Results 5,461-5,480 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition Law (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition law in the State.  Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the Commission is independent in the performance of its functions, including carrying out investigations of alleged anti-competitive...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: HPSUs are companies which have the potential to develop an innovative product or service suitable for export, and which have the potential to create 10 jobs and €1m in sales within 3 to 4 years of establishment. In 2017 Enterprise Ireland supported 90 HPSUs with an equity investment. Enterprise Ireland’s HPSU Team works with start-up companies to ensure that they can avail of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The aim of the Commercialisation Fund is to improve the competitiveness of Irish industry. This is achieved through both the creation of technology based companies and through the development of licenses.  The programme funds researchers in the higher education system to develop innovations at all stages of the commercial pipeline, to the point where they can be commercialised as new...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Enterprise Ireland supports companies across Ireland to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future.  Enterprise Ireland’s focus for 2018 is to help clients build on the strength of their 2017 performance by supporting them to innovate, be competitive and to diversify their global footprint - key attributes required to be resilient to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Enterprise Ireland supports companies across Ireland to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future.  Enterprise Ireland’s focus for 2018 is to help clients build on the strength of their 2017 performance by supporting them to innovate, be competitive and to diversify their global footprint - key attributes required to be resilient to...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Enterprise Ireland offers a range of financial and non-financial supports to client companies to enable them to withstand the challenges and avail of the opportunities presented by the current economic climate. One of these supports is the Strategic Consultancy Grant, which is only available to SMEs, in line with EU State Aid guidelines.  The Grant supports the hiring of a strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Funding (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The best way for Irish companies to withstand current global economic challenges is by diversifying their export footprint. One of the new supports that Enterprise Ireland has introduced to encourage companies to enter new markets is the Market Discovery Fund. Launched in January 2018, the Market Discovery Fund aims to encourage companies to expand into new markets by helping with the costs...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Unified Patent Court (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The timing of any referendum is a matter for Government and no date has been set for a referendum on Ireland's participation in the international Agreement on a Unified Patent Court, which has yet to come into force.  To come into force the Agreement must be ratified by at least 13 contracting Member States, including France, the United Kingdom and Germany.  To date 16...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Strategy (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 110 together. Promoting diversified export markets in light of the potential impacts of Brexit is a key priority for my Department. This includes markets that are growing and have scale as well as markets where we are already well established but with potential for further growth. Through the Government’s Trade Strategy, ‘Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Support Services Provision (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department, through its enterprise agencies is committed to supporting companies in urban and rural areas to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future.  Reflecting the strength of the Irish economy and of global markets in 2017, Enterprise Ireland client companies reported strong employment performance. Enterprise Ireland’s 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Development (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department, through the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), continuously monitors and advises the Government on future skills requirements and associated labour market issues that impact on the national potential for employment growth. The EGFSN is an independent, non-statutory body, which includes representatives from the business community, trade unions, and a small number...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Data (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 114 together. Enterprise Ireland, an Agency of my Department, supports companies in urban and rural areas to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future.  Enterprise Ireland’s focus for 2018 is to help clients with global ambition to build on the strength of their 2017 performance by supporting...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is carrying out extensive work to prepare for all Brexit eventualities.  Informed by detailed research, my Department has been putting in place a package of measures that will allow us to respond to the needs of businesses including the Brexit Loan Scheme which was launched in April 2018 and which will provide affordable working capital financing to eligible businesses that...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Since the first publication of the Action Plan for Jobs in 2012, Ireland's economy has performed stronger than would have been thought possible at that time. The unemployment rate has reduced from a high of almost 16 percent to 5.9 percent in April 2018. Our total exports are at an all time high. The performance of our indigenous exports remains robust and on target to achieve...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department, through its enterprise agencies is committed to supporting business to understand and respond to technological change and to incentivising indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs to start, innovate and remain competitive in international markets, now and into the future. Enterprise Ireland’s focus for 2018 is to help clients build on the strength of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (24 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland operates in an intensely competitive global environment for the attraction of business investment and talent. Our Irish owned enterprises compete on the international stage and face unprecedented challenges as they face the implications of Brexit and need to diversify to other export markets. In this context it is crucially important that we, as a Government, continue to focus on...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Staff (29 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission currently has 10 vacant posts. Seven of these 10 vacancies are due to be advertised in the next 4 weeks and recruitment will begin as soon as practicable thereafter. The sanction to fill the other three posts has not yet been requested. 

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Jobs Data (29 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is working hard to achieve the most even possible distribution of foreign direct investment across the country. IDA Ireland is focused on that same goal, with the Agency targeting an increase of investment of 30%-40% in every region as part of its 2015-2019 strategy. The Agency's 2017 results demonstrate that significant progress is being made...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Ministerial Transport (29 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Since 1 May 2011 Cabinet Ministers, with the exception of An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste and the Minister for Justice and Equality, must use their own cars on official business. In that regard, I can confirm to the Deputy that neither I, nor my ministerial colleagues, Ministers Pat Breen and John Halligan are provided with a ministerial car from the Garda fleet. We use our own...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Jobs Data (31 May 2018)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland are working towards ambitious targets to ensure that employment and investment are distributed as evenly as possible across the country. The employment situation in the South-East, which covers Waterford, Carlow, Wexford, Kilkenny and South Tipperary, has been steadily improving in recent years with IDA client companies in the region creating 1,200 new jobs...