Results 40,021-40,040 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Energy Policy (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Employment I do not have a designated function related to indigenous energy extraction, supply or regulation. Those functions sit primarily with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, as well as the appropriate independent regulatory bodies. Natural gas plays a significant role in providing energy in our economy, power system...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Information and Communications Technology (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: The National AI Strategy, AI – Here for Good, sets out how Ireland can be an international leader in the use of Artificial Intelligence to benefit our economy and society. The Strategy takes a people-centred, ethical approach to the development, adoption and use of AI. My Department is leading on the implementation of the Strategy and is responsible for driving the adoption of AI by...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Relations (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department works closely with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to identify opportunities to help Irish companies access new markets and increase the levels of foreign direct investment into Ireland. Each year the two agencies prepare a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Labour Market (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s economic migration policy facilitates the entry, in the short to medium term, of non-EEA nationals to fill skills gaps in economically strategic sectors. In framing policy, consideration is given to other instruments that are also available in meeting skills shortages challenges, such as upskilling and activating the unemployed. My Department reviews the employment permits...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Inflation Rate (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department continues to monitor the areas which are generating high headline inflation, in particular, it is monitoring developments in the Wholesale Price Index, Services Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index published by the Central Statistics Office. As a small, open trading economy Ireland is exposed to global inflationary pressures, including fluctuations on international...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Cost of Living Issues (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: It is important to examine the European Commission data in context. In several categories, Ireland performs better than, or on par with, other small and open EU economies. For example, when it comes to the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages, Ireland outperforms economies such as Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Malta, and EEA members, Switzerland and Iceland. We also outperform...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department informs me that in 2022, 9 applications for employment permits were refused for the occupation “Overhead Lineman” and to date in 2023, 7 applications have been refused for the occupation “Line Worker”. Officials of my Department have been engaging with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications over the last number of weeks with regard...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Consumer Protection (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: Firstly, it is important to examine the Eurostat data on prices in context. In several categories, Ireland performs better than, or on par with, other small and open EU economies. For example, when it comes to the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages, Ireland outperforms economies such as Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Malta, and EEA members, Switzerland and Iceland. Ireland has also...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Mining Industry (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: Both my Department, the Department of Social Protection and other relevant Government Agencies will support the company and the employees in any way we can including through any income supports that are available through the Department of Social Protection. My Department and I were first informed of the decision of the Boliden Tara Mines Board to put the company into care and maintenance on...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: This week a public consultation was announced which commences a review of the occupations on the ineligible and the critical skills employment permits lists. This review invites submissions from users of the employment permits system and interested parties and provides a window of eight weeks for the preparation of evidence from sectors. The review process will take into account...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Co-operative Sector (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: The issue as to whether the Department would re-establish the co-operative development unit is part of the bigger issue regarding potential supports for the co-operative sector. There are a number of aspects to this issue. One of the most significant forms of assistance for the sector will be the introduction of a modern legal framework which will place the co-operative model on a more...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Policies (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: As a small, open trading economy Ireland is exposed to global inflationary pressures, including fluctuations on international markets for energy, commodities and food. Ireland is effectively a price taker on most international markets, and many of the drivers of Irish inflation are outside our control. Our remote geographic location can add to transport costs for goods, which along with our...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Information and Communications Technology (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: On Tuesday 13th June last I convened a meeting of the Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum in CeADAR, Ireland’s National Centre for Applied AI. The Forum, which meets quarterly, was established to support and advise the Government in driving the digitalisation of enterprise across Ireland and brings together representatives of indigenous enterprise of all sizes, multi-national...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equality Issues (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: In Census 2016, 36.5% of people with disabilities reported being in employment. I understand updated results from Census 2022 will be published in late 2023. As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, I consider we have significant scope to improve the employment rate for persons with a disability and that increasing the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the labour...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Climate Action Plan (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: In January of this year, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications established a Heat and Built Environment Taskforce to accelerate and drive delivery in relation to retrofitting, renewable heat, district heat and decarbonisation of the building stock. The overarching aim of the Taskforce is to identify work on the critical path to key targets under each area, ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Information and Communications Technology (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: On 23rd May I participated in a high-level roundtable on AI, hosted by the CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai. The meeting gathered leaders from governments and industry for a discussion on the latest digital technology developments and how to boost Europe's innovation and competitiveness. Along with Ireland, the event gathered representatives from Czechia, the Nordic, Benelux, and Baltic...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: Contractual terms of employment are a matter for agreement between the parties to the contract. Whilst it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the particulars of proposed changes to employment contracts within a company, I would note that any alterations must comply with our existing suite of employment legislation including the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Payment of Wages...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Food Prices (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: The food sector falls within the remit of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and his Department keeps in close contact with the relevant actors in that sector. Fairness and transparency in the food sector are essential, as is ensuring that consumers have access to sufficient and accurate information before making a purchase. That is why Minister McConalogue is establishing the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Consultations (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department considers hiring external consultants in cases where there is not the necessary expertise to deliver the project in-house, in cases where an external assessment is deemed essential, or in cases where a project must be completed within a short time scale, and although the expertise or experience may be available in-house, performing the task would involve a prohibitive...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Exports Growth (29 Jun 2023)

Simon Coveney: Enterprise Ireland has advised that this information is not available but will be obtained through the Agency’s Annual Business Review survey which will be undertaken in January 2024. The latest year for which this information is available is 2022 which saw exports by Enterprise Ireland backed companies increase by 19% to a record €32.1bn. This is the highest ever level of...