Results 6,421-6,440 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Supports (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I met Commissioner Margrethe Vestager last week. She acknowledged that we had the greatest exposure to, and would be the most impacted by, Brexit. The EU stands ready to act urgently. There has been a great deal of contact between my officials and a team at the Commission's office and we have been doing a lot of work in that regard. I am satisfied that the Commissioner is fully aware of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. On 19 December, the Government published our contingency action plan, which outlines our approach to no-deal Brexit planning. As part of that plan, the Government last week published the general scheme of a Bill that would be necessary in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The draft omnibus Bill - the miscellaneous provisions (withdrawal of the United...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Considerable work has been done with businesses through the agencies, including local enterprise offices, InterTradeIreland and Enterprise Ireland. A large number of supports have been provided to businesses. We identified these legislative measures as being necessary to help businesses in the event of a no-deal Brexit. It means we can give them extra supports. Some 85% of Enterprise...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I will answer the last question first. There has been a good uptake of the Brexit working capital loan facility. Almost €15 million of it has-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: Businesses have to decide what suits their financial planning. The facility is available and easily accessed and I have heard no complaints about people being unable to access it, but availing of it must be in line with their financial requirements. If someone borrows money, he or she still has to pay it back. Businesses are considering it and it is available to them. As we get closer to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. My Department has conducted extensive research on a wide range of issues affecting businesses with regard to Brexit. In February 2018, my Department published an independent expert study undertaken by Copenhagen Economics entitled, "Ireland and the Impact of Brexit". This study examined the implications of Brexit for the economy and trade and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I assure the Deputy that there is no consideration of any such move within Government that there would be checks on the ports in the EU. I think there may have been some misunderstanding there. There is no consideration for that. Our issue here in terms of checks is in respect of the land bridge between us and the UK. I met Commissioner Vestager, the competition Commissioner, just last...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The Government has been consistent and clear in saying that we will not accept a hard border on this island. The EU and UK both accept that avoiding a hard border is essential. This has been repeatedly reaffirmed by the Prime Minister and the EU. If the withdrawal agreement does not enter into force, our objective will, of course, be more difficult to achieve. We are not planning for a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: It will be on Irish ports, yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The advice of the Attorney General was sought on the publication of the Report of the Director of Corporate Enforcement prepared under section 955(1)(a) of the Companies Act 2014. Because of section 956 of the Companies Act 2014 the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation is prohibited from publishing reports prepared pursuant to section 955 of the Act. This advice is very clear....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The account clearly shows that the ODCE investigation, in this instance, did fall below appropriate standards. The investigative shortcomings relating to the ODCE point to the need for a broader skills base, a greater range and depth of knowledge and experience, and a greater appreciation of the necessity to employ appropriate skills and experience for a case of this complexity. This was a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I am not going to make any comments on what the DPP does. That is a matter for it. On what falls under my remit, which is the ODCE, it has made many changes, the correct people have been employed and it is now well resourced. I will introduce legislation shortly so that the ODCE will become a stand-alone agency. That will give it much more power in respect of recruiting the people it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and its agencies are providing extensive supports, schemes and advice to assist businesses in identifying key risk areas and the practical preparatory actions to be taken over the coming weeks. We are active in the Getting Ireland Brexit Ready public information campaign, including a recent event held in Monaghan in October where I was delighted to welcome many...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I am satisfied that the Government is doing everything it can to help businesses prepare for Brexit. There have been numerous seminars and meetings, as well as an extensive advertising campaign, which I am sure the Deputy has heard on the radio, encouraging businesses to come forward to seek help from different agencies to prepare for Brexit. There has been a great take-up of these...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: That is not the case.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Preparations (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: The common travel area will be protected regardless of what happens with Brexit. It is important for people who live and work on both sides of the Border and who cross it every day. On the question about the take-up, some 811 firms have applied to Intertrade Ireland. It provides a start a plan voucher worth €2,250. More than 4,000 businesses have availed of the organisation's...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy McLoughlin for putting this question on behalf of Deputy Peter Burke. I congratulate Deputy Burke and his wife Olivia on the birth of their new baby boy. The Deputy was supposed to be in the Chamber for this parliamentary question but I think he deserves the day off. We want to wish them well. I am committed to delivering on this Government's objective of achieving...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy McLoughlin. In 2018 we had another record year for IDA Ireland with job creation when the agency had its highest regional jobs growth in 17 years. A total of 58% of all IDA Ireland employment is now outside of Dublin. Enterprise Ireland also had a record year, with two thirds of all Enterprise Ireland employment now outside of Dublin. I want to ensure that we continue to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Job Creation (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware that this question is coming up later, and if I get a chance I will give more detail to the Deputy. There has been a lot of job creation in the north-west region in the past year. I am very pleased with that. Since we launched Project Ireland 2040 jobs creation in Sligo seems to come into the news on monthly basis. I am aware that Deputy McLoughlin has played a very important...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2019)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Regional development, not just in the Border area but across Ireland, remains a key priority and my Department and its agencies are focused on strengthening investment and job creation all over the country. The recent annual results of the IDA demonstrate that we are making significant strides. In 2018, for example, 56% of all new jobs created by...