Results 2,881-2,900 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Support Services (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Action Plan for Jobs, which was introduced in early 2012, is one of the Government's key instruments to support job creation. It is a whole–of-Government, multi-annual initiative which mobilises all Departments to support job creation. The Action Plan for Jobs is working. Since the first Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012, almost 206,000 more people are at work....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act of 2015 provides for a new statutory framework – Sectoral Employment Orders - for establishing minimum rates of remuneration and other terms and conditions of employment for a specified type, class or group of workers.  This is in effect a framework to replace the former sectoral Registered Employment Agreement (REA) system which was found...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The State's general policy with regard to the employment of non-EEA nationals is to promote the sourcing of labour and skills needs from within the workforce of Ireland and the European Economic Area. The employment permits system is intended to offer an interim solution for employers where specific skills prove difficult to source within the EEA. The system offers a route into the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Proposed Legislation (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Companies (Accounting) Bill 2016 completed Report and Final Stages in Dáil Éireann on the 22nd March 2017. Second Stage in Seanad Éireann is scheduled for the 4th April. The timing of enactment thereafter will depend on the availability of parliamentary time. In light of the benefits for many companies provided for in the Bill, it remains a legislative priority...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In our collective efforts to address the challenges posed by Brexit, we should not overlook whatever opportunities may emerge for Ireland on account of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. One such opportunity is the possibility for attracting increased foreign direct investment – particularly from the Financial Services sector. That is why I have directed IDA Ireland to explore...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department recognises the key role that innovation has played in Ireland’s economic recovery to date. It contributes significantly to job creation, exports and investment, and the competitiveness of the indigenous enterprise base, and also to embedding the foreign direct investment base in Ireland. It is clear that a strong interdependence exists therefore between science,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My responsibility, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is on ensuring that Ireland as a whole is best placed to capitalise on whatever foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities may emerge on account of Brexit. That is why I secured significant additional funding for IDA Ireland to help the Agency better respond to the challenges and opportunities Brexit may present for each...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department, through Enterprise Ireland and the LEOs provides a range of supports to help Irish companies start, grow and export.  There are now over 201,000 people employed by EI supported companies across the country. The fact that over 130,000 of those 201,000 jobs are outside of Dublin is significant. The objective of Enterprise Ireland’s new ‘Global...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, I am consistently focused on supporting job creation. Since 2012, the annual Action Plan for Jobs has delivered actions to support job retention and creation. The unemployment rate has dropped from a high of 15.1% in February 2012 to 6.6 % in February 2017. The figure for the number of people in work has risen from 1,836,000 in Q3 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Government has already taken a number of important initiatives, including in bolstering the capacity of our enterprise agencies to maximise job creation opportunities inside and outside the EU. The recently published Action Plan for Jobs 2017 builds on this with specific measures to: - support enterprises, particularly those most dependent on UK markets - identify and target new...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Promotion (23 Mar 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 on 29 March 2017.  These negotiations could take the maximum allowed period of two years to complete. It is hard to predict at this stage the full impact of Brexit. Much will depend on the nature of the future trade deal that...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Development (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In cases where significant job losses arise due to a company closing or downsizing, the local Education and Training Board (ETB) can engage with the company and the impacted staff to undertake an assessment of training needs. If retraining or upskilling is deemed to be required, the ETB can then organise appropriate courses.  In the case of the company referred...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Knowledge Development Box (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: As set out in the Action Plan for Jobs 2017, which was co-ordinated across Government by my Department, protecting our interests in the international jobs investment market continues to be a priority.  Ireland will continue to provide a competitive offering for mobile investment, including tax offering, and to ensure that our innovative entrepreneurs establish and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: IDA Ireland is making good progress towards its target of increasing the level of investment in each region by 30% to 40% by 2019. In 2016, 52% of all Agency supported jobs created were based outside of Dublin. While IDA Ireland does everything in its power to ensure an even spread of investments, it is important to realise that the ultimate decision on location rests solely with the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: My Department did not make any payment to broadcasters in the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 to date. In 2015, my Department paid €250,000 to Atomic Advertising ltd in respect of an advertising campaign to raise awareness of a range of government supports for enterprise. These advertisements were carried by a number of broadcasters Any payments to broadcasters from agencies under the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Data (23 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together. I understand, from IDA Ireland, that the Succeed-in-Ireland initiative has created 535 jobs on the ground to date. These verified jobs are associated with 85 projects, 25 of which are being delivered by client companies of other State Agencies. Of these 25 companies, 18 are IDA Ireland clients, six are Enterprise Ireland clients and one...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Process (28 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Companies (Accounting) Bill 2016 passed all Stages in Dáil Éireann on 22 March 2017. It is scheduled for Second Stage in Seanad Éireann on 4 April 2017. The timing of enactment of the Bill will depend on the availability of parliamentary time. Both the Bill and the Accounting Directive (Directive 2013/34/EU), which it transposes, are technical pieces of legislation. This...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Remit (28 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Low Pay Commission was established through the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 2015.  Its principal function is, once each year, to examine the national minimum hourly rate of pay and to make a recommendation to the Minister respecting the rate, ensuring that all decisions are evidence-based, fair and sustainable, and do not create significant adverse consequences for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Income Inequality (28 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am aware of the Irish Congress of Trade Union’s report Because We’re Worth It The Truth about CEO Pay in Ireland. In general, executive remuneration is a private contractual matter between a company’s board of directors and the CEO. At EU level, a new Shareholder Rights Directive is expected to be adopted shortly. The Directive’s ambition is to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: European Fund for Strategic Investments (28 Mar 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The European Fund for Strategic Investment, EFSI, is an EU initiative launched jointly by the European Investment Bank, EIB, Group and the European Commission. The initiative is designed to help overcome the  low levels of private investment in in key areas such as infrastructure, education, research and innovation, as well as risk finance for small businesses in the European Union by...