Results 2,241-2,260 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Deputy should inform those who are suffering such injustices to take up the matter with the labour inspectorate of the Workplace Relations Commission. As I said, details of how they can do this are available on the relevant website. We have increased staff numbers in the WRC such that waiting times in having cases heard have been shortened. The Deputy should encourage those suffering...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Employment Rights (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Deputy mentioned the gig economy. Uber uses what is termed the gig economy business model. It operates a technology platform to link with customers looking for a taxi. As I said, the ruling in the case mentioned by the Deputy is being appealed to the superior courts in the United Kingdom. In Ireland if individuals working in the gig economy were to take a similar case and achieve a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department and its agencies closely monitor political and commercial developments, both in the United States and elsewhere, and we plan accordingly for changes that could affect the enterprise environment in Ireland. This is a normal and ongoing part of our work in ensuring that our open and export-oriented economy remains internationally competitive. There has been speculation about...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Deputy asked whether I was on the trip with the Taoiseach. I was not but I was on a trip in the autumn, approximately six weeks ago. The Deputy asked whether we are getting additional resources. We are. In the budget, €50 million in additional capital funding was allocated, representing a 10% increase, and €3 million extra in current funding was allocated. That money...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I have heard Mr. Aebhric McGibney say that. I was at another breakfast meeting at which an accountancy firm presented the results of a survey showing the chief executive's response was much more resilient and optimistic. The company was indicating it will take on staff next year. Taking account of the action plan for jobs and having spoken to Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland chief...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I assure the Deputy that there is. We are actively considering the whole banking sector in the United Kingdom and the opportunities that might arise for Ireland.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Foreign direct investment, FDI, continues to be a key contributor to Ireland's economic development and growth. This Government's efforts to continue to attract FDI here will be guided by both my Department's policy statement on FDI and IDA Ireland's own five-year strategy for the period 2015 to 2019. The IDA's strategy details how the agency will broaden its target sectors further and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Deputy Durkan asked about other countries competing. He should make no mistake about it, they are competing strongly. I have heard of several strong cities, but a number - Paris, Luxembourg, Frankfurt and Singapore - keep cropping up in conversation. As regards FDI in Limerick, we have seen successes in the jobs announcements. However, that has not been happening in a vacuum. LIT, UL...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Foreign Direct Investment (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Our best response, and one that has had a wonderful track record for the past 60 years, is the IDA. It does a professional job, goes out and wins markets. This has been evident since the recession, but particularly since everyone focused on the 2012 Action Plan for Jobs to bring jobs to Ireland. We should not be looking to FDI entirely. Enterprise Ireland and the local enterprise...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Under the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the EU and Canada have agreed to a common sustainable development framework establishing a set of rules for labour and the environment. CETA commits the EU and Canada to ensuring that their laws and policies provide and encourage high levels of labour protection. It further commits both parties to continue improving such laws...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Taoiseach has said there will be a Dáil debate but at the moment, as the Deputy is aware, there is provisional application. The process for ratification can take a significant period of time. I am anxious for Irish businesses to be able to take advantage of the significant opportunities CETA provides. It is important to clarify that CETA will not force any change in EU standards....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: CETA is a trade agreement and, to be fair, we are talking about Brexit and concerns we have about Irish exporters losing trade to the UK. We want to be able to trade with Canada. We already have a good export trade with Canada but we could improve the situation for Irish exporters. As Deputy Wallace is aware, the provisional application excludes the investment court. We have a new EU...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Site Visits (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Site visits to County Wexford are increasing. In 2014 there was one site visit to the county, while in 2015 there were four such visits. By the end of September this year, six visits had taken place. It is certainly the case that the south east was badly affected by the economic crisis. I am pleased, however, that the employment situation there has improved remarkably in recent years....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Site Visits (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: First, people in Wexford are not living in the Dark Ages. The chairperson of the task force is a Wexford man and he is really involved and driving the improvement and progress we want for the south-east region. We launched the regional action plans and we are working our way through them. I take on board what Deputy Wallace said. I read the report carried out by the Waterford Institute...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: IDA Site Visits (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I take the Deputy's point but I am going by the figures I have. The published regional action plan jobs target for the south east is 25,000. A total of 13,000 jobs have been created in the area. The plan is working and the south east is probably one of the better regions. I realise that we still have a long way to go. I was down there and met the implementation group and its chairman on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Military Exports (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: 4 o’clock I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 13 together. My Department is responsible for controls on the export of military items from Ireland. Under Irish law, military export licences must be sought for the export from Ireland of military goods and technology and any component thereof listed on the EU common military list. Items which are classified as "military...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Military Exports (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As I said, there is legislation in place. Council Regulation (EC) No. 428/2009 establishes a licensing regime for the export of dual-use products from the European Union. The regulation applies directly to Ireland and Irish exporters. It includes an extensive and detailed list of dual-use items for which a licence is required to export from the European Union. The list is updated...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Military Exports (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department takes this issue very seriously. The export licensing regime ensures as far as possible that exported items will be used by the stated end-user for the end-uses stated. It seeks to prevent exported items from being used for illicit purposes. Safeguards are built into the licensing system to facilitate robust checks and cross-checking in this regard. The licensing unit of my...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Military Exports (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My officials are in regular contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on export licensing issues. They consult it on all military exports licence applications and the majority of dual-use items export licence applications. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides valuable advice for my Department. Its observations are considered fully in the assessment of licence...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Personal Injury Claims (8 Dec 2016)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The revised Book of Quantum was published on the 5th of October 2016. The Book was compiled by independent consultants and commissioned by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). The revised Book of Quantum provides the most comprehensive research available on levels of personal injuries awards prevailing in Ireland. It is based on a detailed analysis of 51,000 closed personal...