Results 5,521-5,540 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Data Protection Commissioner (20 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 to 140, inclusive, together. The Data Protection Commission was established following the enactment of the Data Protection Bill by the Minister for Justice and Equality on 25 May 2018.  The newly established Data Protection Commission succeeded the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner on this date. The Department of Justice and Equality...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: IDA Ireland Data (20 Jun 2018)

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

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (20 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: At my request, my Department is currently conducting a review of economic migration policies underpinning the current employment permits system to ensure that our policies are fully supportive of Ireland’s emerging labour market needs, be they skills or labour shortages in certain sectors.  A full report on the review is due by end June.  Following on from that Report, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Work Permits Eligibility (20 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: At my request, my Department is currently conducting a review of economic migration policies underpinning the current employment permits system to ensure that our policies are fully supportive of Ireland’s emerging labour market needs, be they skills or labour shortages in certain sectors.  A full report on the review is due by end June.  Following on from that Report, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Issues (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Brexit presents the most significant economic challenge of the past 50 years for businesses in all parts of the country, and my Department and its agencies are working hard to ensure that potentially impacted firms are taking the necessary steps to prepare and mitigate risks and to take advantage of potential opportunities. I am confident that the agencies under my remit have the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Action Plan for Jobs (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Action Plan for Jobs is one of the Government’s key instruments to support job creation. The Action Plan for Jobs process has worked well to achieve its primary objective. Since the first Plan was launched in early 2012, there are over 345,000 more people at work. The unemployment rate has fallen from a high of 16 per cent to 5.8 per cent in May 2018. The four key aims of Action...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Gender Balance (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: In 2016, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) published its Gender Strategy for the years 2016-2020.  This strategy provides a comprehensive framework for delivering SFI’s actions to retain and increase the participation of excellent female researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) careers.  Since the launch, SFI has moved towards streamlining gender...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: In March 2017, following a review of the Highly Skilled and Ineligible lists of Employment earlier this year, which included a public consultation, I announced the removal of certain chef grades from the ineligible occupation list. This means that if an employer is unsuccessful in filling a vacancy either domestically or from across the European Economic Area (EEA) it can be filled by a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: State Bodies Data (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The process for selection of Ministerial appointees to boards of agencies is managed by the Public Appointments Service in accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards that is published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The information requested by the Deputy is listed in tabular form. State Agency/Commercial State Body No. of Board...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Data (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: To be resilient to economic shocks, such as Brexit, Irish exporting companies need to be innovative, competitive and have a diversified global footprint. Enterprise Ireland’s focus for 2018 is to help client companies build on the strength of their 2017 performance by putting an increased emphasis on market diversification, driving innovation and competitiveness. In addition to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Enterprise Ireland Data (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: To be resilient to economic shocks, such as Brexit, Irish exporting companies need to be innovative, competitive and have a diversified global footprint. Enterprise Ireland’s focus for 2018 is to help client companies build on the strength of their 2017 performance by putting an increased emphasis on market diversification, driving innovation and competitiveness. In addition to the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Data (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together. As part of its Brexit Advisory Service, InterTrade Ireland offers vouchers which enable companies to get professional advice in relation to Brexit matters. This support can help businesses obtain advice on specific issues such as tariffs, currency management, regulatory and customs issues and movement of labour, good and...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Insurance Costs (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Apart from motor insurance, which falls under the remit of the Minister for Transport, policy responsibility for insurance is a matter for the Minister of Finance. I as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation have no direct policy responsibility for insurance.  However, officials of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, along with other Departments and Agencies,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Improving Ireland’s competitiveness is a key priority for this Government.  We are working hard to consolidate this country's traditional strengths in terms of talent, productivity and export competitiveness. The decline in Ireland's overall ranking in this year’s Ernst and Young (EY) attractiveness survey is disappointing. However, it is worth...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of reports of job losses at the Liebherr plant in Killarney. IDA Ireland is liaising closely with management at the company, and I understand that the 27 workers referenced are all contract workers and that there is no threat to the permanent jobs at the plant. IDA Ireland has a strong relationship with Liebherr, who established in Killarney in 1958. In 2017, the IDA supported the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Gender Balance (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department understands the importance of female participation in the labour market. As we draw closer to full employment, it is essential that enterprise in Ireland has access to high-quality, adaptable and flexible talent pools. Enhancing female participation has the potential to address the growing need for skills and talent and to deliver significant social and gender equality benefits....

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Skills Shortages (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) is an independent body tasked with advising the Government on the current and future skills needs of the Irish economy, as well as any other issues that impact on the national potential for enterprise and employment growth. I welcome the recent EGFSN report on "Addressing the Skills Needs Arising from the Potential Trade Implications...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, regional development is a key priority of mine and I am focused on maintaining existing jobs while also increasing the level of employment and investment in every county in Ireland, including Co. Cavan. The North East/North West Regional Action Plan for Jobs is a key policy response for supporting employment growth in the Border...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Industrial Development (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: In 2017 IDA Ireland appointed Jacobs Engineering, supported by AOS Planning, to identify potential strategic land banks in Ireland that would be particularly suitable for the sustainable development of data centre projects. The study was commissioned to understand what locations in Ireland are best placed to win and sustain this type of investment. The review process was conducted in a...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Foreign Direct Investment (21 Jun 2018)

Heather Humphreys: IDA Ireland markets Co. Cavan as part of its North-East region, together with Louth and Monaghan. There are currently seven multinational companies in Cavan employing a total of 1,155 people. The IDA Ireland business and technology park in Killygarry, Co. Cavan covers approximately 17 hectares.  Of this, around 11 hectares are currently available for marketing.  The...