Results 40,181-40,200 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Exports Growth (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: As I said, we have a policy on enterprise that sets an ambition of expanding Ireland's exporting base by an additional 2,000 companies before the end of this decade. We have, as I stated earlier, extended the mandate of the LEOs. We are trying to get more companies to scale up. Basically, we are trying to build multinationals out of Ireland, as well as to bring multinationals to Ireland...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: In the first instance, it was not previously committed to but let me explain why, please. As part of a review of the operation of the temporary business energy support scheme earlier this year, it was agreed that my Department would examine the possibility of developing an additional support scheme for businesses that use kerosene and LPG for the purposes of heating their business premises....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is using one isolated case. My job was to look at the entirety of the market at the time and the price increase for LPG in the country. This is what I asked the Department to do and this is what it did do. It came back with the data which showed that there was an 88% increase in the cost of kerosene but only a 19% increase in the cost of LPG during the period. This was,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Business Supports (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I appreciate the tenor of the Deputy's question but I just want to say that nobody on this side of the House misled anybody. The reason why I insisted on moving ahead with the kerosene scheme was because I wanted to help businesses across rural Ireland in counties like that of the Deputy and others. There are many hotels, restaurants and so on which are not connected to the gas network and,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I am heading to Mayo tonight and meeting with businesses tomorrow. I will be able to discuss that with the Deputy and others tomorrow. Additional information not given on the floor of the House IDA Ireland, through its regional property programme, aims to ensure a suitable supply of land, buildings and infrastructure in regional locations to meet the needs of current and prospective clients...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: Some €700 million.

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: 2 o’clock I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on the budget. I will share my time with the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond. We will take roughly ten minutes each.

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I will but it will be ten minutes each. Budget 2024 is primarily a cost-of-living budget. With high energy prices and the ongoing impacts of the war in Ukraine, the measures brought forward in this budget and announced by my colleagues, the Ministers, Deputies Michael McGrath and Donohoe, are designed to cushion the impact of continuing high inflation by increasing the amount of money in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Corporate Governance (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I recognise the importance of businesses having a focus on human rights. It is now expected by society that businesses consider how their operations can impact on human rights. Businesses have reacted well since Ireland launched its first National Plan on Business and Human Rights (2017 -2020) towards the end of 2017. Ireland became the 19th state in the world to develop a National Plan....

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Flexible Work Practices (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to facilitating remote and flexible working in a way which maximises economic, social and environmental benefits. The expansion of remote and hybrid working in recent years has significant potential to help create a more inclusive labour market, to widen access to talent for employers and to improve regional balance in the economy, including the Border region. I...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: Since 2017, Enterprise Ireland on behalf of government has administered a number of successful schemes supporting the expansion of our regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. To date over a €130m has been invested, resulting in a network of EI supported projects, in such sectors as agri-food, food-innovation, digital innovation, entrepreneurship, energy and the bioeconomy. EI is committed...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Small and Medium Enterprises (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I am very aware of the challenges that SMEs, in particular those operating in certain sectors, continue to face due to the cost of living, crisis. That is why the Government in budget 2024 has announced a package for business owners. For example, we are introducing the Increased Cost of Business Scheme (ICOB) which will benefit up to 130,000 Small and Medium enterprises. The aim of the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The tech sector plays a pivotal role to the Irish economy, with 320 IDA client companies in the sector employing over 64,000 people. I regularly engage with tech companies through my own office and through officials in my Department and our agencies. IDA Ireland has strong engagement with its technology client base to actively support clients through new mandates, expansions,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Energy Prices (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I and my Department are extremely conscious of the cost pressures and competitiveness challenges facing businesses as a result of high energy prices. The Government has been consistent in its focus on mitigating the worst of these impacts for businesses in the short term, while investing in the long-term resilience and sustainability of our energy system so that we are not so exposed in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Apprenticeship Programmes (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, along with its enterprise agencies, works closely with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the availability across the economy of relevant talent and skills, which are key enablers of enterprise productivity and innovation. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Film Industry (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: On the 12 November 2021, Directive (EU) 2019/790 was transposed into Irish law by way of S.I. No. 567/2021 - European Union (Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market) Regulations 2021. The Regulations strengthen the rights and protections of right holders in order to reflect the impact of technological advances and increased digitalisation. The Regulations also provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Policies (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Climate Action Plan sets out a Public Service Mandate under which public bodies are required to adhere to and report on under four headings; our targets, our people, our way of working and our buildings & vehicles. In accordance with the Public Service Mandate my Department published its Climate Action Roadmap 2023 in September 2023. The Roadmap sets out how the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Industrial Development (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 61 together. IDA Ireland’s 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 Local Enterprise Offices and is a significant driver of regional economic development and job creation. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Artificial Intelligence (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 66 together. I published a progress report on our National AI Strategy - "AI - Here for Good" on 9 August 2023, the overarching aim of which is to drive the development and deployment of human centred, ethical, trustworthy AI tools. The Progress Report highlighted many of the achievements so far. These include the appointment of an AI...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Legislative Measures (12 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: It is a matter for the Deputy to progress this Private Members Bill. At the Second Stage debate on the Bill, the former Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail outlined my Department's concerns in relation to the proposed Bill and these concerns remain. To ensure that the views of all stakeholders were considered in relation to this issue, the Department ran a...