Results 6,061-6,080 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (15 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Officials are working with DG Competition and DG Agriculture on the development of schemes under the State aid Framework and the European Guidelines for State Aid in Agriculture, Forestry Sectors and Rural Areas. The guidelines set out the conditions and criteria under which aid in these areas would be considered compatible with the internal market and we see potential in these...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (15 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: At the outset, I want to assure the Deputy that my Department and agencies are working proactively with Brexit exposed firms to support their contingency planning and business transformation investments to prepare for Brexit potential impacts, to protect jobs and to build resilience, so that they do not reach the stage of needing rescue support. The rescue and restructuring scheme was put...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Personal Injury Claims (15 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the publication by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) of data on whiplash-related injury compensation awards resulting from road traffic accidents. The publication of the data delivers on a recommendation from the First Report of the Personal Injuries Commission published in December 2017 and involved analysis of approximately 4,500 awards made in the first six months...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Tax Code (15 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Proposed Digital Services Tax is currently being debated at the Working Party on Tax Questions which is attended by Irish officials. At last week’s ECOFIN meeting, my colleague the Minister for Finance, outlined Ireland’s principled opposition to the introduction of such a tax. Ireland has a number of concerns with the Commission’s interim tax proposals. These...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Economic Competitiveness (15 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Improving our competitiveness and ensuring that Ireland is an attractive location to do business remains a key economic priority for this Government. We continue to monitor Ireland's competitiveness and analyse the factors that are crucial to attracting further investment in the country. The World Bank Ease of Doing Business 2019 report compares the ‘ease of doing’ business in...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Funding (15 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: It is in the nature of seed and venture capital investing that it takes time to complete the investment process of funds participating in the Scheme. Accordingly, the 2013-2018 programme is still making investments and total investment is expected to be significantly higher once the investment period is finished. Allocations of capital to funds under the most recent Seed & Venture...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Retail Sector (15 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: As Chair of the Retail Consultation Forum, I am aware of growth in online retailing and understand the need for the retail sector to develop its online capability and enhance its competitiveness. In 2017, data from the CSO showed that 66% of Irish enterprises in the Wholesale and Retail Sector reported having a website or homepage, with only 28% able to facilitate online ordering. The Retail...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Business Regulation (15 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: On 2 November 2018, the Government published “Measures to Enhance Ireland’s Corporate, Economic and Regulatory Framework: Ireland combatting “white collar crime”. A comprehensive set of 28 measures was developed to augment the existing regulatory and legislative framework in Ireland in the area of corporate, economic and regulatory crime. The implementation of...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Employment Permits section of my Department inform me that an application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit for the person concerned was received on 23rd September 2018.  The Employment Permits section is experiencing high levels of demand for employment permits this year and this has contributed to increased processing times for applications.  At end...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Health and Safety Authority Expenditure (20 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) does not have a breakdown of the annual spend on farm safety initiatives, campaigns and projects on a county by county basis. The HSA carries out a range of countrywide farm safety initiatives, campaigns and projects each year which include; attending and exhibiting at farm shows (e.g. Tullamore Show, National Ploughing Championship), running television...

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

Heather Humphreys: In April this year, the US Government imposed sanctions on a number of Russian individuals and companies. These measures have unfortunately impacted the Limerick-based company Aughinish Alumina (AA), which is owned by one of the sanctioned Russian firms. The Government has been working hard, ever since the sanctions were announced, to help find a solution. We have been in regular...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Trade Agreements (20 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: Negotiations for an EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) were launched in March 2013 and four rounds of negotiations were held. Following the military takeover of Thailand in 2014, political contacts, including FTA negotiations, between the EU and Thailand were suspended. Thailand and the EU had finalised a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in November 2013 to provide a...

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

Heather Humphreys: Regional development is a key priority of mine and I am focused on increasing investment in every county in Ireland. The IDA shares this objective and remains committed to increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in every region of Ireland by 30% to 40% by the end of the Agency's current strategy in 2019.  IDA Ireland's performance in 2017 resulted in the fifth...

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

Heather Humphreys: I am focused on doing everything I can to deliver the fairest possible spread of foreign direct investment (FDI) across the country. Creating more jobs in the regions in particular is a clear priority for both my Department and the IDA. Since 2015, IDA Ireland has been working towards regional development targets set out in their strategy for the period between 2015-2019. This includes...

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

Heather Humphreys: As Minister, my objective is to create the best possible environment for enterprise, entrepreneurship, innovation and investment. Ireland continues to perform very strongly in terms of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and encouraging further investment from multinational companies is a major priority of mine.  I am pleased to say that there are now over 210,000 people employed...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Advertising Campaigns (20 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The following table provides details of expenditure incurred since 2014 by my Department and its Offices on advertising campaigns to promote the Department’s policies and programmes. My Department and its Offices use external advertising providers having regard to the business needs for such services. In engaging such providers, the Department and its Offices are mindful of the need to...

Seanad: European Investment Fund Agreement Bill 2018: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome this opportunity to present the Bill to the House. I thank Members for agreeing to take all Stages today. This short, technical Bill will enable me, as the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to enter into agreements with the European Investment Fund, EIF, to facilitate access to finance for qualifying...

Seanad: European Investment Fund Agreement Bill 2018: Second and Subsequent Stages (21 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate and who have shown great flexibility by taking all Stages today, because this Bill is urgent.The Senators raised issues around the supports we have for businesses. The Government and its agencies are in constant contact with businesses about Brexit preparations. We have instituted a wide range of initiatives that can be tailored to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Brexit Supports (22 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and its agencies are providing extensive supports to ensure that businesses are prepared for Brexit. These supports aim to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming months. For 2019, I have allocated an extra €8 million to the enterprise agencies and regulatory bodies under my Department, which...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Data (22 Nov 2018)

Heather Humphreys: The number of young persons aged between 15 and 29 years of age that are classified as ‘not in employment, education or training’ (NEET) is measured in the OECD publication ‘Education at a Glance 2018’.  As demonstrated in the following table, 13.1% of young adults in Ireland in the 15-29 year old age bracket can be classified as NEET. The EU22 average for...