Results 40,121-40,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: In regard to childcare providers, as the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, said earlier, I would encourage childcare providers and their representative bodies to engage with his Department and-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: -----to reconsider whether taking action that would effectively withdraw childcare supports for three days next week should go ahead. I can state that for all three parties in government and certainly for the Minister, childcare is a big priority in the build up to this budget. Last year, there was a significant increase in funding for childcare. I suspect this budget will also prioritise...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: -----and we want to respond to that as best we can in the budget. I do not believe that causing significant disruption to parents is helpful in those efforts, even though I can understand the frustration, having met a number of the childcare providers in my own town. On the question of the four-year-old boy, Logan, I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to respond to that.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Food Industry (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department is actively pursuing opportunities for decarbonisation in the food sector, we are integrating climate action into all aspects of the Department and its agencies’ activities. I am determined that we can foster strong, resilient businesses, that are successful and sustainable, while meeting our sector’s climate targets. Decarbonising industry and enterprise are also...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for the tourism budget lies with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media. My Department continues to pursue pro-enterprise and pro-competitive policies for all Irish enterprise. Published in December 2022, the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 sets out Ireland`s industrial policy for the medium- to long-term, building on Ireland`s economic...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Strategies (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: In line with a commitment under the Programme for Government, the independent Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce published its Final Report including an action plan with proposed action owners on 8th July 2023 enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/publication-files/shannon- estuary-economic-taskforce-report.pdf. Among its recommendations were that the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Strategies (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: In respect of the actions set out in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 and the specific action points referred to by the Deputy, I have set out below some of the activities that my Department has undertaken and is in the process of implementing. In October 2021, the Department’s People Strategy 2021-2024 was launched. Goal 3 of the Strategy aims to “Build an...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: National Standards Authority of Ireland (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: On 11thJuly 2023 the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) suspended the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) under ISO/IEC 17021-1 in respect of certain certification functions. The suspension was on foot of a number of non-conformances which arose from an audit of NSAI’s accreditation under ISO/IEC 17021-1 conducted by INAB in June 2023. The suspension in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Reports (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: The information requested is currently being collated by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Industry (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for the tourism budget lies with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media. My Department continues to pursue pro-enterprise and pro-competitive policies for all Irish enterprise. Published in December 2022, the White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 sets out Ireland`s industrial policy for the medium- to long-term, building on Ireland`s economic...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Bodies (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: There are a number of State Agencies that come within the remit of my Department. The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below according to each agency. Year Agency For Chief Executives – Any benefit from taxable benefits being paid by the body/organisation Amount Details ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together. As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I consider that increasing the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the labour market represents a significant opportunity for employers and the enterprise sector. The development of policy measures and initiatives to support disability rights and inclusion fall,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Environmental Policy (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme is a long-term loan guarantee scheme jointly developed by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The scheme is underpinned by resources from the European Investment Bank Group and delivered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland. The €500 million Growth and Sustainability Loan provides longer-term lending...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Environmental Policy (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: I and my Department have engaged in planning for a concentrated and coordinated cross-Government approach to driving business engagement with biodiversity. The Deputy may be aware that detailed work on Ireland’s fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan has been the subject of significant effort over the last two years by Government Departments, led by the Department of Housing, Local...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regulatory Impact Assessments (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: The information requested is currently being collated by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Semi-State Bodies (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that increases in IDA Ireland pay and pensions are subject to public sector pay agreements. Pension increases being paid to IDA pensioners are those under the current agreement ‘Building Momentum’ which are agreed by government and implemented by my Department and its agencies and do not require my approval. No further increases have been sanctioned or implemented...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Schemes (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Sick Leave Act came into effect on 1st of January 2023, providing up to three days of employer-paid sick leave this year. In order to achieve a balanced approach, increases in the statutory entitlement to sick leave are being introduced gradually over four years. This phased approach gives employers time to adjust and plan for the new responsibility. The second phase of this plan is...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Data Protection (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The answer below has been compiled in respect of personal data breaches under the General Data Protection Regulation (the "GDPR"). As the Deputy will be aware, the GDPR was introduced on 25th May 2018. From that date, Data Controllers are mandated under Article 33(5) of the GDPR to record all personal data breaches that occur within their organisations. These records may be reviewed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Foreign Direct Investment (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: IDA Ireland, through its Regional Property Programme, aims to ensure the supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients of the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. In this regard, IDA keeps its landholdings under constant review, including in the West Region and Co. Mayo, with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, in May 2023, IDA Ireland client, SHEIN officially launched its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) headquarters, based in Dublin City Centre. The Dublin office will host SHEIN’s strategic IT hub for EMEA and will function as the centre of SHEIN’s operations in the region. SHEIN plans to increase their workforce in Dublin by filing roles in big data...