Results 5,221-5,240 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Applications (17 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: An application for a General Employment Permit for the person concerned was received on 5th April 2018. The Employment Permits Section of my Department is currently processing standard applications received on 7th February 2018 and this application should be processed within the next eight weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (17 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit. The Employment Permits Section of my Department administers the Employment Permits system. All applications for employment permits are processed in line with the Employment Permits Acts and associated Regulations which lay down in legislation the criteria in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Site Visits (17 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland is committed to increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in every region of the country by 30%-40% by the end of its current strategy in 2019. Site visits do represent an important tool through which investors can be encouraged to invest in areas such as Louth and the IDA always does its utmost to ensure that overseas firms consider all potential locations when visiting Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Staff Data (17 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: There are currently no clerical officers serving in my Department on a temporary contract. While temporary vacancies at clerical officer level may arise at various times and for various reasons, requests to fill these vacancies are undertaken through the Public Appointments Service (PAS). PAS, acts as the centralised recruitment assessment and selection body for my Department. My...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Data (17 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 622 to 625, inclusive, together. With the commencement of the Employment Permits (Amendment) Act 2014, nine different types of employment permits were introduced to facilitate various different employment permit scenarios from addressing specifically key skill shortages to temporary labour shortages, sporting and cultural occupations and exchanges for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (17 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland operates a managed employment permits system which maximises the benefits of economic migration while minimising the risk of disrupting the domestic labour market. In order to ensure that the system is responsive to the changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions, the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List (HSEOL) and the Ineligible Categories of Employment List...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (17 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Ortec Inc., a biomaterial and polymer technology company serving the life sciences industry, previously announced plans to establish a facility in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick. The investment, once in place, will lead to the creation of up to 110 skilled engineering and science jobs in the region. The IDA is in regular contact with the Ortec Inc. about its investment plans. I understand...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Site Visits (17 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The IDA collates data on the number of site visits on a quarterly basis. Information on site visits for the first quarter of 2018 will be available within the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Data (17 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Competitiveness has always been a strategic imperative for the Enterprise Ireland (EI) client base given the small and open nature of the Irish economy and their resulting need to internationalise at an early stage. Enterprise Ireland’s clients must continually innovate and evolve in order to keep pace with macroeconomic and technological changes and successfully compete and win sales...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Corporate Governance (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I want to begin by congratulating Deputy Billy Kelleher on his appointment as spokesperson for business, enterprise and innovation and I look forward to working with him. I do not have a monopoly on good ideas and I am happy to work closely with Deputy Kelleher, as I do with my other colleagues, in doing everything we can to create and sustain jobs and to support enterprise. I am...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Corporate Governance (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE, has played and continues to play a key role in facilitating compliance and enforcement of company law. The ODCE 2016 annual report points to a number of key success during the year. Following the scrutiny of reports submitted to the office by liquidators of insolvent companies, 90 company directors were restricted and a further 11...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Corporate Governance (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: It is important to say that this matter is before the courts. We need to respect that ongoing process. I am bearing that in mind with regard to what I say here. I am very confident in regard to the work done by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. It is an independent agency and it acts independently of my Department. It is the function of my Department to provide the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Expenditure (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am confident the enterprise agencies under my Department's remit have the necessary support and financial resources to enable them to address the challenges of Brexit and to capitalise on any opportunities it presents. IDA Ireland was allocated an additional €700,000 as part of budget 2018 to further reinforce the €750,000...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Expenditure (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I have a range of different supports available through the different agencies to support businesses to prepare for Brexit and help them mitigate the impact of Brexit on their businesses. The Department secured an additional €3 million in current funding and €5 million in capital funding in 2018, increasing the record capital allocation in 2017. The additional €3...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Expenditure (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I recently launched a brochure which outlines all the different supports we are providing to businesses through the agencies and directly. I recently announced the €300 million Brexit loan scheme. Bord Bia, the Health and Safety Authority and a whole list of agencies are supporting people on Brexit. It is a very short document and is on the Department's website. I believe I also...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Despite intense competition, Ireland’s competitiveness performance remains positive. Ireland moved from 16th in 2015 to sixth in 2017 in the Institute for Management Development World Competitiveness Yearbook. In addition, the World Bank’s most recent Doing Business 2018 report shows Ireland is now ranked 17th out of 190 countries,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The reason for the shortage of housing supply is that when the country experienced its worst ever recession only a few short years ago, the bottom fell out of the construction sector. The current problems in housing are part of that legacy. We have a plan to address these problems, namely, Rebuilding Ireland, and we are only 18 months into this five-year programme. After 18 months, people...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Economic Competitiveness (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Supply and demand for credit have improved significantly since the height of the economic crisis. While the cost of credit is falling, it continues to be relatively high and it is vital that is reduced to align our rates with those in competitor countries. The divergence between interest rates for enterprise in Ireland and the rest of the euro area is particularly noticeable for loans of up...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sale of State Assets (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: In 2016, Ardmore Studios International Limited, ASIL, engaged IBI Corporate Finance to investigate selling the company as a going concern. ASIL, the majority shareholders in Ardmore Studios Limited, were seeking to exit, having been running the company for more than 30 years. An extensive process was undertaken by IBI Corporate Finance to find a suitable buyer, with more than 100 potential...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Sale of State Assets (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: To be clear, this was a commercial deal. It was negotiated commercially. There was a guarantee for the workers and I believe their future is secured in terms of there being investment in Ardmore Studios. I visited the studio some time ago. It badly needed investment. This is an opportunity to expand the facility there. The Deputy talks about planning permission. Both he and I know that...