Results 39,921-39,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Missions (24 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: On 15 May last I led a joint Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland Trade Mission to New York and Boston to boost trade relationships with key IDA client companies and promote world class Irish companies with leading market positions in the US. The Trade Mission took place on the back of record Irish exports to North America of $5.5 billion in 2022. North America now accounts for 17% of all...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Data Protection (25 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department regularly reviews its policies on foot of advice received from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This advice is based on risk assessments carried out by the NCSC which is, I understand, subject to continuous review. The NCSC recently issued updated guidance for the use of mobile devices and Departmental policies are being further updated to reflect this advice. My...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Disability Services (30 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: There is no record in my Department of correspondence from the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in relation to the matter raised.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Childcare Services (30 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not make a financial contribution to, the sourcing or provision of childcare or créche facilities for the children of staff of the Department. Staff of my Department may be entitled to national supports provided through Government Schemes such as the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme which provides early childhood care and education for children of...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Public Procurement Contracts (30 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: The procedural rules which apply to public procurement contracts are clearly defined. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) which processes public procurement contracts in Ireland has lead responsibility in this area.The OGP operates as a Division of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). It has been the consistent policy of successive Irish Governments to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Expenditure (30 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department spent a total of €1,094,589 on external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms, and consultants in 2022. This amount also includes ICT consultancy. The Department considers hiring external consultants or specialists in cases where there is not the necessary expertise to deliver the project in-house, in cases where an external assessment is deemed essential,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: National Minimum Wage (30 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Low Pay Commission, which was established in 2015 as an independent body, makes recommendations designed to set a minimum wage that is fair and sustainable and one that will not have significant negative consequences for employers and competitiveness. Since its establishment, the Low Pay Commission has made eight annual recommendations, resulting in a 30.6% increase in the minimum wage...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (31 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: Budget Allocation for Skills for Better Business. - Current Capital Total 2023 €62,000 Nil €62,000 Skills for Better Business was launched on in November 2022. It comprises an Online Tool for SME management skills assessment, complemented by a sign-posting resource providing quick contact...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (31 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Innovation Voucher Programme was developed to build links between Ireland's publicly funded knowledge providers (i.e. higher education institutes, public research bodies) and small and medium-sized businesses. Innovation Vouchers worth €5,000 are available to assist a company or companies to explore a business opportunity or problem with a registered knowledge provider. ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Climate Change Policy (31 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: The total budget allocation for 2023 for the Climate Toolkit 4 Business is €10,000 to cover website hosting, maintenance and minor routine development. The development of the Climate Toolkit 4 Business was a joint project between my Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. The Toolkit acts as a directory to the wide range of available State agency...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Schemes (31 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: Increasing employment opportunities for disabled persons involves the tackling of barriers to labour force participation and a whole of Government response. Government’s approach to supporting employment for people with disabilities is set out in the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities (2015 – 2024), led by the Department of Children, Equality,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Losses (31 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: On 23 March 2023, the Accenture CEO announced that the company would be cutting 2.5% of its global workforce, or 19,000 people. In her communication, she stated that while Accenture continues to hire to support its strategic growth priorities during 2023, actions were needed to streamline operations and transform "non-billable" corporate functions in order to reduce costs. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Job Losses (31 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: In March of this year, Meta's CEO outlined a global restructuring and downsizing indicating that the company would reduce the size of its recruiting team in March and would then announce restructurings and layoffs in its tech groups in late April and business groups in late May. This equated to 10,000 job cuts globally and Meta said it will close around 5,000 "open" roles that had not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Funding (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: Under the Housing for All plan, my Department is working to promote innovation and increased productivity in the residential construction sector, including the more widespread adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). To promote research and development and disseminate the best and most relevant innovations to the players in the construction value-chain in Ireland, my Department with...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Bodies (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department and the bodies under our aegis are committed to providing an efficient, timely, professional, and courteous service to all our customers. The tables below list the email addresses at which members of the Oireachtas can contact the bodies under the aegis of my Department: DETE Agencies Email address Corporate Enforcement Authority (CEA) ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: National Minimum Wage (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: In the past, the Low Pay Commission (LPC) was asked to examine the issues around subminimum (youth) rates under the National Minimum Wage Acts and reported on the matter in December 2017. The LPC, having examined all available evidence and submissions, and having considered a range of options, made recommendations in its report to simplify youth rates based on age and to abolish training...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Projects (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Government established the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) in 2018 as one of four National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2027 Funds under Project Ireland 2040. DTIF aims to encourage collaboration and innovation in developing and deploying disruptive technologies commercially to tackle national and global challenges. The Fund is managed by the Department and administered by...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: National Minimum Wage (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: In the past, the Low Pay Commission (LPC) was asked to examine the issues around subminimum rates under the National Minimum Wage Acts and reported on the matter in December 2017. The LPC, having examined all available evidence and submissions, and having considered a range of options, made recommendations in its report to simplify youth rates based on age and to abolish training rates...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Projects (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Disruptive Technologies and Innovation Fund (DTIF) was set up in 2018 as one of four National Development Plan (NDP) Funds established by the Government under Project Ireland 2040. It aims to encourage collaborative and innovative research to develop and deploy disruptive technologies commercially to target national and global challenges. In 2022, my Department provided €28.75m...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (13 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: Ireland welcomes the European Commission’s focus on our shared objective to spur the technological innovation and industrial investment in the key technologies that will allow Europe and the world to transition to a net zero economy and society. Indeed, Ireland’s own White Paper on Enterprise to 2030, which the Government launched last December, aligns with the objectives and...