Results 2,421-2,440 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (24 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The following table provides a breakdown of the total number of jobs, by sector, in IDA Ireland client companies in 2016.   Last year saw the highest ever level of employment in IDA Ireland client companies, with 199,877 people now employed in companies supported by the Agency. A total of 18,627 new jobs were created, across a range of sectors, with every region of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Supports (24 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Companies that invest in innovation have been shown to be higher performers in terms of employment and export sales and more sustainable through recessionary and other economic shocks such as those posed by Brexit. Ireland’s economic sustainability requires our companies to make products and services that are more novel than their competitors, better performing, more...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Promoting cross-border trade in light of the potential impacts of Brexit is a key priority for the Government as a whole. It is, of course, hard to predict at this stage what the impact of Brexit will be for all of Ireland, including the border counties.  Much will depend on the nature of the deal that will be negotiated between the UK and the EU. This Government will seek, during that...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Process (25 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Companies (Accounting) Bill 2016 completed Committee Stage in the Dáil on 22 November 2016. Enactment of the Bill remains a legislative priority for the Government. Accordingly, I hope Dáil Report Stage will be scheduled as soon as possible. Clearly, the timing of enactment thereafter will depend on the availability of parliamentary time. The Bill introduces financial...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (25 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: To drive the export led growth strategy, the Government through Enterprise Ireland is focused on a two key priorities to; (1) intensify its work with clients to maintain and grow UK exports and extend their reach into international markets, (2)   reinforce the competitiveness of clients with ambition by strengthening their productivity, innovation and management capability...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (25 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The EU has successfully concluded a number of important trade agreements and is in the process of negotiating or upgrading agreements with many more trading partners. Free Trade Agreements are designed to create opportunities by opening new markets for goods and services thereby increasing export and investment opportunities. On the 30th October 2016, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Manufacturing Sector (25 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department has previously engaged with the promoters of this facility in connection with a request for financial support to facilitate its possible development in Dublin.  There are, however, a number of significant financial, legal and logistical issues that remain to be addressed before further consideration can be given to the proposal. More broadly, I very much recognise...

Seanad: Knowledge Development Box (Certification of Inventions) Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (25 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: On Committee Stage on 14 December I thanked the Senators for their amendments but for the reasons I gave at the time I did not accept the amendments. As indicated, I am prepared to revert on Report Stage with an amendment to section 18 which accommodates the concerns Senators had in relation to section 18 and the publication of the controller’s annual report on the scheme. This...

Topical Issue Debate: Film Industry (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am conscious of the anxiety that the uncertainty around the sale of Ardmore Studios creates for the workers concerned, as well as for the local community. Ardmore Studios is a commercial entity, owned 68.33% by private interests and 31.67% by the State. The State's shareholding is managed by Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland inherited...

Topical Issue Debate: Film Industry (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I have had three meetings: one with the workers and the unions; one with Oireachtas Members; and another with Oireachtas Members and the chief executive of and officials from Wicklow County Council. I hear the Deputy talking about nationalising. In fairness, Enterprise Ireland is not a film production company. It is not a Disney. It will never be able to make films such as those to...

Topical Issue Debate: Film Industry (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Yes, absolutely, and not Enterprise Ireland. However, the workers-----

Topical Issue Debate: Film Industry (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: May I finish? We had the meeting with Wicklow County Council and all of those people were in attendance. Bryan Doyle, the chief executive of Wicklow County Council, wrote to me. He welcomed my recognition of the importance of Ardmore Studios to County Wicklow and the mid-east region and my acknowledgement that the development of the film industry is a key pillar of the action plan for jobs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The UK’s exit negotiations from the EU will not commence until Article 50 has been triggered, which the UK Government have indicated they intend to do no later than the end of March 2017. These negotiations could take the maximum allowed period of two years to complete. Ultimately any deal on Article 50 will require the agreement of the EU Commission, Council and Parliament.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Construction Industry (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am not aware that there is a practice of trade union representative blacklisting by employers in Ireland. I would consider blacklisting of workers for whatever reason as an unacceptable practice – particularly if it arose in relation to workers exercising their rights to take part in trade union activities. The Deputy will be aware that there are already legislative protections...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Construction Industry (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I assume the Deputy is referring to a case reported in the media earlier this week about a number of construction workers who have sought clarification of their employment status from the Department of Social Protection. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on this particular case. More generally, apart from significant losses to the Exchequer that can...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The UK’s exit negotiations from the EU will not commence until Article 50 has been triggered, which the UK Government have indicated they intend to do no later than the end of March 2017. These negotiations could take the maximum allowed period of two years to complete. Ultimately any deal on Article 50 will require the agreement of the EU Commission, Council and Parliament. ...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: State Aid (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together. The Government is acutely conscious of the uncertainty created by Brexit and the need to consider the types of supports that Irish businesses require to address the negative implications of Brexit and maintain their competitiveness. The UK vote has led to uncertainty in our trading relationships with the UK, resulting in large part from a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ticket Touting (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As the Deputy is aware, there is ongoing public concern about the resale of tickets for entertainment and sporting events. In response to that concern, I recently launched a public consultation on the issue together with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Minister for Tourism and Sport. Though ticket resale has been the subject of considerable comment, there is a lack of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Innovation Union Scoreboard (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, I am committed to improving Ireland’s innovation performance. While we have fallen one place on the global Bloomberg Innovation Index, it can be noted that Ireland has improved across a number of the sub-indicators that make up this index. In particular, Ireland’s productivity has climbed from 12th to 6th place and in the area...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (26 Jan 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I always welcome academic contributions to the wider national debate on how Ireland can best benefit from our record high levels of foreign direct investment (FDI). I also accept that FDI can make an even bigger contribution, all over Ireland, than it is now. However, I think it is quite clear that the impact of FDI on our economy and society has been – and continues to be –...