Results 3,121-3,140 of 4,073 for speaker:Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Arms Trade (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The information I have in front of me outlines that there was one military export with Saudi Arabia as its final end user destination. These were not for the production of arms. Sometimes they are components for helicopters and Jeeps. I do not think the Deputy can jump to the conclusion that we are exporting arms or components for arms. I do not think that the Deputy can do that at all-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Arms Trade (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: -----because our Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade take an extreme view and make sure that the applicants are denied if there are any questions to be asked in that instance.

Other Questions: Employment Rights (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: We create jobs.

Other Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 55, 56 and 64 together. On 30 October 2016 the EU-Canada comprehensive economic and trade agreement, CETA, was signed by representatives from Canada, the European Union and its member states. On 15 February 2017 the European Parliament voted in support of the provisional application of the CETA. As I have said many times before in the House, the...

Other Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Deputy Wallace made reference to small businesses. There are approximately 285,000 small business owners in this country employing approximately 700,000 people. I assure Deputy Wallace that my focus, as well as that of my Department and the Ministers of State, is to make sure that jobs are coming through. Believe it or not, we are embarking on a trade mission to Canada next week and more...

Other Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I will be in Canada.

Other Questions: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: On the question of Dáil ratification, it is important that we wait to see the benefits of CETA coming into being before putting the agreement to the Dáil. Then we can have a fully informed, evidence based debate on the value of the agreement to Ireland. Reference was made to meat and worries about meat production. I would like to refer to a letter sent from Meat Industry Ireland,...

Other Questions: IDA Supports (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 59 together. I know the area referred to by Deputy Cassells very well. I was privileged to be able to rear my children in County Meath. I sent them to school in Skryne and reared them in the Seneschalstown-Hayestown area. We used to use the Johnstown road regularly. My priority as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is to drive...

Other Questions: IDA Supports (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I am aware that there are 3,000 homes in this part of Navan. I was in Johnstown shopping centre on bank holiday Monday. The Deputy has quoted statistics for IDA Ireland site visits. I remind him that companies which are already here in Ireland like to expand. It would be very difficult for me to hand this valuable land over for the development of a football field. Having worked as a...

Other Questions: IDA Supports (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I agree with the Deputy. The local enterprise office in Navan supported 927 jobs in 2016. Hardly anybody talks about what Enterprise Ireland does in counties like Meath. It supports 7,007 jobs in County Meath. As I said earlier, IDA Ireland supports 1,496 jobs in the county. I will take the Deputy up on his invitation to meet him in County Meath very soon to talk about the plans for the...

Other Questions: IDA Supports (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I look forward to it. The other Deputies from County Meath are also invited.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: This Government, through the Action Plan for Jobs, has taken decisive action to support all sectors of the economy recover from the deepest recession we have experienced in recent decades. This sustained focus on job creation has resulted in the creation of over 209,000 additional jobs since 2012. The unemployment rate has declined from over 15.1% in 2012 to 6.2% in April this...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I hear what the Deputy is saying. He indicated there was a slowdown in exports to the UK but I make the emphatic point that overall, the Enterprise Ireland companies exported €21.6 billion of goods and services in 2016 but in 2015 they exported goods and services worth €20.5 billion, which means the value increased by €1 billion over that year. We are continuing to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Workplace Relations Commission (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Inspectors of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) carry out inspections of employer records with a view to determining compliance with employment rights and employment permits legislation. The WRC’s work programme for 2017 makes specific provision for a compliance and enforcement campaign within the equine sector generally, including the horse racing industry. Inspections...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Local Enterprise Offices (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: In Budget 2017, I secured an additional €4m in Capital funding for the LEOs, which brought the total Capital allocation for this year to €22.5m. This funding is used to provide direct financial supports to eligible LEO clients, including Feasibility, Priming, and Business Development Grants. The funding is also used to deliver “soft” supports...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: I fully appreciate the importance of ensuring that Irish businesses, including those located in Donegal, are best able to withstand the pressures that Brexit may exert. That is why, for example, I secured additional financial resources to support the strategic response to Brexit by our enterprise agencies. IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) are...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The Government’s approach towards job creation in Cavan and Monaghan is guided by the North East/North West Regional Action Plan. This plan aims to support the creation of 28,000 new jobs across both regions by 2020. Progress is also being made towards this goal, with 5,600 more people in employment across the region since the start of 2015. Regional development remains a key...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Portfolio (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: The decision by HP Inc to close its facility in Leixlip is regrettable. However, I understand that no redundancies have yet been made and that the company's operations at the site are continuing.  IDA Ireland has nevertheless already promoted the site to existing clients and potential investors and will continue to do so in the time ahead. I am hopeful...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Firstly, I recognise the impact that the recently announced closure by Longford Architectural Metalworks can have on a town like Longford and my thoughts are with the workers and their families affected by this announcement. The Midlands Regional Action Plans for Jobs, which covers Longford, Laois, Westmeath and Offaly, is aimed at maximising the strengths and assets of the region, to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (16 May 2017)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor: Enterprise 2025 sets a roadmap for longer term enterprise development. Its development was informed by global drivers of change including globalisation, demographic, geo-political volatility and technological advances. The Action Plan for Jobs 2017 which I lead across Government and was published earlier this year sets ambitious targets and actions to be delivered as part of Enterprise...