Results 3,161-3,180 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (9 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: On 15th May, my colleague, Minister for Justice McEntee, and I announced that Government approval had been secured for rolling out a single permit to both work and live in Ireland. Implementing a single permit will eventually allow Ireland to opt into the EU’s Single Permit Directive. The Government also approved the Report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on establishing a...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (9 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play an extremely important role at local level, as part of a supportive ecosystem, providing their services direct to small businesses and promoting entrepreneurship within towns and communities across the country. LEOs are the first stop shop for every business in the country. Cork is represented by three offices that cover Cork City, Cork North and West,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Exports Growth (9 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: Companies supported by Enterprise Ireland exported goods and services worth €34.6 billion in 2023, the highest level on record, and 2% higher than 2022 when exports by Enterprise Ireland supported clients stood at €33.8 billion. The UK remains the largest export market for Enterprise Ireland clients. Exports to that country account for about 29 per cent of all international...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Wastewater Treatment (10 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: My Department does not provide grants to assist businesses in any sector to upgrade their sewage treatment facilities. The full range of Government supports for businesses in all sectors are available through the new online National Enterprise Hub for SMEs to access information on the wide range of Government business supports. I am launching the Hub today along with Minister Burke. It can...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Exports Growth (10 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: My Department’s White Paper on Enterprise to 2030 sets out an ambitious vision for Ireland’s enterprise policy, seeking to secure a sustainable, innovative and high-productivity economy, with rewarding jobs and livelihoods in the period ahead. Ireland’s position as a small economy means that it is essential for our economic resilience that Irish enterprises realise...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (10 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Government is committed to supporting workers and has a very strong record on strengthening and introducing new workers’ rights. The European Union Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions Regulations came into effect in Ireland in December 2022. These regulations have ensured that employees are given more detailed information about the important aspects of their jobs....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (10 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: In May of this year, the Government agreed a range of measures with the aim of reducing costs for small and medium sized businesses. As part of this package and aligned with changes outlined in the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Policy Statement, changes to the LEO digitalisation schemes for small businesses were included. Firstly, the Trading Online Voucher scheme will be doubled to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages in the State required to develop and support enterprise for the benefit of our economy. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Determination of Employment Status Working Group was established on foot of a recommendation made at the Labour and Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) in late 2021. This Group is comprised of representatives from ICTU, Ibec, the Construction Federation of Ireland and ISME as well as officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Revenue Commissioners, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: Minister Higgins approved the new ERO for the Security Industry on 13 June 2024 and it commenced on 1 July 2024. It is currently available to the public on the Department’s website: No further legislative changes to the rates of pay and work conditions for security officers in the security industry are under consideration. Under legislation, the JLC may submit proposals to revoke...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Unions (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: I am aware of the Respect at Work campaign which is seeking new protections for workers seeking to organise in their workplaces. These proposals will be considered in the context of Ireland’s publication of an Action Plan to promote collective bargaining as required by the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages. Article 4 of the Directive, Promotion of Collective Bargaining...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: The employment of people with a disability is an area that we need to improve in Ireland. The National Disability Authority notes that, in cross-country comparisons using European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), Ireland had a disability employment gap of 37% in 2022, which is higher than the average across the European Union, which is 21%. In terms of the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: The White Paper on Enterprise sets out a vision for Irish-based enterprise to succeed through competitive advantage founded on sustainability, innovation and productivity, delivering rewarding jobs and livelihoods. The first two, of seven, policy priorities set out in the White Paper are; Integrating Decarbonisation and Net-zero Commitments, and Placing Digital Transformation at the Heart of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: This Government has a very strong record of strengthening and introducing new employment rights. The Government has recently introduced or progressed a series of measures with the aim of improving working conditions in Ireland. These measures are an important part of building an inclusive economy – particularly one that is attractive to highly mobile labour and skills. These measures...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: To ensure minimum wages are set at adequate levels, the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages requires countries with statutory minimum wages to put in place clear and stable criteria for minimum wage setting, indicative reference values to guide the assessment of adequacy, and regular and timely updates of minimum wages. My Department’s analysis of the Directive suggests that our...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: EU Directives (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Government continues to fully support the right of any worker to join and be active in their trade union. Employees have the right under the Constitution to form associations and trade unions. Under Irish legislation an employee is protected should they be dismissed because they are a member of a trade union. The underpinning principle and policy are that the legislative provision acts...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regional Development (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: Balanced regional enterprise development is a key focus for me and this Government as set out in the White Paper on Enterprise. My Department contributes to this agenda in several ways, including through the development, implementation and oversight of nine Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs). The South-East REP is implemented at a regional level by a Steering Committee made up of stakeholders...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Sick Leave Act 2022 provided an initial statutory entitlement to up to 3 days’ sick leave in 2023. This increased to 5 days on 1 January 2024. The sick leave entitlement could potentially increase to 7 days in 2025, reaching 10 days in 2026. Officials in my Department are engaging with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) on research to inform the decision in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Process (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: In March 2024 Government approved the drafting of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2024, which will implement a key commitment included in the Government’s response to the Pensions Commission Recommendations and Implementation Plan. The purpose of the Bill is to align mandatory retirement ages in employment contracts with the State Pension age,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (11 Jul 2024)

Emer Higgins: The Government is acutely aware that businesses in all sectors, including the hospitality sector, are concerned about the impact of rising costs. The Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant was introduced in Budget 2024 package to help businesses with their increasing overheads. Local Authorities are administering the ICOB scheme on behalf of the Department and the priority is to get...