Results 3,261-3,280 of 3,425 for speaker:Emer Higgins

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Measures (8 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: Statutory and contractual employment terms apply in relation to the payment of wages. Failure to pay all or part of the wages due to an employee is considered an unlawful deduction and a complaint can be made under the Payment of Wages Act 1991. The Payment of Wages Act 1991 establishes a range of rights for all employees in relation to payment of wages. The Act regulates how wages and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Budget 2025 (8 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: The funding secured in Budget 2025 for the Local Enterprise Offices will allow the 31 LEOs to continue deliver their mandate, as set out in the LEO Policy Statement, and their critical work in promoting entrepreneurship and start-ups all over the country. This Budget provision will support the wide range of high-quality business and management development programmes available through the...

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

Emer Higgins: The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that they have checked the new Employment Permit applications received, and that the Employment Permit application in respect of the person concerned in the details supplied was only submitted to them on the 1st of October 2024. I am also informed that the payment in respect of this application has not yet been submitted. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Policy (10 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: My Department’s White Paper on Enterprise to 2030 sets out an ambitious vision for Ireland’s enterprise policy, to protect Ireland’s strong economic position. The vision of the White Paper is to enable Irish-based enterprise to succeed through competitive advantage founded on sustainability, innovation and productivity, delivering rewarding jobs and livelihoods. 2023...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Healthcare Policy (16 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank Deputy Hourigan for raising this important issue and for her passion, knowledge and commitment to the subject. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, who has spoken previously on the topic of gender healthcare. He has acknowledged this is a small and vulnerable group of people who need to have access to proper, appropriate and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Healthcare Policy (16 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank Deputy Hourigan. She made some valid and interesting points, which I take on board. I will refer them to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, and ask that he take them on board as well. The Minister wants to ensure that members of the transgender community are given the proper, appropriate and integrated care and support they need to live authentic, fulfilling lives. The new model of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Healthcare Policy (16 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: -----the model of care will be our policy decision on this. The long-term aim is to provide a wide range of services for all people with gender dysphoria, from care locally in the community to more specialised and complex care. The Minister and the HSE are dedicated to building a service based on experience, clinical evidence, respect, inclusiveness and compassion. I know the Minister...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Mother and Baby Homes (16 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank Deputy Buckley for raising this Topical Issue on the mother and baby institutions payment scheme. I will provide an update on the progress with regard to the delivery of this important scheme to survivors and former residents on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. As the Deputy knows, the scheme is the centrepiece of the Government’s action plan for survivors and former...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Mother and Baby Homes (16 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank Deputy Buckley. I will put on record some of the other systems and supports that are in place as it would be good for all Deputies to be aware of them and to promote them to those affected. First, the national centre for research and remembrance is an initiative that will represent a national site of conscience. It will include a museum interpretation experience, a space for...

VAT Rate for Hospitality Sector: Motion [Private Members] (16 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that: — the Government is very conscious of the needs of the tourist and hospitality sector and wants to maintain a healthy and profitable environment for these sectors going forward; — in this regard, it reduced on a temporary basis the Value Added Tax...

VAT Rate for Hospitality Sector: Motion [Private Members] (16 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: May I just reiterate that the Government is conscious of the need to support the food and hospitality sector?

VAT Rate for Hospitality Sector: Motion [Private Members] (16 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: I have outlined some of what we are doing in that regard.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (16 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: At present the occupation of Town Planner is eligible for the General Employment Permit. The Irish Planning Institute (IPI) made a submission to my Department's 2023 review of the occupations that are eligible for an employment permit, seeking to have the role made eligible for the Critical Skills Employment Permit. The submission was considered by the Interdepartmental Group on Economic...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: I thank the committee for the opportunity to present our Department’s Supplementary Estimate to the members of the select committee this evening. As the Cathaoirleach did, I would like to use this opportunity to express the Minister's apologies for not being able to attend the committee today due to a family bereavement and to let him know his is in our thoughts and prayers. I know...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: Yes, the Estimate includes the power up grant. This grant is being provided by the jobs and enterprise programme. The finer details of it are being worked out at the moment. The ambition is that we will have €4,000 straight into the accounts of SMEs in the retail and hospitality sector over the next couple of months between now and the end of this year. That is subject to the same...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: PRSI is a matter for the Department of Social Protection but having said that, this is something which we are working closely with the Department on. Earlier this year, my Department, in collaboration with the Department of Social Protection, produced a report on the increased cost of doing business and PRSI was one of the things that was flagged in that. It is something on which there is...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: They are savings for Enterprise Ireland and IDA. The Enterprise Ireland savings relate to two programmes, namely, the capital investment scheme for agriculture, which is something on which we work in collaboration with the Department of agriculture and the other one is the smart regions funding. I assure everybody we fully intend to fully draw down the EU ERDF funding for that scheme. We...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: Correct.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: It was due to the evaluation of the projects. We had so many applications that the evaluations took a little bit longer than expected.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Supplementary) (17 Oct 2024)

Emer Higgins: The reason for that is it is in areas in which we do not have expertise; for example, in AI and where we want to make sure we are getting the best advice and the best expertise in the development of our offshore wind strategy.