Results 4,681-4,700 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Small and Medium Enterprises Supports (5 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Policy responsibility for leveraging funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) rests with my colleague the Minister for Finance. However, my Department and agencies are strongly committed to working together with the EIB, other Departments and Financial Intermediaries to enhance the Bank’s activity in the SME sector in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Applications (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The General Employment Permit application in respect of the named individual was received in the Employment Permits Section and was placed in the processing queue on the 20th November 2017. Applications are processed strictly in date order and the Section is currently processing Standard Employer applications received during the week beginning the 25th October 2017 so we...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: It is not possible to provide accurate financial information in the format requested by the Deputy for the period June 1997 to January 2011 as the Programme Budgeting Model does not allow for the retrieval of such data prior to its introduction in 2012. Details of expenditure incurred by my Department in respect of advertising, public relations, and consultancy are, however, available for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Travel (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Details of monthly expenses incurred by Ministers in my Department are published on my Department's website at the following address: All expenses in the period to April 2017 have now been published. Details of expenses incurred in more recent months are currently being collated and are being published as they become available.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Company Law (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Prior to the Companies Act 2014, a company could apply only to the High Court for an extension of time to file its annual return.  Where such an Order was given for an extension of the time, the company did not lose its audit exemption.  Separately, a company could apply to the Registrar of Companies for its late filing fees to be waived but it lost the audit exemption as it was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment and Jobs Growth: Discussion (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: On my first appearance before the joint committee as the relevant Minister, I acknowledge the important contribution it makes to the development of enterprise policy. As we know, Ireland's reputation as a fantastic country in which to do business has been hard earned and owes much to our long-held, national, cross-party consensus that innovation, entrepreneurship and investment are in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment and Jobs Growth: Discussion (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Yes. The Department of the Taoiseach established a high level working group, comprising representatives of the relevant Departments, on this issue earlier in the year. The group is examining the many cross-departmental policy issues associated with these projects. My Department is represented on the group and we are bringing the enterprise development perspective and related analysis to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment and Jobs Growth: Discussion (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Deputy Eugene Murphy and I are from the northern part.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment and Jobs Growth: Discussion (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: As I said, we have established a high level working group. When it has considered all the issues and comes forward with its report, we will review what we need to do. That is the plan. If data centres are categorised as strategic infrastructure, it would speed up the the planning process considerably. The group will deal with that in due course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment and Jobs Growth: Discussion (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chairman. Regional development remains a priority for the Government. I am very much aware that an important part of unlocking the potential of regional Ireland is ensuring that foreign direct investment is spread as evenly as possible throughout the country. The regional action plan for jobs is a key mechanism to ensure this regional development succeeds. As the Chairman...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment and Jobs Growth: Discussion (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: We recognise the importance of high-speed broadband connectivity. I appreciate the frustration experienced by businesses and communities that have no access to such a service. The improved connectivity is delivered through the national broadband plan, which remains a key Government priority. My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment and Jobs Growth: Discussion (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: It is important to make people aware that these towns have this level of connectivity, which should help to attract businesses to the areas.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment and Jobs Growth: Discussion (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The national planning framework is still in draft form. The comments made indicate very clearly why it has to be the subject of consultation. I expect many submissions to be made on it. It falls within the remit of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. It is important people make submissions in and I am sure we will all be making them. On the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment and Jobs Growth: Discussion (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of the ongoing dispute and the issues regarding the conclusion of the Succeed in Ireland initiative. I intend to review all the facts shortly. I will discuss the matter in more detail with those involved. At that point, I will be in a position to determine how I intend to proceed, including with regard to the review of the programme. I have not had a full briefing on it yet. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment and Jobs Growth: Discussion (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank everybody for their good wishes. I look forward to working with the committee. Together, we can come up with ideas and progress the issue of more jobs in the regions.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Chair for the welcome afforded to me this evening. I very much look forward to working closely with her and her committee colleagues in the period ahead on various issues of direct relevance to the Department's remit, spanning the enterprise development, innovation and regulatory areas. I convey apologies on behalf of both my ministerial colleagues who I know had confirmed their...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Some €14 million of the funding for the Brexit loan scheme will come from my Department and €9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, giving a total of €23 million which it is hoped will lever a total fund of €300 million. We will be working with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, and the European Investment Bank, EIB,...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: We do not have any figure in that regard. It is too early to be able to give such a figure.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Exchequer provision totals €23 million. Through a combination of a Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland guarantee supported by the State and partially counter-guaranteed by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, this sum is expected to leverage €300 million in loans to SMEs.

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 32 - Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Supplementary) (6 Dec 2017)

Heather Humphreys: It should be in place by the end of quarter 1 or the beginning of quarter 2. There will be criteria for businesses to meet such as that they have been impacted on by Brexit. We will have to wait and see what transpires in terms of the level of take-up of the scheme, but it will be offered on a first come, first served basis.