Results 5,301-5,320 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Social Media Monitoring (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. I have not met with Facebook or Twitter to specifically discuss the impact of "fake news" here in Ireland, nor have I discussed this matter in detail with my officials. Interaction between my Department and multinational companies based here is primarily focused on and aligned with the Department’s key objectives in this area,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Qualifications Recognition (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations (S.I. No. 299 of 2007) concerning first aid at work employers have a duty to provide first-aid materials/equipment at all places of work where working conditions require it. Depending on the size and/or specific hazards of the workplace, trained occupational first aiders must also be provided. An...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is continuing to work hard to help Irish businesses across the country to withstand the challenges and avail of the opportunities posed by Brexit. The long-term response to Brexit is for companies to become more competitive, more innovative, and to diversify their export footprint into more markets. In response to Brexit, EI has introduced a range of new supports,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, am acutely aware that many Irish exporters are highly reliant on the UK as their primary export destination. My Department is central to the Government wide effort to prepare Irish enterprises and our wider business ecosystem for Brexit. Steps already taken include Budget 2018 (and 2017), our Trade and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Action Plan for Jobs (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together. The North East/North West Regional Action Plan for Jobs is a key policy response for supporting employment growth in the Border region. The Plan is stimulating job creation across the region, including Counties Cavan and Monaghan, by facilitating collaborative initiatives between the public and private sector, and through the provision...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My priority as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation is to drive the creation of high-quality and sustainable jobs around all the regions and counties of Ireland. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play a critical role in supporting microenterprises in the start-up and expansion phases in all regions throughout the country. The LEOs can offer direct grant aid to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Contingency planning for a no-deal or worst-case outcome, bringing together the detailed work being undertaken by individual Ministers and their Departments on issues within their policy remit, is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Development (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is aware that it is essential that Irish enterprise has access to high-quality, adaptable and flexible talent. In order to meet this demand, the Government is committed to building and retaining a highly skilled indigenous workforce to serve the needs of the economy. This goal is set out under the framework of two overarching skills development strategies: -...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Regional Action Plan for Jobs (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: On becoming Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I made jobs and enterprise growth in the regions my top priority. Since 2015, the Regional Action Plan for Jobs initiative has been a central pillar of the Government's ambition to create 200,000 new jobs by 2020, with 135,000 of these jobs to be located outside of Dublin. Eight Regional Action Plans for Jobs (RAPJs) were...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Schemes (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 130 together. Technology and Innovation remains an integral part of any business, both new businesses getting started and established companies wishing to continue to grow and expand.  In simple terms, innovation involves helping companies improve competitiveness by developing new processes, products or services.  Research, Development...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Competition for global foreign direct investment (FDI) has become increasingly intense. Nevertheless, multinational companies continue to invest and reinvest here with leading global firms from many sectors - including life sciences, ICT, engineering and digital media - all based in Ireland. The contribution that these investments make to our wider economy is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland’s competitiveness has improved in recent years. In 2017, Ireland moved from seventh to sixth in the IMD (Institute for Management Development) World Competitiveness Yearbook. Most importantly, Ireland’s improved competitiveness is reflected in the labour market. The results from the Labour Force Survey in respect of Q4 2017 shows employment totalled 2,231,000, up 3.1%...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Development (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: As we draw closer to full employment, it is essential to ensure that Irish enterprise has access to high-quality, adaptable and flexible talent. In order to meet this demand, the Government remains committed to building and retaining a highly skilled indigenous workforce. This goal is set out under the framework of two overarching skills development strategies: - Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland remains a global leader in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and competes with a range of jurisdictions across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Whilst this competition is increasingly intense, our country has a number of key strengths that continue to make us a highly attractive destination for FDI. These include our highly skilled workers, first-class education system and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Knowledge Development Box (18 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Knowledge Development Box (KDB), introduced in Budget 2016, forms part of Ireland’s competitive offering to continue to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and to support Irish owned companies to innovate and to compete effectively on international markets. The KDB provides an effective 6.25% rate of corporation tax which is internationally competitive. The KDB complements...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Legislative Reviews (19 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The provisions on misleading commercial practices in the Consumer Protection Act 2007 give effect to the provisions of Directive 2005/29/EC on Unfair Business-to-Consumer Commercial Practices. With the exception of commercial practices in the area of financial services, the Directive is a maximum harmonization measure whose provisions cannot be exceeded or supplemented in the national laws...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Site Visits (19 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland continues to highlight the benefits of expanding or locating in all counties of Ireland to its client base. It is important to remember, however, that the final decision as to where to invest always rests with the company concerned. It is also the case that site visit activity does not necessarily reflect investment potential, as at least 70% of all new FDI comes from existing IDA...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Portfolio (19 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The availability of an adequate supply of marketable serviced land and buildings in advance of demand is a key element in the IDA's ability to compete for mobile foreign direct investment. The availability of property solutions allows projects to commence at an earlier date by diminishing much of the difficulties associated with land acquisition, planning and construction. It is, therefore,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (19 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Government’s extensive response to Brexit is already underway and includes measures such as: - Enterprise Ireland’s €5,000 ‘Be Prepared’ grant for firms; - Enterprise Ireland’s Brexit Scorecard; - Bord Bia’s Brexit Barometer; - InterTrade Ireland’s Brexit Advisory Service; - the €300m Brexit Loan Scheme for Business; - the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Development (19 Apr 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s enterprise policy has a strong focus on upskilling workers in employment. This can be seen in numerous ways including through policy documents such as the Action Plan for Jobs 2018 and Enterprise 2025 Renewed, and through my Department’s continued engagement with the Department of Education and Skills. The Action Plan for Jobs 2018 has four immediate key aims....