Results 2,521-2,540 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As the Deputy knows, the Succeed in Ireland initiative operates on the basis of a comprehensive agreement between ConnectIreland and IDA Ireland. I understand this agreement, which was mutually entered into by both parties, sets out the process by which jobs are verified as having been created. I am informed that as it currently stands, 527 jobs on the ground have been created. I make it...

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: ConnectIreland created plenty of jobs in Ireland and the Deputy is correct that there is a dispute. I understand that this week a meeting was held between the chief executives of ConnectIreland and IDA Ireland. It is, however, prudent to do a review as there is much taxpayer money involved. I must understand exactly how that initiative functioned, as well as its strong and weak points, as...

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: We are appointing someone and I am going to get it done as quickly as possible. A decision on who will author the review, as well as its precise start date, will be taken very shortly.

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Each regional action plan for jobs targets one of eight regions around the country, seeking to build on the differing capabilities and strengths of each region. West Cork comes under the south west action plan for jobs, which covers counties Cork and Kerry and was launched in July 2015. As of quarter three, the south-west region unemployment rate had dropped to 6.4%, from a high of 14.3% in...

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Tourism is very important in the Deputy's area. There is a new 10,000 sq. ft. Ludgate digital hub building that opened this year in Skibbereen, providing up to 75 desks, training and meeting room space. The building has 1,000 MB connectivity. I am definitely in the business of making sure that good quality jobs come to Ireland and are developed and scaled in Ireland by Enterprise Ireland...

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My implementation group for the south-west region deals with the regional action plan for jobs and it is why we have seen growth in jobs all across the country. I pay tribute to the work it does. On it working together there are industry partners, local employment offices, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and all the different educational bodies. We operate a regional plan and not a county...

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am not referring to Cork city.

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The regional action plan for jobs covers counties Cork and Kerry.

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I understand from IDA Ireland that the Succeed in Ireland initiative has so far created a total of 527 jobs on the ground. IDA Ireland has paid €2.069 million to ConnectIreland as a financial reward in respect of those 527 positions. It has also provided ConnectIreland with a further €150,000 for marketing support for the operation of the programme. As payments to...

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Both ConnectIreland and the IDA have entered into a mutually agreed process to address whether differences have arisen between them in the course of the contract. I hope that process will result in an acceptable outcome for both parties. It would be neither appropriate nor helpful for me at this stage to comment on that ongoing process. I stated earlier, however, that the chief executives...

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am not in a position to discuss that because an arbitrator has been agreed on by the two parties in question. I hope the arbitrator will pull the two parties together and we will get a reasonable outcome.

Priority Questions: Job Creation (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As I said to Deputy Niall Collins earlier, I expect and hope I will be appointing an arbitrator soon.

Other Questions: Employment Rights (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The news that the company in question has committed to an additional investment and an increase by 100 in its workforce is a welcome development for County Clare and the wider region. It will create new employment opportunities for the people of the area as well as serving as a real endorsement of the Shannon area as an attractive destination for inward investment. All...

Other Questions: Employment Rights (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Many of the new jobs in question are senior positions, including supply chain, process and improving engineers who are paid the market rate. They are not paid below the market rate. In 2009, the company in question had to restructure and it nearly closed down. However, as I said, the 100 jobs that were announced in the recent past are very well-paid and senior positions. While many of the...

Other Questions: Employment Rights (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I thank Deputy Smith. Again, many of the employees in the company to which the Deputy refers are long-term employees. I acknowledge that many are working on a contract basis. The company went down that route in 2009 because the plant was in danger of closing. I am happy that the employees are being paid the market rate.

Other Questions: Employment Rights (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Pay and conditions.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Enterprise Ireland, EI, the local enterprise offices, LEOs, and IDA Ireland are engaging on a one-to-one basis with all client companies regarding the impacts being felt as a result of Brexit. All agencies have clear plans in place. In budget 2017, I secured additional moneys, both current and capital, to support the enterprise agencies' strategic response to Brexit. More than €1...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: First, the Deputy asked me how many extra staff are in IDA Ireland-----

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Certainly, but just to say there are nine additional staff in IDA Ireland and 39 in Enterprise Ireland. Deputy Brendan Smith spoke about the Border and specifically about companies that are not under the auspices of Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland. There are two main agencies that can help such companies. The LEOs will speak to and advise small companies. The other relevant agency is...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Feb 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: If Deputy Kelly has a biro he might just write down all the figures I am going to give to him. Enterprise Ireland has 570 staff in full-time equivalent posts before the Brexit-specific recruitment of 39 staff takes effect. IDA Ireland had 268 staff - and I shall quiz Deputy Kelly on these figures - in 259 full-time equivalent posts before the Brexit-specific recruitment of upwards of 21...