is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of alleged...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Agencies Funding (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Through Budget 2017 I have secured an Exchequer Capital allocation of €555 million for distribution across the Department’s Vote in 2017. This is the largest capital provision made to the Department over the past fifteen years. It is a 10% increase over the 2016 Revised Estimates Volume capital provision of €503 million. This capital funding through my Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The outcome of the UK referendum on exiting the EU was not what Ireland hoped for but the Government has been preparing for such a result for over a year. The extent of the impact for all of Ireland, including border counties such as Donegal, will remain unclear until we know the outcome of the EU / UK negotiations. I wish to assure the Deputy, however, that the Government is determined...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Lobbying Data (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, I and my officials regularly meet with client companies of IDA and Enterprise Ireland to discuss issues related to our economy, including the State’s commitment to a stable tax regime. As the Deputy will be aware, legislation providing for the regulation of lobbying came into effect in September 2015. That legislation does not aim to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Action Plan for Jobs is the Government’s key instruments to support job creation. The Action Plan for Jobs is working. More than 176,000 people are at work today than in 2012 when the first Plan was launched. 36,000 new jobs were created in the first six months of 2016. While the Action Plan is a whole of Government approach to support job creation, I am responsible for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) represents a modern high standard Agreement which has the ability to set a new global standard for Trade Agreements. It will end limitations in access to public contracts, open up markets for services and offer predictable conditions for investors. Irish firms will also benefit from the recognition of product standards and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Relations (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: All companies operating in Ireland, whether they are clients of IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland or any other State Agency, must comply with applicable employment legislation. Businesses that receive supports from the State therefore have the same obligations as any other company operating in Ireland when it comes to adherence to such legislation. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Strategy Statements (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As part of the consultation process to inform the development of the Statement of Strategy for my Department, the Secretary General wrote to a targeted list of key stakeholders seeking input, suggestions and views regarding any strategic and cross Departmental issues that might be considered as part of this process. 52 specific stakeholders were consulted, representing a wide spectrum of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Personal Injury Claims (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The revised Book of Quantum was published on 5 October 2016. The publication was compiled by independent consultants and commissioned by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The revised Book of Quantum is based on a detailed analysis of 51,000 closed personal injury claims from 2013 and 2014 and includes compensation awards from Court cases, insurance company settlements, State...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ticket Touting (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: While I am not in a position to comment on the specific case referred to in the details supplied by the Deputy, I am aware of the public concern about the secondary sale of tickets for entertainment and sporting events. The issues around ticket resale are not straightforward and it is important that any possible legislative or other response is based on a thorough examination of the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Sale of State Assets (3 Nov 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Enterprise Ireland has a 31.67% stake in the ownership of Ardmore Studios having acquired its share as a result of an equity investment and a loan by Nadcorp (a predecessor State Agency) under an Agreement that dates back to 27 August 1986 which was amended on 22 September 1987. The sale of the Ardmore Studios is a commercial decision by the owners of the Studios. The decision to sell...